Maori Television Scores Rugby League World Cup!

PUBLICITY RELEASE
THURSDAY OCTOBER 9 2008

Maori Television Scores Rugby League World Cup!

Rugby League World Cup fever is about to take a hold of the nation – and Maori Television is the place to catch the action free-to-air, from Saturday October 25 at 11.00 PM.

Countries taking part in the contest include the usual suspects – Australia, New Zealand, England – as well as the hard men from the Pacific Islands of Tonga, Samoa and Fiji.

Some less traditional rugby league strongholds in the mix include Papua New Guinea, Ireland, Scotland and France, and Maori Television will also have exclusive rights to screen a special match between NZ Maori and Australian Aboriginal.

“This year marks 100 years of rugby league in New Zealand, and we’re excited to celebrate this remarkable milestone,” says Maori Television head of department, programming, Eruera Morgan. “We’ve been very consistent in our support of this sport this year, and the Rugby League World Cup is a fantastic grand finale to the season.”

Under coach Ricky Stuart the Australians are too talented not to go into the competition as the obvious favourites, and there is an element of mate against mate, after Vodafone Warriors Steven Price and Brent Tate were selected for the Kangaroos.

But coach Stephen Kearney’s Kiwi squad are unlikely to go down without a fight – and upsets have been known to happen. That match up – a sure highlight of the competition - will screen on Maori Television on October 26 at 11.00 PM.

The Kiwis named their 24-man squad as follows: Nathan Cayless, Adam Blair, Greg Eastwood, David Fa’alogo, Nathan Fien, Dene Halatau, Lance Hohaia, Krisnan Inu, David Kidwell, Thomas Leuluai, Jeff Lima, Issac Luke, Simon Mannering, Sika Manu, Benji Marshall, Steve Matai, Sam Perrett, Sam Rapira, Jerome Ropati, Setaimata Sa, Jeremy Smith, Iosia Soliola, Manu Vatuvei and Brent Webb. Webb and Lima have since been ruled out due to injury.

Maori Television’s broadcast schedule:

DATE AND TIME TEAMS VENUES
25/10/08 AT 2300 ENGLAND V PNG DAIRY FARM STADIUM
26/10/08 AT 2000 NZ MAORI V AUST ABORIGINAL SYDNEY FOOTBALL STADIUM
26/10/08 AT 2300 AUSTRALIA V NZ SYDNEY FOOTBALL STADIUM
27/10/08 AT 1300 SCOTLAND V FRANCE CANBERRA STADIUM
28/10/08 AT 1300 TONGA V IRELAND PARRAMATTA STADIUM
01/11/08 AT 1400 SAMOA V TONGA CUA STADIUM, PERTH
01/11/08 AT 2300 NZ V PNG SKILLED PARK, GOLD COAST
02/11/08 AT 1400 FIJI V FRANCE WIN STADIUM, WOLLONGONG
03/11/08 AT 2130 AUSTRALIA V ENGLAND TELSTRA STADIUM, MELBOURNE
06/11/08 AT 1300 IRELAND V SAMOA PARRAMATTA STADIUM
07/11/08 AT 1300 SCOTLAND V FIJI BLUETONGUE STADIUM, CENTRAL COAST
09/11/08 AT 1200 ENGLAND V NZ ENERGY AUSTRALIA STADIUM
09/11/08 AT 1400 POOL PLAYOFF TBC BROWNE PARK, ROCKHAMPTON
09/11/08 AT 2100 AUSTRALIA V PNG DAIRY FARMERS STADIUM, TOWNSVILLE
10/11/08 AT 1300 POOL PLAYOFF TBC CUA STADIUM, PENRITH
10/11/08 AT 2300 SEMI FINAL QUALIFIER SKILLED PARK, GOLD COAST
15/11/08 AT 2300 SEMI FINAL 1 SUNCORP STADIUM, BRISBANE
16/11/08 AT 2300 SEMI FINAL 2 SYDNEY FOOTBALL STADIUM
22/11/08 AT 2300 FINAL SUNCORP STADIUM, BRISBANE

The games will feature commentary from Tawera Nikau and Dale Husband, with Maori Television sports anchor Te Arahi Maipi presenting.

Says Morgan: “This series compliments the success we’ve had screening the Bartercard National Provincial Premiership, and our Maori language commentary of the NRL on the Te Reo channel.”

Follow the tournament as players leave it all on the field, for the pride of their respective nations. RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP action screens delayed and free-to-air on Maori Television, from Saturday October 25 at 11.00 PM.

Ends

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