NZRL block Kangaroos-Mate Ma'a Tonga clash ^Featured

NZRL boss Greg Peters told Fairfax Media they weren't keen on the Australia-Tonga clash because of the timing of the fixture.

The Kiwis will host Australia on their turf for the first time in four years on October 20. The eagerly anticipated match-up between the No.1-ranked Kangaroos and World Cup semi-finalists Tonga was slated for a week later.

Peters denied the NZRL was snubbing the Tongans as payback for the Kiwi defectors who joined the minnows on the eve of the World Cup.

"We have been talking with the Australian Rugby League Commission and they're looking at a number of options for that game," he said. "One of them was in Auckland, but we have a Test match against Australia the weekend before, and we want to give prominence to that in our market.

"It's the first time we've played Australia in New Zealand for four years. Other than the World Cup, we've had precious little [international rugby league] content in our own market.

"We want to rebuild the Kiwis jersey and get back on side with our fans, and this is a great opportunity for us to do that against Australia.

"It's a smaller market – we're a small sports market, let alone rugby league market in New Zealand."

Peters said New Zealand embraced the Pacific islands in their community and could not wait to stage an international against Tonga. The Tongans upset the Kiwis during their pool game at the World Cup, led by several former Kiwis including Taumalolo and Manu Ma'u.

"We're very much looking forward to playing Tonga in our own time as well,'' Peters said. "It will be a massive match when it takes place. There is no hint of payback in this at all.

"In this particular instance, we're playing the weekend before and we want to give prominence to that [Kiwis game].''

A sellout of more than 25,000 fans is expected for the October 13 Australia-New Zealand clash at Mt Smart Stadium.

Several Australian venues were mooted for the fixture, including Suncorp Stadium, but the ARLC felt they did not have enough time to properly prepare for the event. The smaller Mt Smart Stadium venue had appeal, along with the fact the Kangaroos players would have already been in Auckland.

NRL boss Todd Greenberg has not given up hope the Australia-Tonga Test will go ahead and is prepared to give it one last sales pitch.

Coach Mal Meninga has been vocal about playing the Tongans, given the excitement they created at the World Cup and the dominant performance they produced to beat Samoa in the Pacific Test earlier this year.

The ARLC and NRZL were already at loggerheads over the decision to give the contentious Denver Test the green light earlier this year. Despite the ARLC's concerns, their Kiwi counterparts embraced the concept, even though their was a disappointing crowd and the promoter of that game is now in financial trouble.

As it stands, an Australian Prime Minister's XIII will play Papua New Guinea before the one-off Test against New Zealand.

Meninga, rugby league's 13th Immortal, is keen to reward Origin form with Greg Inglis and Boyd Cordner to thrash it out for the captaincy left vacant by Cameron Smith's retirement.

-Sydney Morning Herald