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
rlhttps://www.mooresportsintl.com/news/rl

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

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

Interchange

Honourable mention: Gareth Widdop, Kevin Naiqama, Akuila Uate, Suilasi Vunivalu, Garry Lo, Tuimoala Lolohea, David Fusitua









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