Kiwis tests unlikely in 2020
The NRL has designed multiple scenarios of when the suspended competition could return, but the prospect of test matches going ahead this year looks increasingly unlikely.
Having already postponed the sport at community level until at least May 2, last week the New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) postponed the Kiwis’ June clash against Tonga, as well as the Kiwi Ferns-Samoa test, with the hope of rescheduling the fixtures at the back end of the year alongside the rest of the Oceania Cup and the trans-Tasman test.
However, that was all dependent on how severely the coronavirus pandemic affects the NRL, which was suspended indefinitely on Monday.
The situation is changing by the day but with any revised competition expected to push into the October/November international window – if the club season resumes at all this year – the chances of the Kiwis not playing in 2020 is a distinct possibility.
‘‘It is a consideration for later in the year, but it’s looking increasingly more challenging and difficult given the NRL season is likely to extend past it’s normal finishing date,’’ NZRL chief executive Greg Peters told Stuff of the Tonga test.
‘‘And then remembering that we’re also moving into a World Cup year in 2021 when there are significantly more test matches played. So we’ve got to think of player welfare and, to be honest, the appetite of our international players who are under an immense amount of stress personally with the NRL situation.’’
The NRL has devised plans for possible restart dates as early as the beginning of June up until September 1 – the deadline to return before the season is cancelled.
A best-case scenario of a June kickoff would allow the NRL to complete all 25 rounds of the regular season, as well as the playoffs, with the grand final held in December.
There is also a strong desire to play the State of Origin series prior to Christmas, which could provide a potential window for test matches.
But Peters stressed player welfare would not be compromised.
Given the pressure players are under to finish the club campaign, it may be unrealistic to expect them to back up for the Kiwis as well.
‘‘What will their appetite be like come the end of the year if we’re able to even contemplate playing internationals? So our concern is with them and their families at the moment,’’ he said.
The NZRL has long walked a financial tightrope and the loss of broadcast and gate revenue from any cancelled tests would be a major blow.
Last year’s test against Tonga drew a crowd of almost 25,000 at Mt Smart Stadium and there is hope it could build into New Zealand’s version of State of Origin. The Kiwis are also scheduled to face Fiji in October in a rematch of their shock loss in the 2017 World Cup quarterfinal, and are expected to play the Kangaroos in Australia.
But they are far from alone. The entire sporting landscape faces an uncertain future, with most organisations, if not all, likely to need some sort of Government assistance.
‘‘We’re in the same boat as everyone else at the moment, assessing things day by day – and what you plan for one day changes the next,’’ Peters said.
‘‘It’s at every level of every sport, it goes right from the smallest club in the country through to the national sports organisations.
‘‘It’s too early to quantify and assess it because that’s a pretty challenging job in such a fastpaced situation that none of us have faced before. But we are certainly wanting to assess that so we can have conversations with Sport NZ and ultimately the Government about what support looks like for sport in general, and rugby league specifically.’’