I know this argument happens every year, like, every season, but why can't the WCC be played at the end of the season?

I know Leeds can only beat what's put in front of them, but the timing of the fixture is so silly. Leeds didn't beat a champion side tonight, they beat a side in pre-season. If they aren't going to play it at the season's end, they should at least play it during the Aussie season so they have some kind of fitness/momentum going into the tie, it could be so much better if it was taken a little more seriously by whoever is behind it.

This is especially for you and any other bitter/jealous/hateful/twisted (delete as applicable) posters on here.

I'd personally take a stab on BJB now, he's an awesome talent. Should get more game time this year against the lower sides to get him ready for the game in, game out of when he takes over!



I'm still a little bitter from last years defeat, after being so good for so long, it does hurt to think if it went to form that could have been us. So yeah that will make me a little jealous, but doesn't every fan want their team to be crowned the best in the world? Hateful or Twisted, not so much. Congrats as you are deserved winners.

Told Ya So

I'm pretty sure I would be too.

The thing is you're smart enough not to allow that bitterness or jealousy to cloud your judgment.
Some on here quite simply aren't.

Leeds did the UK game proud. Great for them and great for us all. Congrats to the Leeds fans on here.

It's all a question of good judgement really. Something you obviously don't possess!

Great game. Really wanted Leeds to win, great defence in the second stanza.

At the end of a hard season fatigue and injury can come in. How would it be fair if a team has been strong all season then has one slight off game and loses and that means they lose the chance of being world champions after all that season's work! It should be over performance over the whole season IMO.

Congratulations to Leeds on a good performance, but as a 'competition' the WCC is merely on a par with football's Community Shield??

Play the game alternatively between Australia and England, play it 2 or 3 games into the Aussie season, and then maybe you would have a more realistic and serious contest.

At the moment, you have one side treating it as a Cup final, the other has a pre-season friendly.

Yes, Manly might have been giving their all, but match fitness-wise, they were yards behind Leeds.....Wire, Wigan, Catalan, Huddersfield and Saints would all have beaten that Manly side last night - In six weeks time, none of them would get within 10 points of them.

Credit where it due, leeds defence is pritty awesome at times ( play-off game at hj). BJB would be great in attack at fullback but could be bit shaky in defence can't really picture him stopping many people 1v1 , but i also didn't see leeds winning the GF last year or them winning this game so my judgement on RL has taken a knock recently.

eited for accuracy

I wouldn't have said it is treated as a Cup final by English teams.

The only English fans that go on about the WCC as a major achievement are Widnes fans and to an extent Wigan about the time they won in Brisbane.

When Leeds, Bradford and Saints have won it it's been more a case of "yeah good win, who are we playing next week?"

That's a fair enough assessment, but if you listen to the Sky team, this makes Leeds the World's best??...

I think another thing (and its certainly a positive for the British game) is that British fans have embraced the game, as seen by last night's crowd and overall good atmosphere - However, you wonder how the Aussies actually view this match??....An inconvenience?... A nice pre-season holiday for the lads??

From the Aussies apathetic response to actually wanting to host the game anytime, you sense this is purely an exercise for the RFL and Sky to try and promote our game in this country, with the Aussies being a game participant.

The Aussies do view it as an inconvenience as they don't feel they have to beat an English team to prove themselves as best in the world.

It's like if there was a European Challenge to find the best team in Europe, played between the SL champions and the winners of the French Elite Championship. Would the UK public be that excited about seeing whether Leeds could beat Lezignan to show that they are the strongest side in Europe?