which ar5ehole have you pulled that straw man out of?

Seems an odd argument that the NRL and its clubs arent interested in visibility, prestige, access to the 2nd biggest RL market in the world and the 5th and 6th biggest economies in the world. Seems even stranger when you consider that they have created a specific product to cater for them

So not insurmountable means not much more than the current price? Seems a weird thing for you to invent.

Some are happy to. Some volunteering to do so. Same as Wigan and Hull going over to Australia. It seems you have confused yourself in thinking that because some prioritise other things, none can see the value. Sadly for you, you're wrong. As evidenced by the many who have come over, and the fact the NRL are launching a product to sell to those markets.

Whats are Sky showing at 12:30 this Saturday?

I notice you didnt address the issue you raised about competitiveness after trying to pretend Pulev was a competitive match up. Im glad we are now, finally agreed, that being scared of losing is a terrible reason not to play.

If Melbourne won’t come over to the UK to play this game, I think we should play another NRL team in their place, for the World Club Challenge. It’s far less disruptive for the NRL teams to travel, as its in their preseason, as opposed to during the season as it is for Super League clubs. I’d be disappointed if we missed out on the playoffs, due to a few losses after traveling down under.

If it's not Melbourne then we can't really call it or compete for the World Club Challenge.

"The Super League Champions vs the team who finished 11th in the NRL last year for the right to be called World Champions"........would be daft.

And if it's not for the WCC then it's just an unnecessary distraction.

If we play the highest finishing team willing to compete for the trophy, we can call it the World Club Challenge.

Not a lot of money doesnt mean not much more than now any more than not insurmountable does. An attractive price would be both not insurmountable and greater than the current amount. Not a difficult concept.
Souths have come over, the roosters, NQC, the sharks, St George.

In fact St George and Souths saw so much value in it they invited Hull and Wigan over there.

But the fight itself is massive isnt it. Even though the outcome is largely thought to be known. Its almost like one side being scared of losing is a terrible idea for not contesting it.

So you are telling me that the Premier League, the football league, the scottish league, all choose to screen games at lunchtime on a saturday (and a Sunday) for the benefit of an overseas market and have jigged about their schedule to sell a product to people overseas and created something very very valuable? Hmmmm interesting.

There is high demand for Premiership football from countries with an inferior product willing to spend big money to see a better one.

You're trying to sell the idea of Aussies being interested in our product when they've already got a better one. Completely backwards to the football comparison you're trying to make.

If the Aussies are so interested then why are the two GF's not only NOT coming over but scheduled a friendly between themselves for the weekend the WCC was earmarked for? Why did last years WCC kick off at 2am Australian time? Doesn't scream interested to me no matter how much you want to kid yourself otherwise.

And did that always exist? Has la liga or the Bundesliga or Serie A managed to drive the same value as the premier league?

That might be the case if anyone was trying to sell Super League as a replacement for the NRL, but that seems a particularly dumb idea, and this is the first time i have seen it suggested.


Your scattergun approach to forming your arguments is funny to watch. You get something in your head and you believe it to be true. It doesnt even seem like you know why you believe it to be true because you will throw anything out there just to try and score the point. Some blatant nonsense, some in support of the opposite argument, some totally irrelevant. But without fail, you can't resist trying to shoot every shot and score a point on everything. The problem this leaves you with is you go in a big circle and invariably contradict yourself. Like here.

The entirety of your argument has been based on the fact that a differently structure competition would be, well, different. Now where are we? back to talking about the current structure. Even though the entire point you were making is about how difficult it would be to do something different. And where are we left? well completing the circle where you ask yeah yeah but how are we going to get them to do something different, and i will tell you money.

Jesus Christ, I like a lengthy debate on here but even I've had enough now after the sheer nonsense you're coming out with.

Has this been confirmed by anyone?
Seems strange to build in an empty weekend unless it is to allow the WCC game(s) to take place.
Melbourne and North Queensland are both unavailable on 24th February owing to their high profile testimonial game.
Come on RFL get the game on!!

Meant to be over in melbourne by all accounts at end of Feb, could be wrong. I would prefer we give it a miss this year personally. Melbourne already given the concept a big two fingers by deciding to schedule a testimonial over the games weekend and this could really scupper our season in the long run going over there during our season, probably to get pumped and laughed at.

I agree. There is zero point in forcing the Storm to play, even if we could. If it ends up being a second team against us in Melbourne there is zero upside apart from a few quid in prize money, but the downside risk is high. As soon as they scheduled that Testimonial game they were making a very clear point about where the WCC sits for them, and whilst you might be able to force them to play, you can't make them care.