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 Civoniceva admits signing a major backer has proved difficult in an environment competing with rugby union.'"

sell out for the final then??!

or at least more there than the fiji semi final?

rlhttp://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/ashes-extras-strong-brisbane-crowds-show-gabba-deserves-india-test/news-story/eb2f94908c22d770365862e89936d77drl
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

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

No it isn't.
rlhttp://au.tickets.rlwc2017.com/events/RLWC2117/venues/BRISBST/performances/ERLW2017954/ticketsrl

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