3 months ago
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The boss of the New Zealand Rugby League wants to ensure the Kiwis and Australia – the world’s top-ranked nations – play each other every year.
And based on the Pacific Championships and Ashes form of the past month, NZRL chief executive Greg Peters is confident his nation would get the job done against the Australians if the teams met this weekend.
New Zealand came from behind to thump Samoa 36-14 at a heaving CommBank Stadium on Sunday, seven days after they put 40 points on Tonga at Eden Park.
Peters said it was a shame New Zealand had not played the Kangaroos this year, and while they are likely to clash at next year’s World Cup, including the potential tournament opener in Sydney, they are also not scheduled to meet in 2027.
New Zealand forwards James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota, Joe Tapine, Naufahu Whyte and Erin Clark would pose a big challenge to the Kangaroos pack, but Australia, according to the bookies, would still start short-priced favourites.
Erin Clark’s try was crucial in New Zealand’s Pacific Championships final win over Samoa.Credit: Getty Images
This masthead asked the TAB to frame a hypothetical market, and it had Australia at $1.20 with New Zealand $4.50, and $1.45 and $2.75 respectively if the game was played on the other side of the Tasman.
Peters said it was important the league powerhouses met every year, be it a week before the Pacific Championships or even the Anzac Day weekend if there was an appetite for it in the NRL’s new broadcast deal.
“The Anzac weekend is about national pride; it’s not about club football,” Peters said.
“We want to be playing against Australia at least once a year. As it stands, we will only play them at the World Cup, but not in 2025 or 2027.
Reece Walsh’s Kangaroos beat England 3-0 to claim the Ashes.Credit: Getty Images
“We played them before we went to England in 2018, so there’s no reason it can’t be done again before we go to England in 2027.
“It’s really important for the Kiwi brand we go up against the best.
“The Pasifika crowds have been excellent – they are passionate and so rich with culture – but it’s the Trans-Tasman rivalry we love to see, and that applies to every sport. It would be a real battle between the two current teams.
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“We had 10 players out when we lost to Australia last year. We had close to our full squad this year, so it would have been a great game. They have more depth, but we’d more than match it with them in the forwards.”
The Kiwis sent Kieran Foran into retirement a winner on Sunday in front of nearly 29,000 people, and will welcome the return of Jahrome Hughes in the halves for the World Cup, which will be played in Australia in October and November 2026.
Australia have the luxury of welcoming back forwards Liam Martin (fatherhood) and Cam Murray (Achilles), and wingers Xavier Coates (foot) and Zac Lomax (back), provided Lomax does not defect to R360, for next year’s tournament.
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