Kiwis Lose and The NZRL Wins
I had to laugh when I read this headline:
Here’s the deal. While the Kiwis dip out on performance prize money (they only get 25K pound for third compared to 100K pound for winning), the fact the Poms made the final means more fat round white Pommy bums on seats.
“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.”
But wait – there’s more!
The Kiwis will also save travel and accommodation costs by heading home today instead of next week.
Perhaps Teacher Ted should have come back from the 2007 RWC and said look on the sunny side … we saved two weeks of travel and accommodations costs!
As for the Four Nations, it’s hard not to wonder if the slower game under the French ref worked against the Kiwis. As hard as it is to say, Shayne Hayne would have been better.
Still, the ref didn’t make the Kiwis drop bombs, knock on, or miss tackles.
While it was obviously a bummer not to have another shot at the Kangarooteds, there were many positives to come out of the tour:
- Kearney continues to develop as a coach
- Junior Sau and Waerea-Hargreaves in particular shone as young players with talent
- Fui Fui is back in the Kiwis fold
- Benji didn’t get injured
At least we have some half decent international league on top of the NRL. Even so, it beats the aerial ping pong that passes as rugby union these days.
