NRL says Warriors can crack the USA
One of the highlights of the Kiwi sporting calendar delivered a stunning finish yesterday. pB5
The Warriors could take North America by storm, says NRL CEO Todd Greenberg.
The 2025 Rugby League World Cup will almost certainly take place in North America and organisers are keen to take plenty of league to the USA and Canada over the next eight years.
‘‘The Warriors have a huge opportunity,’’ Greenberg said.
‘‘That’s because they bring a very strong New Zealand brand to that discussion.’’
If league could crack the American market, something rugby is still struggling to do, it could transform the code.
This year the fledgling team Toronto Wolfpack have entered the third tier of English rugby league. They are financially well resourced, have signed former Kiwi Fuifui Moimoi and hope to be in the Super League in two years.
All parties understand how big an opportunity it would be to crack We’re in discussions with some people in North America about NRL Premiership games. America and Greenberg wants the NRL to play a part in getting into this lucrative market.
As well as taking NRL games to North America, the Kiwis and Kangaroos could also play tests there over the next few years.
‘‘If we are going to take our flagship event, from an international perspective, to the US, we have to build opportunities leading into that,’’ Greenberg said.
‘‘We’re in discussions with some people in North America about NRL Premiership games and certainly there’s interest in playing tournaments such as the Nines. To grow international football for a World Cup, there needs to be other rugby league content before we get there.’’
Greenberg was in New Zealand last weekend for the Auckland Nines and while everything points towards the tournament moving to the other side of the Tasman, he said he is committed to there being high-quality league in New Zealand, outside of the Warriors.
Greenberg reiterated that Auckland is in the running to host a State of Origin game.
‘‘Absolutely, we’re very open bringing Origin to Auckland),’’ said.
‘‘There’s a small window of opportunity in this next cycle, around the stadium development in New South Wales.
‘‘We’ve got $1.6 billion in stadium investment from government and a big chunk of that is going to go to ANZ Stadium. That means there is going to be a three or four year period where that stadium will be under construction.
‘‘We will still continue to play games there but I’ve made it very clear to government that we don’t want to play our marquee matches in a construction zone in that period.
‘‘We don’t have that construction period yet, we don’t understand what the time frame is but we’re working with government on that.
‘‘When we do know, then it’s clear particularly around State of Origin, we’re going to play some of these games in non-traditional markets.
‘‘The reason why I’m confident about saying that is because we’ve already shown our hand. We’ve played in Melbourne and we’re playing again there in 2018.
‘‘We’ve committed to take an Origin game to Perth, to play in the new stadium there.
‘‘So these governments and tourism boards are very active in talking to us about bringing major events in their cities, because they’ve invested hugely in their stadiums and want the best content and State of Origin is that.’’
Annual tests between the Kiwis and Kangaroos could also return to New Zealand. Under the NRL’s broadcasting deal with Channel Nine in Australia that wasn’t a possibility.
‘‘One of the things we’ve been talking to NZRL about is ensuring New Zealand is able to host a test match against Australia,’’ Greenberg said. [to he