3 minute read

New Zealand haven't played a rugby league Test since 2019 but they hope to finalise a mid-season fixture and a warm-up Test before the 2022 World Cup.

New Zealand will aim to play their first rugby league Test on home soil in more than two years in 2022 with the Kiwis eyeing a homecoming during the standalone State of Origin weekend.

Michael Maguire's team, who are the world's No. 1 ranked side, have not played a Test since defeating Great Britain in Christchurch in 2019.

No Tests were announced for New Zealand or Australia when the NRL unveiled the draw for the 2022 season earlier this month with a rescheduled World Cup in England set to take place at the end of next year.

NZRL chief executive Greg Peters is hopeful the Kiwis would be able to return to New Zealand for a mid-season double header involving the women's team, the Kiwi Ferns.

"We're really keen to play more Test matches on New Zealand soil in front of our own fans which hadn't been happening up until 2018," Peters told AAP.

"That's been curtailed by COVID-19 and the challenge now is to rebuild that.

"We want to play men's and women's Tests on the weekend of the 25 and 26 June.

"We've got to look at New Zealand's border situation because there's been a lot of uncertainty for the last two years."

No opponent is officially locked in but it is understood New Zealand's preference is to face Tonga in a Test match.

The rivalry between the two nations ignited at the 2017 World Cup when Jason Taumalolo and David Fusitu'a switched allegiances to the Pacific nation.

Tonga then beat the Kiwis in the group stages of that tournament and have since defeated Australia and Great Britain.

Peters was also confident of arranging pre-World Cup Tests for a Kiwis side involving players not featuring deep into the NRL's 2022 finals series.

The Kiwis face Lebanon in their first group game in Warrington on October 16 with the NRL grand final just two weeks earlier on October 2.

"If we've got a good chunk of guys in the NRL grand final then they will have to leave early the following week," Peters said.

"They'll be dealing with jetlag and getting adjusted ahead of the the first game.

"So the window for us (to play a warm-up) is very short.

"We're considering other options for the players who don't play a role in the finals.

"It's a possibility (to play an A team game in Australia) or leave in two tranches and play a game in the UK."