glossop saint

Having H2H is the only way in this format (with different teams having different opponents). It's the format that is absurd. But yes, we have to make do. For the sake of the game I hope PNG do well, but for the sake of England I hope it's 70 points. Would guess England by 20.

Chat GPT?

My first ever game of rugby league. Loved it.

I am sure that this has been emphasised since the weekend and the impact on England's chances of qualifying but the opinion that this format was far from ideal has been fairly well known before this. I think that the disparaging views on France since the weekend and hypocritical views on heritage has also had an effect.

Yes. Which is why there is the need for the unusual formats. Otherwise you go down the route that Sports Prophet is suggesting. Which to be fair is valid, did we not all get excited by a potential 8 team cup in between the WC? IMHO the WC should be more than just about the best of the best against each other, it should be a festival and celebration of the sport. That is what it is in the football, RUWC, cricket versions.

Scotland who drew with NZ less than a decade before?

Were you all for getting rid of Samoa after the first round of the last world cup?

Should have just quoted this instead of the waffling post above! (Except for the fact that I didnt get to advise the RFL of anything!)

I'm no doubt being nostalgic and putting on my rose coloured specs but I'd aim for something like the 2013 WC but try and avoid the cross group matches. 2 'super groups' of 4 where the top 3 teams go through and 2 groups of 4 where just the one go through. Especially with 5 or 6 top nations you get a good quality game every week, close games every week, chance to see some exciting and characterful nations from all around the world. Seed Aus, NZ, Samoa, Tonga, Eng and PNG as pool 1, luck of the draw to see who is in Group A and Group B. Next seeding pool is Fiji, Lebanon, France, Cookies to see who get Group A/B/C/D and then another 6 qualifiers to see who completes Group C/D. I would also use some more sensible stadium choices than 2021/2, as well as some games in joint host countries but that is a whole different conversation. Give the teams an opportunity to get into the community and get host town's behind the teams.

Grow not contract yet you reduce the number of teams? Put a developing team in yet exclude one of the few to have a functional domestic league in France? Question the legitimacy of Pat Richards and then include teams who are wholly heritage? Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that we have Samoa and Tonga as strong teams but let us not confuse that as strong nations. It wouldn't surprise me if Jamaica and Serbia had more grassroots going on than some of the Pacific Island nations. There's a place for the strong heritage teams but don't give it the whole development spiel when you dismiss France.

I both love and hate international rugby league. Gets the emotions running doesnt it?

Sorted the coverage out just in time!

I'd like this (or the 2x10 based on east/west with cross games). Think it would be interesting and a balance between the number of games, avoiding over familiarity, a bit of variation, gives the playoffs real meaning, etc. However it MUST mean that all teams get equal funding if they are to compete against each other. I think we admitted last year we didn't have the money for 14 let alone 16 or 18 or 20.

This is interesting, thanks. There was a lot of discussion about the format/seeding of the last WC if I remember correctly. I wonder if the long term effect of that and the one sided scorelines has meant the contraction of the competition for a long time to come. Maybe the uneven seedlings of previous cups might have helped the long term future of the WC.

I was able to watch the full replay on my firestick on the Premier player app. Unfortunately I mean 'full'. No option to fast forward which is very frustrating, moreso for my wife as it took an extra hour with all the pre match stuff!