The problem here is the NRL is the biggest and most lucrative RL competition in the world and State of Origin the biggest single game - it is far the biggest series in the game. The NRL is bigger than international RL, it doesn't need an international presence to generate interest - in fact its a hinderance. It a bit like the NFL - its bigger than the sport itself.

Perhaps if we could field a team that beat them they might be more inclined to participate - but we all know they are in a different league - why sacrifice so much for a gentle run out to win the WC

Anyone suggesting push on without them wants their heads examining.
We struggle with credibility with the RL WC as it is. If Aus and NZ don't come, the likely final would be England v Fiji or Tonga. With full sides they would both be competitive....Tonga could probably win the WC over England atm....but the obvious driving force behind this is the NRL....not the governing bodies, who have simply rowed in.

So if not safe enough for Aus and NZ NRL players to travel, the NRL islands players, who make them competitive are not going to travel either. So realistically you're looking at islands sides from local players on the islands or the NSW cup (Championship / lower SL level).

On that basis....england have a procession to the final, probably not winning a game by less than 40 pts, with the final itself probably a 40pt thrashing. It is a non event!

Quite simply the only realistic options they have are i) get them back onside ii) defer to next year iii) create some sort of micky mouse NZ and Aus sides based on SL players (or worse a combined Australasian side....This is RL...I would not put it past them)

i) is extremely unlikely now they've gone public and were probably looking at 1-200k daily cases by the time it comes around. iii) makes the game look a joke, although in true RL fashion is probably the most likely , in which case the comp is probably dead in the long run as sponsors will inevitably withdraw.

The only sensible one is ii) Next year.

Bring it forward by a week next year so the final finishes before the Wendyball WC. Gives you a perfect platform to market it as back to back world cups....get your flags up early, and pull in some football fans to go to matches etc!

I don't know the real reasons behind the NRL’s decision - the concerns over health risks, quarantine, annual leave, delayed season start etc are all valid but seem to me to be solvable with a bit of imagination and goodwill on their part. My worry is that this seems like blackmail and giving in to the Aussie demands just gives the impression of weakness and will result in the international game being further weakened to virtual non existence. If the Pacific Islanders can’t raise full strength teams (presumably it’s up to their own governing bodies not the NRL) then I don’t think there’s any alternative but to delay til next year. But, if Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, PNG etc can raise teams I’d put England ‘A’ in place of Australia and a Combined Nations All Stars in place of NZ. A bit weird I know but it would actually be a more competitive and unpredictable competition. Oz and the Kiwis can just play each other ad nauseam.
Does anyone know if the women’s and disability teams are affected by this decision?

More like vaccine island.

To my way of thinking, if they're not doing this because of safety issues by that logic they're not going to travel for any international tournaments again because this thing is in circulation and will be around indefinitley and we need to live with it.

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ssion=true

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ssion=true

Their Union sides are touring over here in the Autumn. It’s got nothing to do with player welfare and everything to do with NRL arrogance. Play it without them and make them qualify for the next one, make sure it’s recognised in the rankings and if they don’t release Australian based players for the other nations fine them.

Surely they can simply point at the numerous SL games being called off and say that's the reason why.

Like it ie not no NRL games get called off due to covid while in England it's frequently seeing RL games cancelled.

In fact has any other sport in the UK seen as many called off games like Rugby League has?

NRL and SL are domestic league competitions not international campaigns.

This is because the ARLC are cuckholded by NRL. Fine make sure their international teams pay for it. If they want to play in the next work cup make them send teams to Georgia or Serbia on a Tuesday night during the NRL season to qualify.

That is a problem, but on the flip side it means Premier League grounds will be empty and they may be up for the bar takings during a dead month.

I've long had concerns over the new format anyway. The last few world cups they did two good groups with more teams going through, and two groups of smaller teams with only the winner going through. This meant closer group games and the smaller teams who made it through to the Quarters were at least in-form.

This time they went with spreading the teams out so we've got poor Greece facing England in their first World Cup run out, which will be a landslide even if England rest a few players.

A competition without two of three top sides isn't worth holding - move on to 2022

Wrong!
They’ve chosen not to travel and their unilateral decision shouldn’t be allowed to derail the whole tournament. I don’t know what a modified World Cup would look like but the teams that do take part can only play what’s in front of them. There’ll be a new name on the trophy and that’s what will go in the records.

Who'd trust them not to bottle out again?