4 Nations

[sportsmad]

Winning doesn't pay - Kiwis
NEW Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) is set benefit financially from losing to England and missing out on this weekends' Four Nations final.

NZRL financial controller Alex Hayton said today that while the Kiwis would walk away with just £25,000 ($A45,000) in prizemoney - compared with £100,000 ($A180,000) that goes to the winners - an England-Australia decider would mean a bonanza for the three tournament partners.

The Kiwis will also save travel and accommodation costs by heading home today instead of next week. "In the end, the prizemoney is a very small component of the overall financial picture," Hayton said.

"Australia, New Zealand and England are the tournament partners with France invited to take part and given an appearance fee. The partners split the overall profits. England qualifying for the final makes it more likely that there is a full house, whereas Australia-New Zealand would have been a harder sell.
"So from that point of view, the financial return will probably be healthier because England are in the final."

It is expected this weekend's gate will more than compensate the NZRL, which suffered a poor financial return the last time the Kiwis visited Europe in 2007.

Meanwhile, Kiwis Benji Marshall and Fuifui Moimoi have won positional awards from the Rugby League International Federation.

Despite spending much of the year at halfback with the Wests Tigers, Marshall was named stand-off of 2009 and Moimoi the year's best prop.

Australian Jarryd Hayne was named International Player of the Year but was not among the nominees for the rival and more established Golden Boot award.

Moimoi was shortlisted for that award, as was Gareth Ellis, Greg Inglis, Kevin Sinfield, Billy Slater and Cameron Smith.

[sportsmad]

Eden Park targeted for Four Nations venue
International rugby league bosses are in negotiation with Eden Park to host a double-header during next year's Four Nations tournament.

The series shifts back to the Southern Hemisphere in 2010 with Pacific Cup winners Papua New Guinea taking the place of France and games to be split on both sides of the Tasman.

Australian Rugby League chief executive Geoff Carr said the feasibility of a double-header in New Zealand was being investigated.

"Things are at a very early stage but we are talking to the major New Zealand venues about a double-header," Carr said.

"Eden Park is one of the venues that have been mentioned. I would imagine a bidding process will take place."

Carr said that at this stage Papua New Guinea would not host any games in the 2010 Four Nations.

Meanwhile, the Kiwis team management has completed a review of the season - but a statement issued to the media on Tuesday did not provide many specifics of the findings.

"We've had five Tests this year and, while there were pleasing aspects overall and especially over the last few weeks, the season obviously hasn't finished the way we wanted it to," coach Stephen Kearney was quoted as saying.

"We've identified some areas where we didn't quite come up to the standards we set ourselves.

"It's more about getting our processes to the point where they give us the chance to be our best for every match we play."

The reigning world champions opened an unsatisfactory 2009 calendar with a 10-38 loss in the Anzac Test in Brisbane before beating Tonga 40-24 in Rotorua last month - their final preparation for the Four Nations.

A last-minute converted try left the Kiwis to settle for a 20-20 draw in their Four Nations opener - and trans-Tasman rematch - in London before beating France 62-12 and bowing out to England 12-20 in Huddersfield last Sunday (NZT).

"The season obviously hasn't finished the way we wanted it to," said Kearney, who added a positive was the blooding of 11 new internationals, including six on this tour.

Meanwhile, unhappiness with Frenchman Thierry Alibert's performance in the 20-12 loss to England at the weekend could result in the New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) reviewing its support for a referee from each competing country being appointed to the Four Nations panel.

There is a push for two fulltime professionals from each hemisphere to be used next year.

Five of the Kiwis' management team plus the NZRL's high performance director Tony Kemp will visit the Manchester United Football Club on Thursday.

The Golden Boot award for the world's best player will be presented immediately after the Four Nations final between the Kangaroos and England at Elland Road (Sunday NZT).

interesting that theyre looking at all of nz's big venues. u would assume thsi would be the big three with wespac in wellington , ami in christchurch and eden park in auckland being the big 3. i dont think carrisbrook in dunedin will be in the bidding war. obviously the largest crowd would be in auckland. im hoping eden park has the winning bid (and i think it will) because it will put on the best show by far witht he alrgest crowd. i do see the oportunity to grow the game further south. there is other games to bid for though.

