Samoa coach Ben Gardiner believes the NRL should consider reinstating the mid year Test weekend to give the likes of Tonga, Samoa and Fiji to gain more international experience.
The mid year Tests were scrapped in 2023 in favour of the inaugural Pacific Championships, but Gardiner says he’d like to again see Samoa given a chance to play mid-season.“For us, we need Test matches,” Gardiner said in his post match press conference after Samoa’s 50-0 loss to New Zealand in Auckland.
“We’ve had an opportunity for a number of our guys to play two Test matches now, well we need more of those so we can build up that experience so when we go up against a side like Australia or New Zealand who have guys with 15-20 Test matches under their belt, that’s how we start to compete with those teams.”As it stands, Samoa won’t play their next Test match for another 12 months. When asked if it felt crazy that it be so long between Tests, Gardiner responded with a laugh, “For sure”.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘We need Test matches’: Samoa coach calls for changes to schedule following heavy defeatNRL: New Zealand have ran up a huge score in their opening Pacific Championship game against Samoa at Eden park.
Read more »
LIVE Pacific Champs: Madge unleashes four debutants as new-look Kiwis take on SamoaRugby League: Papua New Guinea have crushed the Cook Islands 46-10 in Port Moresby as former NRL star winger Nene Macdonald scored four tries in the thumping victory.
Read more »
‘Goosebumps’ after NZ, Samoa stars’ powerful stare off, cult hero’s emotional momentRugby League: Papua New Guinea have crushed the Cook Islands 46-10 in Port Moresby as former NRL star winger Nene Macdonald scored four tries in the thumping victory.
Read more »
Lucky dip: How chance meeting at a pool led to cult hero’s Test debutManly and Samoan hooker Gordon Chan Kum Tong made the most of a chance poolside encounter with another NRL star.
Read more »
New Zealand to face Australia in Pacific Championships final after 50-0 win over Samoa, Kiwi Ferns beat Mate Ma'a Tonga 28-10Australia will meet New Zealand for Pacific Nations rugby league championship honours after the Kiwis crush Samoa to book their place in the final.
Read more »
‘Chills’: Footy world loses it for Haka madnessNew Zealand and Samoa have given five of the best minutes of rugby league this season before a ball was even kicked in their Test match at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon.
Read more »