Warriors could take NRL game to Pacific Islands ^Featured

Last weekend's Super Rugby game between the Chiefs and Crusaders in Suva was a huge success, not just because of there were 19,000 spectators at the game, but also the long term impact the game will leave on the region.

The NRL have also been looking to make inroads into the Pacific Islands and given the amount of Pacific Island players in the Warriors, it would be a boost for the code to have the Warriors take a regular season game to Fiji, Samoa or Tonga.

However, a stumbling block for the next couple of seasons is the club's current deal with Mt Smart Stadium, where they're only allowed to play one other home game elsewhere each year.

"As we're the New Zealand Warriors, we want to have that game in New Zealand," Warriors managing director Jim Doyle said.

"That's why we've been to Wellington, New Plymouth and other places."

However, Doyle said the new deal, which they're close to finalising, would allow them to play a game in the Islands.

"We're working with Mt Smart on our future deal, which would allow us to take two games out of here and that opens up the door to do things like that," he said.

"Also, we're working a lot with clubs in Australia to bring games here, like Penrith in Christchurch, the Raiders to take a game to Wellington and if we can get more of that happening, that gives us the opportunity to look at those types of things."
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The NRL bankroll the Pacific tests, played in Australia during the representative round each year and have to sign off on an NRL game being played in the Islands. The NRL also have to fork out for some of the extra costs.

"They'd have to pay for two teams to go there, but it's about growing the game," Doyle said.

"I've no doubt that in some point in time there will be rugby league games played in the Pacific Islands. It's a case of when and which teams."

Taking someone like Roger Tuivasa-Sheck back to Apia for a game would be massive for the Warriors' profile in Samoa and may well encourage youngsters there to take up the 13-man game.

Doyle says they are keen on growing their profile in the Pacific.

"That's always a big opportunity for us," he said.

"Because a large make up of our team are Tongans and Samoans, the more we could do there the better and the more fan base and supporters we could get.

"We do community stuff there now, we've been to Tonga a few times and ran programmes there. We recently had Tony Iro there, running some clinics."

Next weekend the Warriors play the Sea Eagles in Perth. It's a long trip the Warriors would prefer not to make, but the NRL are keen on growing the game in Western Australia.

 - Stuff