League: Kiwis lose home advantage as Four Nations heads north

Since his debut against Australia in Wellington in 2002, fullback Lance Hohaia, the Kiwis' most capped player, has played only two tests in New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images

Kiwis fans better get out and enjoy this year's Four Nations while they can - because if they live in the North Island their next chance to see the world champion national side in the flesh could be four years away.

Next year's Anzac test in Christchurch is the last confirmed match on New Zealand soil before the 2013 World Cup.

Chairman Scott Carter said the NZRL was doing its best to change that, but he could offer no guarantees.

With next year's Four Nations and the World Cup pencilled in for the Northern Hemisphere, 2012 represents the only real chance to bring meaningful international matches to New Zealand.

Australia have already indicated they will not participate in a Four Nations that year to give their top players a break.

That leaves an England tour as the only option, and the English have already indicated they would prefer to play hosts.

"We are still working through our options [for 2012]," Carter said.

"The English are quite keen for us to go up there and we have discussed them coming down here on tour. Nothing is settled yet. But we are particularly mindful of keeping tests on New Zealand soil."

However, even the regular match against a Pacific nation is in doubt next year, with the NZRL weighing up whether it will be viable with the rugby union world cup taking place at the same time.

The looming dearth of test football on these shores is hardly new.

Fullback Lance Hohaia, the most capped player in the Kiwis squad with 23 tests to his name, made his debut against Australia in Wellington in 2002.

Since then, he has played just two of 22 tests in New Zealand - against Samoa last week and against Tonga in Rotorua last year.

The reason is almost purely financial. Matches in Australia and England earn significantly more revenue for the sport.

That the current Four Nations proves a financial success is crucial to New Zealand's hopes of hosting more matches. So far the signs have been good.

Last week's double header at Mt Smart Stadium attracted a crowd of over 12,000 - almost double the figure budgeted for.

Pre-match ticket sales for tonight's match in Wellington and the double-header at Eden Park had significantly exceeded traditional levels, Carter said.

A hoped-for crowd of 18,000 tonight in Wellington would be well above budget, while 25,000 was the benchmark for success in Auckland.

"We are cautiously optimistic that this year's Four Nations will demonstrate the New Zealand public has an appetite for high-quality test football," Carter said.

Well used to doing without home advantage, the Kiwis are relishing having it and were looking forward to atoning for last year's defeat by the English in Huddersfield, Hohaia said.

"We kind of fell apart in that last game last year. It wasn't a very enjoyable game and most of us have that in the forefront of our minds. We are back on home turf now in front of our friends and family and I know that we are going to put in a good performance."

Wellington-born forward Ben Matulino is also well aware of the need to put on a good show in his home town. The last time the Kiwis played in Wellington, in 2007, 16,668 people witnessed a 58-0 humiliation at the hands of Australia.

"If we win then maybe next time we have a test down here more people from around the city will come out and watch us. If they don't, it could be a long time until they get another chance," Matulino said.