Tri-Nations Match 3
New Zealand Kiwis 18 d. Great Britain Lions 14

2006 Tri-Nations Test Series Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats]

Location: International > Nations > First Grade Competition: Tri-Nations Test Series

"Grannygate" costs Kiwis two points
Thu November 2, 2006
New Zealand have been stripped of two Tri Nations points after being found guilty of fielding an illegal player in their last two Test matches.

Mt Isa born Nathan Fien claimed to have had a grandmother of New Zealand birth and it was revealed that it was in fact his great grandmother who he claimed was born in New Zealand.

Fien has been banned from the rest of the tournament and has vowed to qualify for New Zealand through the residency rule.

The RLIF had no other option but to strip New Zealand of the two points they gained from defeating Great Britain last Saturday night. Fien has played two matches for the Kiwis with the other being the 20-15 loss against Australia in Melbourne two weeks ago.

With Great Britain unlikely to beat Australia in any of the two matches they'll play in Sydney and Brisbane respectively, next week's showdown at Wellington between the Kiwis and Lions will shape up as the clash who'll play Australia in the Final at Aussie Stadium.

It's time for all the governing bodies to get together and start taking control of the eligibility rule as it has become a complete joke and people are laughing at International Rugby League as a result.

Players who have an option of who to play for will always choose Australia because it's like whether you have a choice of a BMW or a Commodore and the majority will choose the BMW. Those who take the Commodore only do as it's the only one available.

Australia with the lure of State of Origin are always going to get the 50-50 players, such as Karmichael Hunt, Tonie Carroll and Antonio Kaufusi.

The Cayless brothers have been criticised for playing for New Zealand, but whilst both players were raised in Australia, both their parents are New Zealander's and have 100% Kiwi blood in them. The next generation of Cayless' may have Australian blood, however, not Jason and Nathan.

State of Origin is no longer a trial for Australian Test selection and is just an over-hyped television event. Maybe it's time the NRL, ARL, QRL and NSWRL look at how Origin is promoted where the likes of Sonny Bill Williams and Benji Marshall can showcase their talents on the biggest television event of the year and than New Zealand and the Pacific Islands get access to the next generation of Hunt's, Carroll's and Kaufusi's.


Morley cleared of wrong doing, free to play Australia
Sun October 29, 2006
Controversial Great Britain forward Adrian Morley has been cleared of any wrong doing following the Lions 18-14 loss against New Zealand last night and will be free to play Australia in Sydney this coming Saturday night.

Morley was placed on report in the opening exchanges following a high tackle on New Zealand captain Ruben Wiki, which looked worse on TV than it really was. Morley's arm slipped in the tackle but it was a nervous wait for the tough forward following his judiciary record in Australia when at the Roosters and prior to that when he was with the Leeds Rhinos.

New Zealand management also laid a complaint on Morley after he punched Brent Webb in the head during the second half in a play the ball incident.

Morley was cleared of both incidents and can now take his part in the Great Britain squad to play Australia at Aussie Stadium in Sydney on Saturday 4th November.

It's a must win game for Great Britain if they are to keep their Tri Nations hopes alive. Great Britain have won only once in Sydney over the last 35 years, which was in 1988 when they snapped a 10 year losing streak defeating Australia 26-12.

Sun October 29, 2006
• Kiwis pick up first Tri Nations win
  
Sat October 28, 2006
• New Zealand back on the winners circle
  
Sat October 28, 2006
• New Zealand v Great Britain live on Fox Sports 1 Australia
  
Fri October 27, 2006
• Simple goal for the Kiwis in Tri-Nations must win
  
Fri October 27, 2006
• Gillette Tri Nations - New Zealand v Great Britain
  
Thu October 26, 2006
• Kiwis ready for battle at Jade
  
Thu October 26, 2006
• C'mon Canterbury - Give 'em a taste of Kiwi
  
Wed October 25, 2006
• Morley named in Great Britain team
  
Wed October 25, 2006
• Kiwis won't back down in Tri Nations must win
  
Tue October 24, 2006
• Tupou and Pritchard return to Kiwis line up
  

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