New Zealand and Tonga could face off in State of Origin style series
As Project Apollo plots the NRL’s return, next on the agenda is a proposal for a New Zealand vs Tonga State of Origin clash to bring together two of the rugby league’s great talent wells.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
There are plans for New Zealand to take on Tonga in an end-of year series to replicate a State of Origin-type contest between the budding international rivals.
Project Apollo will consider the proposal which will pit New Zealand and Tonga in a three-game series to run at the same time as Origin in November. The winner of the series could potentially play Australia to round out the year.
Kiwis coach Michael Maguire has thrown his support behind the concept.
“I think it would be huge,” Maguire said. “I’ve been trying to push it in the background.
“There is a lot of talk about Origin, but the international game is a massive opportunity for the islanders in our game.
“It gives an opportunity for these guys and brings them together before the Rugby League World Cup (in England next year). The concept would be excellent.”
Relive classic NRL matches from the 60s to today on KAYO SPORTS. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
Australia would almost certainly play host to the matches — depending on the travel restrictions.
The game is exploring ways to have an international window while Origin is played after the NRL grand final on October 25.
That could include matches for England, Samoa and Fiji.
Costs and travel restrictions will be critical elements to these concepts progressing and also if the broadcast partners have an appetite to show representative football.
Australia was due to tour England at the end of the year but that is almost certainly going to be scrapped.
Tonga shone last year — defeating Australia and Great Britain. They lost 34-14 to New Zealand last year in their only match since beating the Kiwis in the 2017 World Cup.
LISTEN! Cooper is back at training so it’s Matty, Trish and Jack with the latest on life inside the Johns household, the best John Singleton stories and where they’d go in a time machine.
RETIRED Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah will conduct an online exercise session to raise money for Beyond Blue on Saturday.
Partnering with Vision Lane Cove, Farah hopes to raise $10,000 for the charity.
“We know there is a direct link between physical and mental health and we also know that during this time of lock down people have found being confined incredibly challenging,” Farah said.
The session will start at 7am. facebook.com/VisionPTLaneCove for more
SCARY FEATURES FROM THE BLEACHERS
BAD hair day or boredom in isolation? A host of NRL players have returned to training this week sporting all styles with bleach-blond hair. Now, we are all for people expressing themselves but we have to agree with veteran South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett, who wasted no time telling his players to reverse the look as soon as possible.
OPERA HOUSE BOXING ENCORE UNLIKELY
WITH speculation Mike Tyson has been offered $1 million to fight an exhibition in Australia — as Sonny Bill Williams and stick their hands up as potential opponents — it has emerged promoters were considering the Opera House as a potential site.
What a sight that would be — Tyson at the Opera House.
The Opera House has hosted a fight night only once, when Australian middleweight champion Ken Salisbury took on Alex Temelkov in 1982.
The fight ended in disqualification in the ninth, referee Charky Ramon shortened up a few protesters entering the ring to register their displeasure and all-in brawls erupted in the stands which — because of the steep tiering for the opera mob — resulted in unconscious men doing cartwheels down the steps.
It was front-page news the next day, Opera House officials saying: “Never again”.
● ● ●
THE whole world is an advice manual nowadays with most inspirational quotes swapping from the sports world to the business world with little adjustment.
Sports trainer Johnny Gallagher, who works with several high-profile jockeys as well as in the field of mental welfare, has been whispering in their ears for some time now.
“To get motivated, we need to get started,” Gallagher said.
“If I can’t jump over it, I’ll go under it.
“Nothing is impossible to get to the other side.
“To be weak is to be strong.
“Accept the challenge so you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
“Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.”
THAT OTHER KING
IT seemed an unusual coup when the Legends of League launched its first podcast this week and tennis great Billie Jean King was the unlikely host.
Alas, on second glance it was King’s doppelganger — Triple M League caller Anthony Maroon — who not only managed to coax Manly greats Cliffy Lyons and Steve Menzies on to the podcast but got them to name their greatest 17.
Interestingly, both named Brad Fittler at lock. The only other positions they agreed on were Andrew Johns at halfback and Bradley Clyde in the second row.
The Legends of League podcasts are available on YouTube and Spotify. Cliffy and Beaver reveal their teams about 17 minutes in.
Later, Maroon goes on to describe his victory over Bobby Riggs.
MORE NEWS
NRL Team of the Decade 2010 to 2020: Round of 16 Voting
NRL 2020: Players face Queensland lockout for refusing flu vaccination
KAUFUSI’S GRUELLING RETURN
SOME Melbourne players had long drives to report back to training this week. For Felise Kaufusi – who had been bunkering down in Bundaberg during the shutdown — it took him four days to drive back to Melbourne.
“With two kids in the back it’s a lot harder,” Kaufusi said. “It was a good drive. It was a bit of a punish with the kids but you have to do what you have to do.”
Dale Finucane was in Bega and drove to the Storm’s temporary home base in Albury — which is a six-hour drive via the Snowy Mountains.
“I saw about 15 wild horses and snow on the mountains,” he said.