Downo - If you're just telling the truth then you and every other Australian rugby league fan should be embarrassed and ashamed. I was at the Fiji semi final and, tbh, on that showing I think you may be right. There were probably more England fans there than Aussies (more vocal at least). It there's not a good turnout for the final it strengthens the notion that Australia should never, ever host the RLWC again. You sound as if you're proud that Aussies don't care about the tournament. Quite sad really.

If i were a RL fan in a country where i was fortunate enough for it to be close to the number 1 sport and as well resourced as it is in Aus, id want to be part of trying to make that truly global, not deriding the challenges other nations have while at the same time cultivating a very insular attitude.

Why? its not remotely interesting, the tournament is an embarrassment, its be better not to have it, it just drags down Rugby League, the show piece of the game in Australia should always be NRL & SOO, this show just drags us down, its got a lot to do with England being at fault i suppose, seeing as they haven't been competitive in over 40 years

I really think you lot have unrealistic expectations of RL in Australia & are largely ignorant of the sporting landscape

As far as playing numbers go, its a dying game, we struggle to put senior competitions together in the cities, its only the Bush that keeps things going & we have an aversion to funding that even, it may sometimes look a bit glossy on the outside, but inside its withering away sadly

You never know who youre communicating with on the internet though in this case it can only presumed that this individual only posts in an attempt to boost their fragile ego and self worth thas clearly lacking. Its not a discussion and not worth anyones time.

Something that looks more like a conversation, good. In relation to Rugby League in England the profile and quality of the NRL competition is lighyears ahead though im sure not without its challenges. In order to thrive, RL needs to develop and become comparitively (or greater in areas as you say) resourced in more than just 1 country, a change in attitude from all stakeholders in the game is needed to move closer to this. Accept what it is, leave egos at the door and support its (slow) growth, if you believe in the potential of the game as i and others do.

I see the Glorious League Freak has made a return

Regards

King james

But I wasn't talking about the tournament as a whole. I can understand if you think that maybe RL isn't strong enough internationally to warrant holding a world cup. Given how many teams are filled with players from only a few countries, you've probably got a point. That said, it doesn't do any harm to still have the event, and it might grow in time. Besides, none of that stops a one off game like the final between Australia and England being a fantastic occasion. One of my favourite matches is the 92 world cup final, but from my perspective that was just a one off game. I never knew at the time how the teams qualified for it over several years - I still don't know now how that world cup was organised. It was still an amazing match though. I can understand you not being interested in Australia thrashing the likes of Lebanon, but to not even want to watch a final against England, I find that very strange. I wonder how representative you are of Aussie RL fans.

I'd go even further, I think we should exclude Australia from the international calendar, they clearly don't give a stuff about the international game so simply eradicate them from it until they want to give support to the international game, that doesn't mean just putting a team together, they have to show that they (the Australian RL rulers) are willing to respect the sport by actually giving a stuff and marketing it properly.
At the moment I'd rather pay £30+ to watch us v Tonga on a cold winters nights after travelling 185 miles than get a free ticket to watch us v the okkers.

I guess I'm the opposite in that I don't really care about us playing against Tonga and Fiji and teams like that. For me it's all about games against Australia and, to a slightly lesser extent, New Zealand. Plus I love the matches between those two teams as well. In other sports I love sticking it to the Scots, Welsh and Irish, but I don't feel that way in RL because their teams are so weak and they're full of heritage players anyway. Even if we lost it wouldn't be to a team of actual Welsh or Scots but to a bunch of Aussies and other English.

We need to work with the Australians, not disregard them. I would play them three times every year if it were possible.

You say SOO what if only one team for the next 40 yrs wins that will you still morn

Spot on. It is a combination of total apathy and a lack of promotion that has delivered pitiful crowds for the games in Australia. The failure of NSW, the state with 10 of the 16 NRL sides to even bid for games is a disgrace, whilst the attitude of the Canberra and North Queensland admins is baffling in that they bid for the games but then carried out no marketing.....14 Pool games (including 3 DH's) averaged 8,550 a game. That is embarrassing.......but even worse is the fact that 51,000 Kiwis have attended their 3 Knock out games with only one game involving the Kiwis....5,000 more than the 3 Australian ties with 2 of those games featuring the home side.....63% of the games yet only 35% of the crowds......I know they won't lose money, but part of me wants them to!



