International New Zealand Kiwis

[CWC]

Kini being so young, would be good to keep him around the squad

Forgot about him, 14 is his if he recovers

 

[Noitall]

Forgot about him, 14 is his if he recovers

Was interesting how the māori team played them both with Kini coming on for Ponga later in the game

 

[WHB]

Jerome Hughes was fire tonight.
Neame wasn't to shabby either.

 

[SBW1]

Madge could well acquire his old spot back as coach or become an advisor this year for the Pacific Cup. Not an unlikely scenario. Wonder if we could look at poaching a few guys even from the island teams, like Spencer Leniu or some of the Raiders.

 

[sballer7]

Madge could well acquire his old spot back as coach or become an advisor this year for the Pacific Cup. Not an unlikely scenario. Wonder if we could look at poaching a few guys even from the island teams, like Spencer Leniu or some of the Raiders.

Can't see Leniu switching given he is entrenched in the NSW set up.

 

[WahsaurusRex]

Saw someone bring up an NZ Origin in the recruitment thread when we extended those ChCh kids, and people seemed to like it when I did the same thing last year, so figured I'd give it another crack.

Simply, there isn't enough for a North Island/South Island split yet, and while a City/Country format would probably make more sense, the Country forward pack is just too crazy by comparison lol. Although, maybe that is exactly what you want if you are the NZRL- Auckland being hammered to prove a non-Auckland NRL team is needed

I may have sucked some of the fun out of it to be fair. I've excluded anyone who played for a different country during last years internationals, Origin guys, and anyone who is currently injured. Basically, what (I think) would the teams be if they were selected today.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Saw someone bring up an NZ Origin in the recruitment thread when we extended those ChCh kids, and people seemed to like it when I did the same thing last year, so figured I'd give it another crack.

Simply, there isn't enough for a North Island/South Island split yet, and while a City/Country format would probably make more sense, the Country forward pack is just too crazy by comparison lol. Although, maybe that is exactly what you want if you are the NZRL- Auckland being hammered to prove a non-Auckland NRL team is needed

I may have sucked some of the fun out of it to be fair. I've excluded anyone who played for a different country during last years internationals, Origin guys, and anyone who is currently injured. Basically, what (I think) would the teams be if they were selected today.

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I dont like it, the warriors are putting up a lot of players for a 3 game series that means nothing.

14 squad members! You got to be fucken kidding!

Kiwis are a different prospect though.

 

[WahsaurusRex]

I dont like it, the warriors are putting up a lot of players for a 3 game series that means nothing.

14 squad members! You got to be fucken kidding!

Kiwis are a different prospect though.

Not suggesting a three-game series, I don't think there would even be interest beyond one game.

I think the ideal scenario imo would be to have it Grand Final week as our alternative to the Prime Minister's XIII (When Warriors players hopefully wont be available for selection very often lol) or once expansion settles, have SOO on standalone weeks, with an NZ origin match the week of Origin 1, and Kiwis games the weeks of Origin 2 & 3.

 

[RiceOwl]

Not suggesting a three-game series, I don't think there would even be interest beyond one game.

I think the ideal scenario imo would be to have it Grand Final week as our alternative to the Prime Minister's XIII (When Warriors players hopefully wont be available for selection very often lol) or once expansion settles, have SOO on standalone weeks, with an NZ origin match the week of Origin 1, and Kiwis games the weeks of Origin 2 & 3.

Love the thinking and all the work gone into putting those teams together. That’s a cracking effort Wahsaurus.

I can honestly see it come to fruition in the future if done correctly.

Like I believe if all representative fixtures, it should be at the end of the season (and in an ideal world after a shorter NRL season)

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

Saw someone bring up an NZ Origin in the recruitment thread when we extended those ChCh kids, and people seemed to like it when I did the same thing last year, so figured I'd give it another crack.

Simply, there isn't enough for a North Island/South Island split yet, and while a City/Country format would probably make more sense, the Country forward pack is just too crazy by comparison lol. Although, maybe that is exactly what you want if you are the NZRL- Auckland being hammered to prove a non-Auckland NRL team is needed

I may have sucked some of the fun out of it to be fair. I've excluded anyone who played for a different country during last years internationals, Origin guys, and anyone who is currently injured. Basically, what (I think) would the teams be if they were selected today.

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Nice work.

I’d did something similar a while back in the “NRL expansion” thread of one particular year (2023 if memory serves). A Non-Auckland and an Auckland side. The non-Auckland side would crush the Auckland side, IMO. I used it as an example that the talent is there for another Kiwi NRL team. Or even a NSW/Qland cup side in Christchurch.

Further still, if you had to do a top 10 Kiwis players in the last 15 years. How many are actually from Auckland? SJ, Foran and SBW? That’s it IMO.