Early Kiwis exit boosts NZRL coffers

New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) is set benefit financially from losing to England and missing out on this weekends' Four Nations final.

NZRL financial controller Alex Hayton told NZPA that while the Kiwis would walk away with just £25,000 ($NZ57,696) in prizemoney -- compared with £100,000 that goes to the winners -- an England-Australia decider would mean a bonanza for the three tournament partners.

The Kiwis will also save travel and accommodation costs by heading home today instead of next week.

"In the end, the prizemoney is a very small component of the overall financial picture," Hayton said in Leeds.

"Australia, New Zealand and England are the tournament partners with France invited to take part and given an appearance fee.

"The partners split the overall profits. England qualifying for the final makes it more likely that there is a full house, whereas Australia-New Zealand would have been a harder sell.

"So from that point of view, the financial return will probably be healthier because England are in the final."

It is expected this weekend's gate will more than compensate the NZRL, which suffered a poor financial return the last time the Kiwis visited Europe in 2007.

Meanwhile, Kiwis Benji Marshall and Fuifui Moimoi have won positional awards from the Rugby League International Federation.

Despite spending much of the year at halfback with the Wests Tigers, Marshall was named stand-off of 2009 and Moimoi the year's best prop.

Australian Jarryd Hayne was named International Player of the Year but was not among the nominees for the rival and more established Golden Boot award.

Moimoi was shortlisted for that award, as was Gareth Ellis, Greg Inglis, Kevin Sinfield, Billy Slater and Cameron Smith.

- NZPA