The only problem as I see it would be getting players released from their NRL clubs to represent the PI teams........because without their NRL players, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji would be no match for England

So, according to you, the only competition that Aussies are bothered about is SoO and the NRL and the WC is a poopfest. But, at the same time, playing numbers in the country are dwindling and the game is withering. A good argument for losing the obsession with domestic comps and looking a bit wider perhaps.

40k for the Final was a shame, but as we knew...the Aussies haven't really bothered with marketing so it was to be expected.
373,461 over 28 games (including 3 DH's) delivers 13,338 as an average which is about 20% down on 2013 and 2008....and this shows that the Aussies should not host it again until they are prepared to work for it!
Winners as expected although stand up and take a bow England and Tonga......the Tongans if they can cement that squad and the Fiji and with 3 semi-finals running have now shown us the 4th and 5th in the world and if the Aussies can't be bothered, then the RLIF need to get negotiating for TV deals to screen Tonga v Fiji and Samoa v PNG on the SoO weekend as a double header...played at Eden Park with a sell out 50k crowd!
England 2021 have a hefty target to aim for attendance wise.......let's hope that the RFL start the job now and get venues and dates tied down as quickly as possible so the venues that bid have a chance to get some traction well ahead of the games and we fill the stadiums.

So is the next work cup in England? I thought the USA were looking at making a bid for it?

its in england, usa the one after, 2025

It's inexcusable that the RL organisers should let that happen. That stadium should have been full, even if it meant reducing the prices. It's a world cup final. The first one in Australia since 2008 and probably until 2029 at the earliest. The Wallabies got 45000 for their 'friendly' game against New Zealand in the same stadium in October. Very sad.

Someone needs to get started on 2025 NOW because the winning bidder and the promotional company don't seem too "active" at present....the last news bulletin was over 13 Months ago
[urlhttp://www.mooresportsintl.com/news/[/url

I think the world club challenge should be played in the USA over the next few years, and more SL and NRL teams should play over there, whether in pre season, or during the season.

Agree about the world club challenge. Also think that maybe some of the smaller countries (Scotland, Ireland, PNG etc), could tour USA & Canada. Or have a tournament with the above countries involved there.

England going there next year is a good start, maybe take a Australia/New Zealand test there.

We need to be careful that is doesn't become a bane to play, like a game that no one really wants due to costs and low crowds numbers and clubs start not being interested.

We should consider rewarding good work in areas with a WCC like Toronto for example, although not in February of course... lol

State of Origin is a one sided joke these days. England have given Australia two harder games in this WC than NSW have given QLD in 90% of all SOO games in the last dozen years.

So do one you WUM.

So, what would everyone's 'World cup dream team' be?

if we want it to take off need to showcase the sport. Apparently they're looking to turn there league professional, which would help.

If you are taking international's over, I think you have to include USA otherwise there won't be any intresting. If England v New Zealand, why not have USA v Canada before hand (both games together would be about an average NRL game).

Maybe for a one off time take magic weekend there?

If we are just relying on a couple of clubs there, the world cup would be a bust. And if we don't show teams like Tonga/PNG etc. No one will show up for there games.

I agree don't over do it, but slowly build it up so when the WC's there they're primed and ready.

The WCC should be 2 weeks after the GF. Then as you say could move it around. Toronto 1 year, France, Italy PNG etc. Use it as a showcase.

[i
William Slater

Jermaine McGillvary, Kallum Watkins, Joshua Dugan, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck,

Michael Morgan
Cooper Cronk

Jason Taumololo
Samuel Burgess, Boyd Cordner
James Graham, Cameron Smith, David Klemmer

[uInterchange[/u: James Roby, Alexander Walmsley, Aaron Woods, Sean O'Loughlin [/i

[uHonourable mention[/u: Gareth Widdop, Kevin Naiqama, Akuila Uate, Suilasi Vunivalu, Garry Lo, Tuimoala Lolohea, David Fusitua









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