Kiwis knock Australia off No.1 ranking..

[Geo]

Kiwis knock Australia off No.1 ranking
Ian Laybourn, AAP (via NRL.com)

Fri 15th May, 09:45AM
A A
New Zealand has knocked Australia off as the number one team in world rugby league for the first time ever.

The Kangaroos have never been lower than number one on the international stage, but that all changed on the back of New Zealand's 26-12 win over Australia in Brisbane in the Anzac Test earlier this month.

It was New Zealand's third consecutive win over their Tasman neighbours, following back-to-back victories in the 2014 Four Nations Series - the first time that feat had been achieved for 61 years.

"It's always humbling when your accomplishments are recognised in a tangible way and this ranking is a sign that we are doing something right in terms of our overall goal," said New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney.

"We're somewhat fortunate that we've been able to field close to our strongest side over our last two campaigns - the Four Nations and this month's Anzac Test.

"Compare that with last year's Anzac game, when we had about 16 players unavailable."

The Kiwis will have a chance to strengthen their hold on top spot ahead of the 2016 Four Nations series and the 2017 World Cup when they go to England at the end of the season for a three-Test series.

RUGBY LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL RANKINGS

1\. New Zealand

2\. Australia

3\. England

4\. Samoa

5\. France

6\. Fiji

7\. Ireland

8\. Scotland

9\. Wales

10\. USA

http://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2015/05/15/kiwis_knock_australi.html

 

[foreveratiger]

They thoroughly deserve it to Geo .

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Good for the game

 

[Tiger_Watto]

Pretty sad really considering the NZRL simply free-load off the NRL Competition, while doing nothing for the game Internationally.

Time to punt the Warriors out of the NRL and expand our game within Australia!

 

[pHyR3]

woo! go the kiwis, dont look back.

people might get bored watching half of the world's 2nd best team play the other half :wink:

 

[happy_tiger]

Pretty sad really considering the NZRL simply free-load off the NRL Competition, while doing nothing for the game Internationally.

Time to punt the Warriors out of the NRL and expand our game within Australia!

Your starting to sound like a Sunshine Coast redneck :laughing:

 

[Newtown]

Rugby League has been struggling to gain respect as an international sport since the mid 1960's. Unfortunately looking at the nation rankings it would appear that it is still struggling. How could anybody consider any nation ranked below Samoa and Fiji as a serious rugby league nation. Let's hope that at least four or so nations ranked below Australia, New Zealand and England kick on. Australia can help by continuing to support the growth of rugby league in neighbouring nations such as New Guinea, Samoa and Fiji.

 

[happy_tiger]

Surprised PNG isn't in the Top 10

We are reaping what we sow

We place so much emphasis on the SOO that Test matches are like the No 3 for Australian players over SOO and winning a premiership

 

[tiger_betto]

Surprised PNG isn't in the Top 10

We are reaping what we sow

We place so much emphasis on the SOO that Test matches are like the No 3 for Australian players over SOO and winning a premiership

Also surprised Tonga didn't make the list I would imagine them eating the Irish and USA alive

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

 

[happy_tiger]

Surprised PNG isn't in the Top 10

We are reaping what we sow

We place so much emphasis on the SOO that Test matches are like the No 3 for Australian players over SOO and winning a premiership

Also surprised Tonga didn't make the list I would imagine them eating the Irish and USA alive

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

It was mentioned during the Samoa v Tonga game if they won they'd be back in the Top 10

Don't know how that works , but anyway

 

[cktiger]

Pretty sad really considering the NZRL simply free-load off the NRL Competition, while doing nothing for the game Internationally.

Time to punt the Warriors out of the NRL and expand our game within Australia!

100% agree.
Their players have taken advantage of the NRL and our junior competitions to improve their skills.
About time they started their own competition so we can get rid of the Warriors and bring another Australian team in.
Get rid of them.

 

[cktiger]

Pretty sad really considering the NZRL simply free-load off the NRL Competition, while doing nothing for the game Internationally.

Time to punt the Warriors out of the NRL and expand our game within Australia!

100% agree.
Their players have taken advantage of the NRL and our junior competitions to improve their skills.
About time they started their own competition so we can get rid of the Warriors and bring another Australian team in.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

Pretty sad really considering the NZRL simply free-load off the NRL Competition, while doing nothing for the game Internationally.

Time to punt the Warriors out of the NRL and expand our game within Australia!

Your starting to sound like a Sunshine Coast redneck :laughing:

Happy, the NZRL do nothing. They ride on the back of the NRL success, pick the eyes out of the Pacific Nations and still cant contribute to the game overall by investing in some sort of competition to promote the game.

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

 

[happy_tiger]

Pretty sad really considering the NZRL simply free-load off the NRL Competition, while doing nothing for the game Internationally.

Time to punt the Warriors out of the NRL and expand our game within Australia!

Your starting to sound like a Sunshine Coast redneck :laughing:

Happy, the NZRL do nothing. They ride on the back of the NRL success, pick the eyes out of the Pacific Nations and still cant contribute to the game overall by investing in some sort of competition to promote the game.

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

How profitable would the NZRL actually be Watto ??

They'd wouldn't be collecting anything from the FTA deals , where would any money come from ??

 

[Tiger_Watto]

You don't make money by sitting on your arse and doing nothing!

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Wow, quite a bit of bitterness. ''free loaders'', ''kick them out''. If you look past the national bias and look at it as a RL fan, the fact that Australia aren't no 1 is the best thing for the game. It means the game will grow in other countries which is a great thing. Complain all you like but the Warriors aren't going anywhere soon and you guys know it

 

[Tbone]

I didn't even know there was a ranking system for international rugby league until a few weeks ago. Tonga not being in the top 10 sounds a bit dubious though.

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

 

[Tiger_Watto]

Wow, quite a bit of bitterness. ''free loaders'', ''kick them out''. If you look past the national bias and look at it as a RL fan, the fact that Australia aren't no 1 is the best thing for the game. It means the game will grow in other countries which is a great thing. Complain all you like but the Warriors aren't going anywhere soon and you guys know it

The game will only grow when countries like NZ start investing in the game in there own backyard.

Kids in aspiring countries will now look at NZ as the best, and pack there bags to go play with the best. When they get to Christchurch, they will realise they left behind there families and friends for nothing, and most likely play Rugby.

Yep, that will be good for Rugby League!

 

[happy_tiger]

You don't make money by sitting on your arse and doing nothing!

They are a distant second in NZ as far as Rugby Union is concerned

I don't where you think the NZRL would have any profits to spend Watto

 

[Tigermama]

Pretty sad really considering the NZRL simply free-load off the NRL Competition, while doing nothing for the game Internationally.

Time to punt the Warriors out of the NRL and expand our game within Australia!

That would mean going backwards not forward TW. I too would love the game to expand in Australia and Internationally. I wish the NRL would get its finger out and start taking action and making decisions towards that goal, instead of just talking about it and stalling the process.