The tour had a large role in helping the New South Wales Rugby League establish itself in Sydney.
Similar tensions developed in Australasia and they came to a head when the 1905 Original All Blacks toured Great Britain.
At the same time in Sydney the New South Wales Rugby League was forming, resulting in the 1908 NSWRFL season.
[3] New Zealand newspapers at the time reported that the tour was traveling to Sydney to play the fifteen man code.
The Māori side watched a round of the NSWRL Premiership and were advised by referee George Boss as they learned the rules.
[3] The first exhibition match at the Toowoomba Agricultural Society Ground ended in controversy when the whole Māori team left the field following the sending off of Hauauru Pakere by referee Micky Dore, who had played for Queensland in Brisbane.
The sending off resulted in a brawl that involved spectators and Albert Asher led his team off the field as he feared for his players safety.
[3] With the official tour ended and gate takings being held by the NSWRL due to a court order, the Māori needed to find a way to pay for their return voyage.
A match under rugby union rules was held at the Sports Ground between the "New Zealand Natives" and a "Metropolis" side made up of players sympathetic to the touring parties plight.
After their first Sydney leg, Jack took the matter to court where he was successful in having the NSWRL gate takings frozen until the dispute could be resolved.
These two tours are credited with helping financially establishing the New South Wales Rugby League, as at the time it was surviving “from hand to mouth”.
[6] Māori players played a big role in the City Rovers and Manukau clubs and a Rotorua sub-league was formed linked to the Auckland Rugby League during the 1909 season.