An end-of-season rugby league Test match between Australia and Tonga is closer to being given the green light following a meeting involving leading Kiwi officials.
The New Zealand Rugby League confirmed chief executive Greg Peters and chairman Cameron McGregor met NRL boss Todd Greenberg in Sydney on Wednesday, to attempt to make a deal for the historic match in Auckland.
Peters was unavailable to comment but a NZRL spokesperson said there was no confirmation a match slated for October 20 will go ahead.
The spokesperson said the NZRL’s main concern is ensuring the Test between Australia and the Kiwis being played a week earlier in Auckland is well promoted.
“Our top priority is to focus on our Test,” she told AAP.
“It’s the first time that our Kiwis have played at home since 2014 (outside the World Cup).
“So that is our main priority, to market that, rather than have our finger in a few different pots.”
The issue has been on the table for months, with officials acknowledging a Test involving the fourth-ranked Tongans would probably draw a large crowd in New Zealand.
Led by NRL star Jason Taumalolo, the Mata Ma’a drew a sizeable and passionate following during last year’s World Cup, most notably during a group phase win over the Kiwis in Hamilton and a dramatic semi-final loss to England at a sold-out Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.
Playing the Test at a large venue in Sydney or Brisbane is reportedly prohibitive because of the cost of stadium hire.
NRL.com is reporting Kangaroos players are being asked to agree to a reduction in match payments to help make the Tongan Test viable.