considering the game in limerick was played slap bang in irish union territory, against Australia which was always going to be a big aussie win, Ireland already out of the tournament, I don't think 5,000 is that bad considering, would have possibly attracted more in Dublin but 5,000 in limerick for a one sided rugby league game isn't that bad?
taking a game to limerick was always going to be the big test for the organisers, it was never going to be a massive turnout, but I still don't think 5,000 is all that bad.

If 7k in Bristol is excellent then 5k in Limerick is good

Think the final has all but sold out hasn't it? The final for the last world cup on these shores attracted 44329. We've got to be happy with that.

2000 WC stats total 263,921 (8,514 per match) We'll have beat the 2000 world cup total crowds before the end of the groups stages for this world cup.

Think the whole RL community can be really proud of what we've achieved so far.

I don't think 5,000 is that bad, but the scheduling could have been better. It may have been better for example for Ireland to play Australia in round 2, when they still had realistic chance of beating Fiji in round 3 and qualifying. Rather than it being a dead rubber like tonight.

Of course it hasn't helped that Ireland are very much the also-rans in a strong group, in hindsight it may have been better to have put them in Group C or D, where they'd have a more realistic chance of winning a game and had Tonga, Fiji, Italy or Scotland in Group A.

Ireland's world ranking of nine should have seen them in group C/D but it looks like Wales (ranking five) were taken out of the two "super" groups in order to give them the "easy" route to the quarters. This would supposedly allow them to build momentum and interest as a host nation and have a one off chance at the Australians in front of a big home crowd. (Just like in 2008 qualifying they didn't do what the organisers expected of them.)

It's a real shame that Wales blew their chance to put Rugby league in the country's conciousness. The worry is that if England fall to get the final then they will have done the same thing.

Just read on the SMH website that the world cup is expected to make 5M profit. That could do great things to develop the game if used properly in places like USA and Italy, if it is used correctly!

It is hard to be used correctly in the USA because there are two competing groups with two separate competitions. The RLIF should not just give money to US organisations. The RLIF seems to have sided with one group, the AMNRL headed by David Niu. However the better management skills are with USARL, and in particular Jacksonville's Spinner Howland. The money can only be spent in the USA if the money is shared between the two groups, and if they are pressured to reconcile.

Meanwhile the WC profits would be better spent in in France and PNG, the two countries with the strongest grass roots competitions, and perhaps in Fiji and Italy.

In France the money should be used for promoting the coaching and juniors development of a Toulouse Super League club, and later of an Avignon Super League club.

In PNG it should be spent on coaching and rugby league academies where emerging PNG young talent is properly fed and physically conditioned.

Ditto for Fiji and Italy.

Gonna pee on the fireworks here. Although the atmosphere picked up with the 10 plus Mexican wave etc hull f.c.can not hold events like this.

I wont go on to much on here as I will use a page plus but needless to say I shall be writing in to the big wigs at the K.C.

Gonna pee on the fireworks here. Although the atmosphere picked up with the 10 plus Mexican wave etc hull f.c.can not hold events like this.

I wont go on to much on here as I will use a page plus but needless to say I shall be writing in to the big wigs at the K.C.

Gonna pee on the fireworks here. Although the atmosphere picked up with the 10 plus Mexican wave etc hull f.c.can not hold events like this.

I wont go on to much on here as I will use a page plus but needless to say I shall be writing in to the big wigs at the K.C.

5 million will just pay for the qualifying tournaments we need for the next world cup - and that's if we basically give the top 12 or so automatic qualification.
I wouldn't mind seeing a mini WC type qualification tournament involving South Africa, Lebanon, Russia, Canada, Jamacia, Serbia, Vanuatu, Malta, Greece, Germany etc etc.
Getting all them together in one spot would cost more than 5 mill.
The only way we could do it would be to make South Africa put it on and pay for it as part of putting on the World Cup.

Why post in the first place then if you aren't willing to substantiate what you say

No of course not! 25,100 tickets sold, (the second largest attendance of the world cup) excellent display by the red devils parachuting onto the pitch! Good atmosphere

The players loved playing in front of that crowd

@Ryan5Hall: It's an absolute pleasure playing infront of supporters like you all tonight. Lets have the same again next week at Wigan. #rlwc2013

@tanyaarnold: The crowd at Hull today was fantastic. Their own tribute to Steve Prescott was very moving and their support for the teams terrific.

Shut up loser, I will be sending the 'big wigs' an email telling how good of a show they put on!

I don't get the issue with the Hull game either. But it is only the 8th post by onemanteam, and 3 of them are the same one.

On TV the noise did seem to be lacking, but I put that down to one of two things. The shocking news for most fans prior to the match, or the Beeb had the crowd noise down again.

The atmosphere picked up 2nd half. The first half was a bit of a tacklathone.