We need to win for people to take international rugby league seriously, whether that be fans, UK media, the NRL, or potential sponsors. I'm going to worry about losing players to the NRL later (i'd rather that, than lose them to union) - that's part of a bigger problem for SL and a lot of fans wouldn't like what really needs to be done to make RL in this country stronger (franchising, mergers, and a reduction of teams in SL).

If you were the aussies or the national press, why would you care about a final that we're odds-on to lose and haven't won for generations. Until that happens, the current coverage is as good as it's going to get.

That is the logical response and i agree Aussies to win by a few scores is favourite, but i would say the Kiwis went in to 2008 final with a similar chance as us and did the job so it is possible and we can dream

the team would get on sports personality of the year with the trophy surely !!!

.....YES WE ARE UNDERDOGS

But the way people talk you'd think Aussies put 80 on us every time we play them

It was 12-4 after 75 minutes only 4 weeks ago it's hardly impossible and we do do it Muppets like you will still knock it "oh Fifita and Jennings choose Tonga instead and Thurston and Inglis out etc

And then wonder why the sport always gos back in this country!

It would be fantastic if we won, but let's not pretend that the RLWC is quite the same as a RUWC or football world cup. In those sports there are lots of high quality teams (especially football). To win the RLWC we only really need to win one difficult game. Ok Tonga was pretty close in the end, but it's not exactly like the football team trying to beat the likes of Germany in a semi-final. In RL we're pretty much guaranteed to always be in the semi-final at least. As a one off game, beating the Australians in their own back yard is as tough as anything you could find in football, RU or any sport really. But it is only one game, so you have to put it in that context. Still, it would be great to go into every game for the next four years knowing that we're world champions.

People said the same about New Zealand before the tournament, in fact a number of posters said it was guaranteed to be a Austrailia v New Zealand final.

Fair enough, but I think my comment that we're "pretty much" guaranteed to always make the semi-final I think is reasonable. Ok, it's not 100% guaranteed, but when you compare it to football or RU world cups, it's a lot more likely.

I don't know exactly how many world cups there have been, but have England/GB ever not made at least the SF? In my lifetime I can remember:
92 RU
95 RU
2000 SF
2008 SF
2013 SF
2017 Finalists

Come back on Saturday afternoon after we get beat. Then we will really see who the muppet is.

FWIW I'd love us to beat them but it just aint gonna happen.

A win wouldn't be any kind of miracle cure for any of the ill's within RL. However, it would certainly liven up the game generally.
Imaging the next 4N or World Cup if the Aussies do get beaten (I know they have opted out of the next 4N but, you get my drift).

It would bring some welcome positive news for the sport and most of all, remove the fear factor, when playing against them.

Will it increase ST sales for next season, probably not.
Will in increase the "brain drain" to Australia, probably
Will it increase sponsorship within the sport, probably not.

However, as a proud supporter of English (or European) RL will if make me feel phenomenally good, YES.

Come on England !

In a one-off game, in the game of your life, in a big final, anything can happen.

Second Division Southampton v First Division Manchester United and relegated Wigan Athletic v Premier League champions Manchester City in association football to name but two big finals where the underdog has won. And we are closer to Aus than Sts and Wig were to United or City in either of those finals.

If England win on Saturday then it will be a golden opportunity for the RFL to reform the Super League setup and bring back franchising, with P & R restricted to the Championship and League One. Then the promotion of Toronto and Toulouse, and perhaps London, to Super League could become a UK and perhaps even world headline grabbing event, especially with the prospect of the future arrival of New York and perhaps Montreal being mentioned.