www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/ar ... d=10736002 would be great would only had to value of our TV deal and help game grow in NZ further on the same week as our origin im sure it would get massive tv ratings in australia and NZ..

www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/ar ... d=10736002 would be great would only had to value of our TV deal and help game grow in NZ further on the same week as our origin im sure it would get massive tv ratings in australia and NZ..

The biggest problem with manufacturing an Origin concept is that, well it can't be manufactured. Origin works because it has developed naturally. To create something similar you have to have a natural rivalry like NSW v Qld. The stupid England v Exiles thing will never really work because it's not a natural or even rivalry. The tricky thing about NZ is how do you create a natural rivalry that will also be an even contest? Auckland v the rest seems like the best bet because everyone is NZ outside Auckland hates Auckland. And if you allowed the Australian "Kiwis" to play for the rest of NZ side they'd probably be competitive. But Auckland would still have the bulk of players, especially if they let the Aussies play for Auckland instead of the rest. That bit I don't get.

Sounds like NZ's version of City vs Country.

I'd like to see this at the same time as NSW's City vs Country, and then a 3-test series between NZ and PI at the same time as NSW and QLD. I think everybody wins then. If NSW can do it, why not New Zealand?

I think the Exiles experiment can be called a success. An entertaining game, a good crowd, a tough test for the English players, and - perhaps most importantly - it exposed the difference in intensity and skill between our somewhat unexciting national side and a quality international side who threw the ball around and tore us apart at times. If I was McBanananana I'd have a long list of items to work on thanks to that game.

I was sceptical about the whole idea but will admit it won me over.

As a spectacle, it was nothing more than an exhibition really. Some great skills on show, but nothing really too exciting as there is not that rivalry there (yet), and with it being a manufactured team there may never be. That's its only downfall. It beat playing France in every other area: intensity, exposure, crowd size, interest, etc. It was definitely worth it.

[url=http://viewtopic.php?f=62&t=499720What's the point of the NRL and Australian RL board?[/url

dally messenger spat his dummy out a while back. It's either a self imposed exile, or he's banned.........he doesn't do debate....

Where's the 'natural rivalry' in City vs Country?
Exiles vs England worked and will be even better next year.

There's probably more rivalry in a City/County game than England/Exiles from a fan point of view. As mentioned earlier, many from outside Auckland have a dislike about it. It's like how everybody hates Londoners

Never got that when I lived in (and around) Sydney. Maybe it could work with Auckland though.

Its died off a lot now because its not really a big event anymore.
It was seen a selection trial to a place for NSW SOO team now its just not much at all.
It was always seen as Country boys against City Slickers.
Many from the Country areas are scouted and signed for Sydney Clubs at a young age and it lost its way a bit with blurred lines on who was Country or City.

That's the problem when the area you represent isn't exactly defined and when most people move freely between the two it becomes a bit of a schamozzle.