Rugby League: NZRL holds on to hopes for school games

NZRL chief executive Phil Holden. Photo / File

The financially strapped New Zealand Rugby League still hopes to revive two Under-18s fixtures against the Australian Schoolboys after cancelling them because of money woes.

Two weeks ago, the NZRL declined an invitation from Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League to play two games, at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on September 27 and at Kougari Oval, Wynnum, on October 2, because it could not finance the trip.

The call was made after the NZRL's annual financial report in late June revealed a modest surplus of $16,000 for 2014-15, leaving in tatters goals set within the 2014-17 strategic plan of building $10 million in revenue and a $2 million surplus by 2017.

Despite its predicament, the NZRL says it is continuing to work with the Australian Rugby League Commission in an effort to reschedule the games, but no explanation was made of how that might be possible.

"This decision was made with a heavy heart," says NZRL chief executive Phil Holden. "But under the circumstances, this was the fiscally responsible decision. Given our current situation, we could not absorb the cost for this programme."

The Sydney Morning Herald yesterday reported ASSRL president Grant Edwards had to explain the unfortunate situation to recently selected Australian players and their parents in a letter obtained by Fairfax Media.

"In an email on August 5, Phil Holden informed me that ... It is with deep regret that I need to advise you that New Zealand Rugby League has withdrawn from this year's two test matches with the Australian schoolboys in Queensland, October 2015," wrote Edwards.

"This was entirely unexpected, and these circumstances are beyond our control ... We're very disappointed for the New Zealand kids who are in the same boat and would have been keen to represent their nation as well."

This situation comes as a further blow to the international game after the annual Anzac test between the Kangaroos and Kiwis was recently scrapped as part of the NRL's new $925 million television deal.

The Kangaroos remain world champions but the Kiwis have sparked renewed interest in the international arena after defeating Australia in their last three meetings, including last year's Four Nations success and this year's Anzac test.

Meanwhile, the Warriors and Kiwis have suffered another blow, with veteran winger Manu Vatuvei set to undergo a season-ending shoulder operation next week, to be followed by a five-month recovery period.

He will miss the Kiwis' end-of-year three-test tour of England in November, after struggling with the injury to his right shoulder, which he sustained in the June 27 clash against Canberra.

Vatuvei, 29, was not available for games against Melbourne, the Sydney Roosters and Manly, before reinjuring the shoulder 60 minutes into the Warriors' encounter with St George-Illawarra in Wellington on August 8.

Coach Andrew McFadden was disappointed to lose another of his senior players, with Shaun Johnson (ankle) and Thomas Leuluai (knee) already out of action, as they look to arrest a five-game losing streak.

"It was a difficult decision but certainly the best one for Manu, that he gets operated on, so that's going to mean a decent stint on the sidelines," said McFadden.

"Long-term he'll be fine and should make a full recovery. It's just a matter of going through the rehab process."