Raiders, Manly in 2014 China match-up

[DIEHARD]

Raiders, Manly in Shenzhen match-up

Fifteen years after Super League wanted to take rugby league to China, the Canberra Raiders hope to do just that by playing Manly in a fully-fledged NRL premiership match there in 2014.

The Raiders yesterday held initial talks with the Sea Eagles about the prospect of playing a game at Shenzhen Stadium, a newly-built 60,000 seat venue an hour north of Hong Kong.

Manly's main backer, Kaspersky, last month signalled its interest in helping facilitate a trial game in China against Canberra, who signed a two-year sponsorship deal with Chinese technology giant Huawei in April.

But after meeting Kaspersky and Manly officials at Huawei's Sydney offices yesterday, Raiders boss Don Furner confirmed the Sea Eagles are willing to play one of their 2014 premiership home games in China.

Russian IT company Kaspersky was the major sponsor of AFL club Melbourne Demons when they played an exhibition game in China against Brisbane in 2010.

Super League supremo John Ribot's vision of playing in China never unfolded 15 years ago, but Manly and the Raiders are confident of succeeding where he failed.

Huawei's head office is based in Shenzhen, regarded as one of the fastest-growing megalopolises in China.

''They're keen now on a competition game, not a trial game, if Manly want to do that we're fine by it [because] they'll be easier to beat up there than at Brookvale,'' Furner said. ''We need to talk to the NRL and get it sanctioned, then start the process of looking at the stadium over there, it's certainly in the very early concept stages.

''We'll go and see Fox Sports with the NRL about the idea, obviously they'll have more production costs there than in Australia, so there's those issues.
''All we would [have] to make sure of is that all our costs would be covered.''
Both clubs believe a match with two competition points on the line, contested by full-strength teams, stands a greater chance of capturing the Chinese public's imagination.

''It should get guaranteed coverage on Fox, and it's a better chance that Chinese TV will take that broadcast as well,'' Furner said.

''For a game that involves so much travel, if both teams could get a bye in April [the week after the match] we'd try and play the game then, because it gets a bit warm up there coming into May and June.''

Furner confirmed all parties would consider making the clash a regular fixture if it proved a resounding success in 2014.

''If it worked and the NRL got behind it, we'd have the option of going there again in 2015,'' Furner said.

Manly currently moves two of its home games to different venues each season.

This season they played South Sydney at the Central Coast's Bluetongue Stadium and the New Zealand Warriors at Perth's Patersons Stadium.
It is believed the Sea Eagles are considering playing in China each season from 2014, which could jeopardise Perth's prospects of hosting future Manly games.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugb...904-25d23.html

[DIEHARD]

Unfortunately it isn't in Hong Kong which I think would have been a better fit. But I am very excited about this idea and I wait with interest on Titanic's take on this.

[Sydney Titans Fanatic]

only if this was a titans game haha

[DIEHARD]

only if this was a titans game haha

I know our home games are important to us to build our fanbase, but I would have loved to see the Titans do something so innovative.

But the Raiders Chinese sponsor Huawei and the Manly sponsor of Kaspersky are really helping this happen.

[Sydney Titans Fanatic]

our sponsers jetstar couldnt they fly us over haha

[DIEHARD]

Channel Nine in favour of Canberra Raiders China match

The chances of the proposed Canberra-Manly game in China getting the green light have been boosted by Channel Nine throwing its considerable weight behind the watershed fixture.

In an ironic twist, given its recent reluctance to show Raiders games, Nine has expressed strong interest in broadcasting the first NRL fixture outside of Australia and New Zealand next year.

The free-to-air broadcaster's conditional backing is a significant development as powerbrokers work feverishly to ratify the match.

Raiders' major sponsor Huawei, a Chinese telecommunications company, is keen to know if the game is going ahead.

Huawei Australia director of corporate and public relations Jeremy Mitchell said the company plans to invite NRL boss David Smith and ARL commissioners to a board meeting in China in early December, where it is hoped the match will be rubber stamped.

It was initially hoped the fixture, which would be held in Shenzhen, would be a stand-alone season opener, but officials are now targeting April or early May.

