Jim from Oz

A story 6 weeks old, and precious little since … how very rugby league. LOL

At least with the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Victoria today being cancelled, I almost don't feel as bad now about the 2021 RLWC postponement and any (further!) cancellation/postponement of the 2025 RLWC !!!

Henson Park in inner-Sydney’s Marrickville is another beauty. Newtown Jets still play there

As a totally biased North Sydney Bears fan, enjoying the winter sunshine while sitting on the hill at North Sydney Oval back in the day was truly magnificent.

In hindsight, I agree that some of the matches at the 2022 RL World Cup were absolutely ridiculous and pointless mismatches, England versus Greece being a case in point as you note. perhaps it would’ve been better in hindsight to have four pools of four teams, with eight of the stronger teams in two pools - with three going through to the quarter-finals from each pool - then with the other two pools of four each, only the winner of each pool would go through… Then you would’ve had many more competitive matches and every team would still have had the chance to make the quarter-finals. Maybe they could have this format for a future 16-team RLWC if we ever have one again…

To not include France, with its almost hundred year history of rugby league, in place of Lebanon, where there are a few teams at best, in an 8-team RLWC in 2025 would be absolutely ludicrous… France until a few weeks ago were going to be the hosts!… But as this is international rugby league, it probably will happen!!!

exactly. where is Toulouse fitting in? I'm sorry, the whole thing is ludicrous. BOLD PREDICTION: there will be another total "restructure" by 2017. Funny how Oz league, which is absolutely thriving, doesn't have these endless "restructures"…

I think the whole thing is utterly ludicrous and have lost a great deal of interest in following the English game ....

"Thirteen of 15 RLEF members, eight of 13 Observers …" I wonder who was missing and why?

12x2x8x3 or whatever it is, is utterly ludicrous - as shown on here by the fact no one can work out what's what with it

I know the World Cup is on ! But I agree, most of my RL-loving friends here in OZ either don't know it's on or care little – which, I'd argue, is because of the poor way international RL/RLWC has been treated / scheduled over the years. Channel 9 and FoxTel NOT buying the rights means they are less inclined to mention it on their telecasts.

Totally agree.

Obviously I disagree with that !

It most certainly wasn't - but it was made by an NRL with way too much influence by Rupert Murdoch and News Ltd. It was an utterly diabolical decision, made at the NRL when it was NOT having its best period (from 1995 to 2002, Oz RL suffered greatly, from the Super League War obviously and, after the peace, idiotic decisions like the South Sydney exclusion)

Agreed. Exceptional post. An utterly stupid move by the RFL. And I couldn't agree more re the point about French rugby league.

That's totally my sentiment. The RFL could have left it with 14 teams, made it a top 6 playoff instead of the ridiculous top 8, and brought back P&R with the 14th (i.e. last) team relegated to add excitement and mean there'd be no "meaningless" games. And the promoted team to be the winner of the Championship GF after a top 6 playoff in that comp. And if the RFL now goes for that utterly, utterly ludicrous 12 x 3 x 8 format, well … I'll just about give up!

If it's 40% of their target of 500k, then they've sold 200,000. If it's 40% of all seats (700k, apparently), then they've sold 280,000. I'm guessing the former - and yes, the 200,000 may include reserved tickets that may well be returned ! Still not bad, though !

I'd like to know the actual number sold rather than "40%" - but it's still very good news. "You've all done very well !"

What game was that between exactly?

The French squad has a " Jayne-Marie Bentley". No doubt a relation to the bentley boys, does anyone know?

Why he didn't just sign with RU now then?

Do the AMNRL still exist?