The last WC in England became an event. We saw quite decent crowds at a number of games including some involving teams nobody would normally cross the road to watch. I thought that from that perspective it was a huge success.

By event I mean where people want to go because its a big occasion, and never mind the actual quality of games. Its what the RUWC has in spades. Last time the RUWC was here people went to see all sorts of games involving nobodies, and noone seemed to care when minnows got flogged. By contrast in the RLWC we get constant comparisons to NRL, and all the focus is on NRL players and complaints about why a team basically paid peanuts and comprised of amateurs isn't competitive against full time pros.

This WC has simply not been sold as an event. Not helped by a row by players over pay meaning they refused to take part in promotional activities until it had almost started. The Taumalolo and Fifita defections were the only thing that created any buzz here at all.

I'll err to the side of caution here because some posters think I have an ulterior motive in starting and posting in this thread about all aspects of the current comp......but needless to say the comment I have quoted from you above is 100% accurate in my opinion....I said as much in an earlier post and was accused of being a Union Troll



On the park it has been great to see Tonga and Fiji as well as PNG perform, but I fear for any lasting legacy in Tonga and Fiji unless we either get them into the NSW/QLD cup comps are arrange regular tests against supposed T1 nations......

whats the point of just reading endless posts from tedious, docile "yes men"?

Cut nonsense out - stick to the topic of conversation!

Meanwhile, on the Warrington/Steve Price thread :

That was me editing a post that wasn't within the topic of the thread!

Cheers
TS

I hope that you're not going to start every post with this same 'prologue', as that would become a bit tiresome?

I agree wholeheartedly with your comments regarding Tonga, Fiji and PNG this time around. It would have been great to see Samoa kick on and perform following 2013, their exploits fondly remembered in Warrington, but, it seems as though they have lost their way a bit, so the idea of a regular platform would help.

The Fijians were again knocked back in their application to join the NSW cup in 2018 and are regrouping for a tilt at 2019....I can't see any reason for this rejection unless they are concerned about the financial costs involved but you can fly Sydney to Nadi direct for about AU$700 with Fiji Air who may well see the benefit of sponsorship via a contra-deal like Transit with the wolfpack?


I'm not sure of how the Pacific Island communities are represented in Australia, but in terms of heritage players, the Fijians seem to be the team of the three who rely more so on Australian born players whilst Samoa and Tonga come mainly from NZ.....so maybe if there is going to be a Tongan/Samoan bid to join the QLND/NSW Cups it could come from New Zealand...there aren't any direct flights from NSW or QLD to Tonga but there is from Auckland....and flights would be considerably cheaper to Auckland rather than the Islands......question is do we need another Auckland NRL side or would it just dilute the Warriors fan base?

Is the reasoning behind Fiji being rejected simply down to air fare?

I'm not sure, but they were making negative statements like :rejection won't stop us" a full month before the bid was rejected. They would be responsible for paying for the travelling costs of visiting teams and they have claimed it's hard getting major sponsorhip...

[urlhttp://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/fiji-targets-place-in-2019-nsw-cup-after-falling-short-on-latest-bid-20171014-gz0zjg.html[/url

Not sure if this means Union is deliberately getting in the way, but the Union side is sponsored by Fiji Airways.

sell out for the final then??!

or at least more there than the fiji semi final?

[urlhttp://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/ashes-extras-strong-brisbane-crowds-show-gabba-deserves-india-test/news-story/eb2f94908c22d770365862e89936d77d[/url
Brisbane is a pretty good sporting city with 45k there for the dead rubber v the All Blacks and 124,000 at the first 4 days of the ashes at the Gabba, so let's hope they sell it out.....If it doesn't sell out the Aussies shouldn't ever get a sniff of hosting it ever again.
As an aside, I think the Aussies have lost their last 3 tests at Lang........



EDIT: Just seen that the Final in 2008 was sold out months in advance (according to wiki)...how come we've seen a step backwards from the Australians in the last few years? New Zealand beating England at Lang in 2008 got more spectators than Australia v Fiji this year?

Has anyone any idea what the attendance was for the Australia/Fiji semi? Not for a whinge, prediction comp points at stake!!

22,073

I went to England v Lebanon and paid AUD 20 for the lowest category adult ticket. That's about 11.50 in the Queen's English.

Cheers pal

whens this yawn fest over, you'd struggle to know that the show is even on over here, bring on the second Ashes test & next years NRL

The final is a sell out, according to this article: www.theweek.co.uk/rugby-league/8 ... in-classic "Although the Rugby League World Cup final on 2 December is already a sell-out, Stott suspects that’s because Aussie fans “assume they’re going to see their nation crowned world champions again”."

The final is a sell out, according to this article: www.theweek.co.uk/rugby-league/8 ... in-classic "Although the Rugby League World Cup final on 2 December is already a sell-out, Stott suspects that’s because Aussie fans “assume they’re going to see their nation crowned world champions again”."

What would it take for you to be interested in the World Cup? Are you not at least excited by the final? Australia v England is a big match in most major sports. I love the cricket Ashes but because I've never seen England/GB RL win anything significant in my lifetime, I'd take a RL win ahead of a cricket win this time.

off to cricket then you absolute

What sad comments constantly on something "he appartently doesn't like"





I hate cricket and I've never once commented about it or even know what's happening

Quote ="Muggins"The final is a sell out, according to this article: www.theweek.co.uk/rugby-league/8 ... in-classic "Although the Rugby League World Cup final on 2 December is already a sell-out, Stott suspects that’s because Aussie fans “assume they’re going to see their nation crowned world champions again”."'" No it isn't. [urlhttp://au.tickets.rlwc2017.com/events/RLWC2117/venues/BRISBST/performances/ERLW2017954/tickets[/url

Quote ="Muggins"The final is a sell out, according to this article: www.theweek.co.uk/rugby-league/8 ... in-classic "Although the Rugby League World Cup final on 2 December is already a sell-out, Stott suspects that’s because Aussie fans “assume they’re going to see their nation crowned world champions again”."'" No it isn't. [urlhttp://au.tickets.rlwc2017.com/events/RLWC2117/venues/BRISBST/performances/ERLW2017954/tickets[/url

I honestly can't tell you how unexcited everyone is, nobody is talking about it, the season is over, it ended when the grand final ended, people generally can't be bothered rising up again for something that isn't going to be as good

It will get a decent TV audience, there isn't much else on this time of year, but i myself won't be watching it, i'm off to see a few bands
however i am excited about the NRL next year, this will intensify as the trials & charity shield etc ramp up in about March next year

But its Cricket season!!!

Go back to your pit you stupid boy

pit???

you Northerners & your mining obsession


I'm just telling the truth, no need to get angry