New Zealand players and officials are pushing for the return of the mid-year Anzac Test against Australia, which would give them a representative game with special meaning, rather than waiting for the end-of-year internationals.
The last Anzac Test was played in 2017, in front of fewer than 20,000 fans in Canberra, before it was dumped as part of the new broadcast deal.
Australia won 16 of the 18 Anzac Tests played between the two nations, which began in 1997 and was always played on or around April 25.
The Kiwi players raised the idea of trying to resurrect the Anzac game while they were in camp during last year’s Pacific Championships.
While Australian Test players come together in the middle of the year for the State of Origin series, the New Zealanders have to wait until the end of the season for their own big clashes. But, given the country’s strong representation through the NRL playing ranks, they believe they deserve more.
“Putting a Test on in the middle of the year would be unreal,” Canberra’s Joe Tapine said.
“We always talk about Origin, how the Australian players play together, and play against each other at the highest level, but we have to wait until the end of the year.
“The Kiwis were good in the past, but we’ve come along in leaps and bounds, and we have the players at the moment that can challenge the Aussies. It would be a great game. They need to put it on.”
Roosters prop Naufahu Whyte added: “We spoke about how the State of Origin get all the accolades. They deserve it. But as New Zealanders, we feel like we play a big part in this game, and believe we should have a game that is up there against Australia.
“The Anzac Test would be a game of respect between Australia and New Zealand.
“I remember growing up and watching those [Anzac] games, and how the players would go after it.
“It wouldn’t be just any other game.”
Outgoing New Zealand Rugby League chief Greg Peters supports any extra international games, and said fans would pack out the 50,000-capacity Eden Park each year.
He says a game between the two proud nations, rather than two NRL clubs, was also a truer representation of the Anzac spirit.
“We’d love to have the Anzac Test again – it would give New Zealand a meaningful fixture against Australia, outside of the Pac Champs,” he said. “Our players want more internationals and games of significance like the Anzac Test.
“At a time when everyone is challenged, and there are plenty of things going on elsewhere in the world, this is something we can hang our hat on.
“It would be nice if we could anchor one game on one really important day of the year that had meaning.”
How much of an appetite there is for the Anzac Test will be heavily contingent on broadcasters, which are negotiating with the NRL for the next deal, due to commence in time for the 2028 season.
One criticism of the mid-year Anzac Test in the past was that club football was placed on hold for a week, which made the season longer. Peters said there was no reason the Test could not be played on the same weekend as club football. Clubs with a heavy representation would be impacted that weekend, but it would mean they also have top talent at their disposal the rest of the year.
Tapine said player workloads would not be an issue, and Origin players had no such concerns backing up after such a ferocious contest.
The NRL changed its international Origin eligibility rules this year so New Zealand and English players could represent NSW or Queensland, provided they still met the criteria.