''Channel Nine's been fully briefed. It was them who suggested the game be moved from the beginning of the season to that time - it suited them better,'' Mitchell said. ''They're also keen to get The Footy Show to go over for it, [and] in the first few rounds that would have been harder.''

The NRL has appointed independent consultant Tom Parker, the mastermind behind the 2010 AFL exhibition match in Shanghai between Brisbane Lions and Melbourne, to oversee proceedings.

Manly's major sponsor, Russian IT company Kaspersky, was the Demons' sponsor at the time.

Last week, Parker met with the Shenzhen government, which indicated it is keen to also stage an NRL match in 2015.

He will meet with the Chinese federal government this week, and many Chinese and Australian business have shown interest in helping with sponsorship.

''The NRL's never put on a game in China, so they've hired an expert who's done it before,'' Mitchell said.

''We have a Huawei Australia board meeting in China in December, and we're going to invite the CEO of the NRL to come up there and visit Shenzhen, and hopefully finalise the date. We've had many companies keen to come on board with sponsorship and any cost for the NRL would be minimal, it would be self-funding.''

In other developments:

■ Two stadiums with capacities of 40,000 and 60,000 respectively have been identified as suitable in Shenzhen, where 60,000 Huawei employees are based.

■ The ACT government has advised the NRL it fully supports the fixture.

■ South Sydney and Melbourne Storm have also indicated their interest in playing in China.

■ Talks are ongoing with Chinese national sports broadcaster CCTV about beaming the game across the world's most populous country.

''The fact they [Shenzhen government] were keen to make this a two-year commitment is encouraging,'' Mitchell said. ''It showed they think it's a good idea, and want it to go further than the proposal we took to them.

''We're hoping we'd be able to highlight Canberra's tourism, and showcase the city as a destination for Chinese investment because of the Raiders link.''

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/

[TITAN PETE]

Can only help our game grow

[C-Whiz]

Can only help our game grow

And there is a real chance that since most Chinese know nothing about RL, Manly might even pick up a few new supporters.

Titanic, you gonna take the BBQ crew along?

[DIEHARD]

I'm actually a chance of attending this game if it goes ahead. Maybe we will have a Titans contigent of supporters there!

[DIEHARD]

NRL push into China hits snag

The proposed NRL game between Manly and Canberra in China next year looks likely to be scrapped after last-minute talks failed to resolve a stalemate between the clubs and the governing body.

It is understood the five parties involved - Manly, Canberra, the club's major sponsors, Kaspersky and Huawei, and the NRL - have run out of time to get the landmark fixture off the ground.

Unless terms can be agreed quickly, which is highly unlikely, the project will be abandoned and the round eight clash on April 27 will stay at Brookvale Oval.

Final financial terms were put on Friday, but the NRL and the two clubs failed to resolve their differences on what model they favour.

Manly began talks with Canberra in September last year about playing a premiership match in Shenzhen, just north of Hong Kong.

Manly proposed moving its round eight home game - on Sunday, April 27, against Canberra at Brookvale Oval - to Shenzhen.

Raiders major sponsor Huawei has expressed frustration that the NRL waited so long to make a commitment and employ consultant Tom Parker to complete a feasibility study into the project.

The study uncovered financial risks, and the NRL and the clubs have been unable to find common ground on how to mitigate this.

Television coverage, the effects of travel and concerns over player burnout - particularly with representative players required to back up the following week - have not been resolved.

But it is understood the NRL remains open to the idea of playing in China in future years.

It would have been the first time a premiership match was played outside Australia and New Zealand.

But the two clubs and their sponsors have been emphatic that if it doesn't happen next year, they will abandon the project.

Huawei director of corporate and public affairs Jeremy Mitchell told Fairfax Media this week this is an opportunity the NRL cannot afford to throw away.

''It definitely has to happen next year,'' Mitchell said. ''We've been openly disappointed the NRL have come on board late, but they have hired the consultants so they understand the full potential. Kaspersky, Huawei, the Raiders and Manly have done everything they can, now it's up to the NRL.'

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/l...#ixzz2oBTfYFBt

[DIEHARD]

I think we have to do this properly and only a few months isnt good enough. We need alot longer lead in to ensure it is successful.