You don't get that in any World cup in any sport. There will always be minnows by the nature if the qualifying process. Problem with RL is that it's now a naturally high scoring game, so when playing minnows this becomes hugely exaggerated.

I don't know the answer, but you can't deny these teams the opportunity.

The only short term answer I can come up with is that the SL and NRL will supply these clubs with free players. For example Greece could have an extra two SL players and two NRL players. These players don't need any affiliation with the nation in question (they can have as many by grandparents as they can muster for now). The rule must be that all the squads are at least 50% indigenous, or what's the point, remembering we are trying to expand the game.

The support players will benefit by being paid and more importantly being given the chance to increase their value and exposure.

It's not perfect but even though there would be less Greek players, those who did play would benefit by being in a moderately more competitive teams. Can't kid ourselves that they would actually win many games, just compete more.

There have been too many "blow out" scores but, equally, its been great to see the likes of Italy, Greece and Lebanon playing.
The comp starts to get a little more serious now but, even so, it should be England v Tonga and NZ v Aus in the semis.

The 4 nations that we had a number of years ago was a decent idea but, it was played too frequently, and we probably need something similar but, played every 4 years (in between world cups) and then have games against one of the other "big" sides in the other years.

If its a world cup. The teams need to be affiliated to a country, whether heritage or birth. End of.

Same as every other sport world cup.

In 95 NZ beat Japan by 145-17.
Now they've beaten all the home nations except England, beaten Argentina and beaten South Africa in a massive win.

Germany beat Brazil in 2014 7-1.
It happens. Each team will have peaks and troughs over world cups
Just need to give them access to competitive matches for them to improve. Not diminish the glory of playing.

You only have to see Jamaica's try celebration to know it isn't always about the score for the minnows.

Do you really believe that in 20 years our penniless, self serving sport will produce an all Greek team that will compete.

I await you accusing me of dismissing them or something or other, but in the real world that will never happen IMHO. Hasn't happened with France for a start. Let's be realistic. If we are to produce more competitive teams, then those teams need a hard core of players who play in the top comp - even England have come to depend on that.

I'm just showing you the evidence. Teams in all sports have lows and highs. PNG used to be easy beats. As did Samoa.
No point actually discussing with you as you'll just descend into one of your rants again.

I agree. I did watch more of the earlier rounds, but in the latest round I've stayed with them only until the result becomes obvious. I only stayed with England on Saturday until half-time.

I think the difference with, for example, rugby union and football is that are fewer minnows. Even in football, you can usually narrow down the eventual tournament winner to one of maybe four teams before it starts, like with this world cup, but there is more competition en route to the final, with often a fairy tale journey for at least one country. The nature of rugby league means that you never get the fairy tale, and by that I mean a completely unexpected result.

It's great to see the smaller nations, but it doesn't make for compelling viewing. From now on, except maybe the Lebanon game, they do.

This is where the strength of the NRL game helps. There is some genuine quality in both PNG and Samoa, with very good players choosing to play for them. PNG won't be easy beats and Tonga-v-Samoa is very tough to call this time around.

I don't see the international game thriv8 for a good number of years, not enough games are played.
Maybe 7 and 9 international tournaments could be organised every other year.
Its not that long ago that Italy got pumped every game in RU, think it was Rodney March that called the RU World Cup a joke after England won it.
I'm sure lessons will be learned from our own comp but a start would be to introduce more games and more international competitions.

More Internationals is on the IMG to do list I think.
It would require a break though as the NRL wouldn't release players.
Maybe do it at SoO time.

Wasn`t one of the IMG proposals to align calendars with the NRL so that we can facilitate international breaks?

Yes I think so. I kinda like that.
But I reckon we'd have to go there though.

Indeed

One of the issues with international games, apart from all of the competitive sides are "down under" is that The Aussies are happy with SOO and generally not interested in internationals, certainly not coming over here anyway.