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New trans-Tasman rivalry to boost wheelchair game in Pacific

Author: Brad Walter NRL Senior Reporter
Timestamp: Thu 31 Oct 2024, 05:03 PM

New Zealand Wheelchair coach Edie George hopes Friday's international debut of the Wheel Kiwis against Australia’s Wheelaroos will lead to more Pacific nations taking up the sport.

Until now, Australia has been the only international team in the Southern Hemisphere but the first trans-Tasman Test with New Zealand creates a rivalry that will ensure more regular matches.

The historic Test at Auckland's Eventfinda Stadium will be the first for the Wheelaroos since their semi-final loss to France at the last World Cup in 2022 but for the Wheel Kiwis the fixture holds even greater significance.

A second Test will be staged at the same venue on Monday, kicking off at 12.30pm NZT and the fixtures will help qualify New Zealand for the next World Cup, to be staged in Australia in 2026.

The Wheelaroos will play their first Test since being the semi-final of the World Cup in 2022. ©Getty Images

“Obviously our aim is the World Cup but what we are trying to do with this campaign is set a standard and create a legacy because we want the game to grow in New Zealand,” George said.

"Ideally we will be able to have more trans-Tasman Test matches."

George was an assistant to Wheelaroos coach Brett Clark at the last World Cup in England and the pair spoke about the need to spread the game to New Zealand and other nations in the Pacific.

"We want to build that same rivalry that the men's and the women's game have," Clark said.

"They have been doing a lot of development over here [in New Zealand] trying to get the game established and they got to a stage where they now have the ability to have a team and play.

"If we can build the sport up in our own backyard then maybe other countries that are looking at it will be keen as well - even a Pacific Islands team representing multiple nations would be phenomenal."

Kiwis internationals Ruben Wiki and Charlotte Scanlan have been supporting the growth of wheelchair rugby league in New Zealand. ©Warriors Media

Since the World Cup, the Wheelaroos have had a two-Test series against the USA in Las Vegas – to coincide with the NRL’s season opener at Allegiant Stadium – and a proposed tour by France to Australia both fall over.

“The Wheelaroos don’t get to play many Test matches, so they go into the World Cup quite raw,” said George, who is also the NSW coach and has a Kiwi family connection.

“I think this Test series is going to be unbelievable for the sport in the Southern Hemisphere and hopefully from this, other countries like Fiji and Samoa will want to get on the back of it.

"Papua New Guinea love their rugby league so they will love wheelchair rugby league.”

Match Highlights: Australia v Ireland

The inaugural Wheel Kiwis side is made up of players drawn from Australia, as well as New Zealand, and includes some newcomers to the sport.

“We have a few guys from Queensland Rugby League, who are Kiwis and play in Queensland, we have a couple of guys from Christchurch, and a couple of guys who have come across from wheelchair basketball,” George said.

“For some of those guys it will be their first game, and they are learning the rules and learning how to play. But these guys are like sponges and they have picked it up straight away.

“They are asking so many questions and, as a coach, I am appreciative of that because it shows they are keen to learn.

“In such a short period of time they have built a camaraderie and brotherhood, which I wasn’t expecting this early.”

The Wheel Kiwis players chose Jayson Hooker as the inaugural captain, with Kauri Murray to the vice-captain.