Kangaroos-All Blacks hybrid game put on backburner for now

The push for a hybrid game between the Kangaroos and All Blacks will resume next year.

Kangaroos Test fullback James Tedesco scores against the Kiwis last October. Picture: Getty Images

The hybrid dream is dead. NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has officially sounded the death-knell on a landmark bid to have the Kangaroos play the All Blacks this year, informing club bosses that the plan has failed to win the support of the ARL Commission.

Promoter Dean Lonergan was the architect of the proposal that would have seen the Kangaroos face the All Blacks in early December, with the respective organisations to receive $8m apiece as a sweetener. However, the ongoing COVID threat has put paid to the proposal for this year at least because the financial support would not have been there to prop up the plan.

It is understood Lonergan would have required the backing of state governments to bring the game to fruition and while there was clear interest, there was also concern that a financial outlay of that size would have been untenable in the current conditions.

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Lonergan would also have required a full stadium and that seems a forlorn hope given the stance of the respective state government’s in the current climate.

But Lonergan won’t give up without a fight. There is every chance he will press ahead with plans to garner support for the proposal in 2021, although he may face many of the same obstacles given concerns that the COVID virus won’t go away any time soon.

Several clubs were no doubt relieved with the commission’s decision to put an end to the hybrid debate. They had justifiable concerns over their players being involved in what was tantamount to an exhibition game so late in the year, which would have eaten into their pre-season preparations in 2021. While the game would have been a money-spinner for the ARL Commission, some club chiefs also wanted to know why the governing body has an interest in taking part in a game that would have financially strengthened rugby union.

COVID-19 restrictions have put paid to any hopes of the All Blacks playing the Kangaroos in a hybrid game this year. Picture: Getty Images

Those concerns aren’t going anywhere. Neither is Lonergan according to those who know him best.

“Lonergan, with his track record, won’t give up,” a source close to the negotiations said.

“There is a massive difference to State of Origin and grand finals. Those things can take place (in COVID) and all that happens is they are going to make a lot less money than they would normally make.

“This has been priced in such a way that it needs to have excellent execution at state level, it needs to have fantastic execution on the gate, and fantastic execution on TV. It can’t be done in the COVID environment. It proved impossible.”

Lonergan had managed to bring some of the game’s heaviest hitters on board, among them Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga and seven-time premiership winner Wayne Bennett.

The NRL spoke to Lonergan as late as last month when there were genuine hopes he could perform a miracle and bring the codes on board.

New Zealand Rugby had also shown an interest, although they ultimately claimed it was in the hands of the NRL.

The end result is that the proposal has no immediate future, although Lonergan is certain to keep working behind the scenes to make it happen.

Should he press ahead with plans to piece the game together next season, Lonergan will meet fresh challenges. One of the biggest will be scheduling and finding a way to fit it into a year that will no doubt be crammed in international matches for both the Kangaroos and the All Blacks.

While the hybrid game has gone by the wayside for this year, club bosses were also told that a game between New Zealand and Tonga was also in jeopardy due to the COVID threat.

Officials have been working on several plans, including one that would result in the game being played at Sunshine Coast Stadium and feature only Australian-based players. A final decision is expected to be made by September 1.