[supersteve]

How the hell did they let it get to 46-16?. Terrible. They really had a good chance of beating the Kangaroos in that match. Some missed opportunities, particularly in the first half. And the last 20 was diabolical. Such a shame because they really did not deserve a scoreline like that.

[johnathon]

The scoreline does certainly not allude to the quality of football and competitiveness of the first 60 minutes. And it'll be a shame because Australian news networks will report on Australia's domination, run-away tries, etc, not England's battle to the end.

Looking at the positives though. If England keep this team together, by 2013 they are going to have a side genuinely able to contend for the world title. Tomkins, Eastmond and Burgess are just growing to prosper and become better. They were a bit wet behind the ears to bring home and English victory tonight, but they have a bright future so long as they are in the English line up.

This tournament has proven Australia are not invincible, and will also see some senior players winding down their careers for the green and gold. Hindmarsh, Lockyer, Civoniceva will all be retiring from the Australian team shortly, and will be missed a lot. England and New Zealand's youthful sides will have caught up to the Aussies by then, and there will be a very level playing field for rugby league internationally.

[supersteve]

Definately, I agree with a lot of that. The Poms have the forward pack, no doubt about it. They even have two quality halves now, and two good hookers. And it is a young team which will only get better with more experience. It could have been a different result though tonight. If they captilised on some first half chances they could easily have been up by 12 at half time, which would have made it a totally different game for the Aussies in the second half.

All in all a great tournament though. Great to see a Northern hemispehere team make the final. Shame about the unavailability of the top tier of that stand though, could have been a bigger crowd.

[johnathon]

Nov 15, 2009 9:04:41 GMT 10 supersteve said:

It could have been a different result though tonight. If they captilised on some first half chances they could easily have been up by 12 at half time, which would have made it a totally different game for the Aussies in the second half.

In 4 years time, Burgess would have thrown that pass to Tomkins. That would've had the poms up by 8 or so if I remember correctly. Leading at half time might have meant a different result - if not a win, a more respectable scoreline.

[johnathon]

What was everyone's opinion of Leon Williamson's refereeing performance?

[sportsmad]

leon willaimson could have dont worse. there were a few mistakes in there certainly but id rate him quite highly. great repoir with the players. id say eh would have done a better job than steve ganson.

why was the upper tier closed> does anyone know the crowd?

[supersteve]

the crowd was capped at 31000, which they reached early in the week. the crowd fiugre was 31480 or something like that. I saw a few days ago that the tier was unavailable but they didnt give a reason why.

[arh21980]

Without looking at the final scores which many people are going to unfortunately I think the rlif can be happy with the closeness throughout the tournament. And hopefully France, England and New Zealand will build of it (the reason I left out Australia is because they are generally the yardstick).

I also think we are on the edge of something very special with International League over the next few years.

[sportsmad]

well todays the day we find out the venue allocations for next years four nations. will sydney even get a test!

[supersteve]

I hope not! lol. Give one to Perth IMO.

[Druzik]

Looks like Aus v NZ in Auckland and England v Aus in Melbourne.

The Final will be in Brisbane.

[sportsmad]

well this is the likely draw for australia according to the tele:
Likely 2010 Test venues: Anzac Test: Australia v New Zealand, Melbourne; Four Nations preliminary games in October: Australia v New Zealand, Auckland; Australia v England, Melbourne; Australia v Papua New Guinea, Sydney; Four Nations final in November: Brisbane

that aus v nz at eden park will more than likely be a double header with png v england before hand. i will definately fly over for that one.
nz v england will probably be in wellington IMO. where to stage nz v png? beez would be a better judge of this but i would have new plymouth. nzrl has indicated theyre prioritising spreading the game to different locations in nz. i wonder if the south island will get a game..... does anyone know the last time the osuth island got a kiwis test?

[sportsmad]

forgot to mention that canberra has expressed interest in the aus v png game