NZRL coy on Tonga v Kangaroos
New Zealand Rugby League CEO Greg Peters insists a test between the Kangaroos and Tonga in Auckland this year is not a done deal, despite reports to the contrary.
The Nrl.com website has reported that Australian players will be asked to take a pay cut from their usual $20,000 test match fee to ensure the test goes ahead later this year.
The NRL wants the test to be played at Mt Smart Stadium on October 20, a week after the Kangaroos play the Kiwis at the same venue.
But while negotiations have continued between NRL CEO Todd Greenberg, Peters and NZRL chairman Reon Edwards, Peters says no agreement has been reached.
‘‘Our overall position is that we want to give prominence to New Zealand versus Australia,’’ Peters said.
‘‘We have bounced around a number of scenarios with Todd and his team and there are ongoing discussions, but we haven’t landed on a fixed position yet.’’
The NZRL have made it a priority to rebuild the brand of the Kiwis team after last year’s disastrous World Cup.
Peters wants to get a connection back between New Zealand league fans and the national team, which has rarely played on home soil in recent years.
A test between Australia and Tonga could detract from what it is trying to achieve.
However, the NZRL also sees the value of playing tests against Tonga in Auckland.
‘‘We also want to ensure we have in our calendar a match against Tonga, as well as the Australians playing Tonga,’’ Peters said. ‘‘That’s part of that consideration. If there is a possibility of that match going ahead, we would want to ensure we were also announcing a match against Tonga at the same time.’’