Indeed.

At a time when pretty much EVERY other sport is busting a gut to get international fixtures on, the Aussies have put themselves before the sport. Absolutely shocking.

If their real issue is "player welfare" (players not having enough time for a full pre season) then, why not put the start of their season back by 2 weeks.
After all that has been going on over there, this shouldn't be the end of the world.

Their non participation kills the comp stone dead, they should be really proud of themselves.

And that will increase interest as well

The Aussie won't turn up next year either and neither will the Kiwis as the Kiwis do what the Aussies tell them to do.

Well, history has shown that the Aussies have turned up overseas 31 times over the past 10 years, but UK teams have turned up 20 times.

Of course in 2000 NZ didn't turn up.

The only thing between NZ RL and extinction is a shed load of volunteers and the NRL.........same sort of thing with English Rugby League....SKY tell them to jump and they ask "how high"