New York officially joins League One, set for three NRL trials
With a New York team officially joining the English League One competition, the ground-breaking new franchise have targeted trials with three star-powered NRL clubs.
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Start spreading the news — NRL teams are set to play trial games in New York early next year.
The star-power of Russell Crowe’s South Sydney, Hugh Jackman’s Manly Sea Eagles and Val Holmes’s North Queensland Cowboys have been targeted to take on the ground-breaking New York rugby league franchise in the Big Apple.
It was announced on Tuesday night that New York has been formally admitted into the English rugby league’s third division — a move that will forever change the game.
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New York will play in the 2022 League One competition – division three – but next season will enter the famous English Challenge Cup, which includes all Super League clubs.
To prepare for the Challenge Cup, New York has formally invited NRL sides — headed by the Sea Eagles, Rabbitohs and Cowboys — to contest trial games over three successive weekends next February.
Manly will be asked to play a trail given Hollywood star Jackman’s high profile in the US and affection for the Sea Eagles, while Crowe’s Rabbitohs also hold enormous appeal for New York officials. Crowe has long advocated rugby league in America.
New York’s management are also aware Holmes attracted headlines during his short stint with the New York Jets NFL franchise.
“We would look to play NRL clubs in February on the weekends around the Nines tournament,” New York chief executive Ricky Wilby said.
“Obviously our preference would be Souths because of the Russell Crowe link and Manly because of the Hugh Jackman link. There’s also the Roosters, Cowboys, Melbourne.
“We would want the teams to come over for a week and play us at the end of that week and then fly home the following day. We would have already played one round of Challenge Cup – possibly two - by the time the NRL sides arrive.
“Straight away it would open us up to that Australian expat market in New York. It would also be attractive to our players. How often would they get the opportunity to play against NRL teams?”
Melbourne, Sydney Roosters and Brisbane will also be considered because of their success and profile.
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A formal launch in New York will be held on Monday when the draw for next year’s Challenge Cup – held annually since 1896 - will also be released.
The announcement in New York could be held at either the Empire State Building or on a cruise in front of the Statue of Liberty.
New York has already started discussions about signing NRL players the club could sign for next year’s Challenge Cup campaign.
Officials from New York would introduce and promote rugby league players to some of the city’s landmarks, including the World Trade Center.
New York will play games at Red Bull Stadium, New Jersey, and be based in Liverpool while playing games in England. The club has formed a formal partnership with the City of Liverpool.
A New York away game could be held at Anfield, the famous home ground of Liverpool Football Club.
Liverpool will also host several rugby league World Cup games in 2021.
With its profile and location, New York hopes to secure immediate success and win promotion into division two The Championship by 2023 or 2024.
From there, Super League is just one step away. Fledgling club Ottawa will be included in England’s League One for next season.