I am a bit surprised on your comments, your posts are generally well balanced and thought through.
The issue here is not the individual game itself, but the prospects of getting an enlargened WCC going. RU profits considerably from international matches which rake in huge amounts of money. Cricket only survives over here because of international games and receipts. So we badly need international matches to bolster the finances of the game. These matches have only come about because several club chairmen went over to Oz and pleaded with them to give this format a go. If it is successful and they see revenue can be earned from it, we have a chance to grow the competition and make it more meaningful.

You have to remember that Oz clubs don't view the current WCC particularly seriously. It interferes with their pre-season and they come over here only only partly match fit. If they did decide they wanted the trophy / title, it would be a long time before we saw an English club winning it.

So let's just enjoy the novelty of playing an Oz team, support the WCC, and hope it fires some enthusiasm for more games against Oz clubs.

I can see that this is a stepping stone towards having a bigger greater WCC challenge like we did early in super league (it was awful) but personally I'd rather not play it as its pointless to Wigan and Warrington. Only takes few bad injuries and a sending off and your season could be up in the air. Don't forget. It's the top 4 this year and a few losses could prove costly.

I'll watch all the games and I hope all 3 beat the Aussies (even the pies) but you get nothing for a win so nothing to gain but everything to lose.

You are quite correct, a few injuries could be very expensive for Wigan and Wire. So why would the club chairmen wan't to risk it ? After all, all SL chairmen are pretty renown for looking after their own interests at the expense of both other clubs and the game in general. It doesn't make sense does it ?

Why are the dragons and Broncos actually in it ? The dragons didnt make the play offs and Broncos went out the play offs at round one ?

Because they volunteered for it. As I have already explained, the Aussies don't take the WCC seriously as far as they are concerned it's charity work to support their international board commitments - to show willing.

So from the 6 teams in the World Series, only saints, Wigan and Souths made the top 4.

It's a shambles. If it's to be done, it should be done proper. Teams volunteering to be in it is a joke.

Broncos asked to be part of it and then only bring 18 players and leave a host of good players in Oz.

Total waste of time.

Shane Richardson sends his regards.

Well, if the Wire and Wigan games are well attended we might be able to persuade the Aussies to put in a bit more commitment. I suspect the only thing that will convince them will be money.

I am not sure Wire 'qualified' anyway. I heard a rumour that in back room discussions, Hudds turned it down because they refused to put up the £170k bond that the RFL demanded.

Warrington qualified as the highest ranked losing GF semi-finalists (Rankings were based on the playoff positions which is consistent with you have to win GF to finish first) . It took a while for the reasoning to be clarified by the RFL

That's true. Saints Wigan and Warrington all paid £170k for them to come over. Hopefully bumper crowds will cover that and make profit.

If you're going to troll, at least get all your facts right. Prize money in SL is based on your overall end of season placing. Consequently after the play-offs Warrington were deemed to have an end of overall season placing of third.
It's not a smambles at all. Broncos chose to bring 18 players, that's up to them.

speaking of the broncos, they got here at the weekend, the dragons got here, thursday, i think, when are souths arriving? they're leaving it a bit late to acclimitize.

They only left last night apparently, a week should be enough for professional players to get to grips.

Warrington installed as 1/2 favourites on William Hill