Rugby League World Cup 2021 (Merged Threads)

[Barley Mow]

7 minutes ago, Chris22 said:

 

So do we assume the Hull Daily Mail got it wrong, or has the decision already been made and they mistakenly released the story before an official announcement tomorrow?

[DI Keith Fowler]

Just now, gingerjon said:

Somebody jumped the gun on an embargoed press release?

Probably, don't want it leaking out before all stakeholders have been pre-warned. 

[weloveyouwakefield2]

1 minute ago, DI Keith Fowler said:

Probably, don't want it leaking out before all stakeholders have been pre-warned. 

What, not just give them four minutes notice?? 

[JonM]

3 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

Alternatively, a great opportunity for Tonga and Samoa to travel and demonstrate their commitment.

A five nations over four weeks with Eng, France, Tonga, Samoa and one other would be a great salvage. I hope it can get done.

I was thinking more Jamaica and some of the other teams - I'm assuming NRL clubs won't allow their Tongan or Samoan players to travel.

We'd better hope there's a late developing problem with the World Cup in Qatar next year, because we've basically knocked about 50% off the attendance figures and guaranteed zero media impact by going up against Soccer.

Edited August 3, 2021 by JonM

[Damien]

I'd be absolutely disgusted by the World Cup not taking place and what has happened in recent months.

This coupled with talk of a 10 team Super League just further reduces my desire to follow this game and reduces my interest on it. I simply have absolutely no faith in the people that run this game at any level to make things better.

[gingerjon]

Just now, JonM said:

I was thinking more Jamaica and some of the other teams - I'm assuming NRL clubs won't allow their Tongan or Samoan players to travel.

We'd better hope there's a late developing problem with the World Cup in Qatar next year, because we've basically knocked about 50% off the attendance figures and guaranteed zero media impact by going up against Soccer.

The reality is that we're going to be up against football during the major selling period (the women's Euros - and bear in mind the Lionesses got 11m viewers in their last major tournament on FTA, and England rugby league ... didn't) and then up against it (Premier League then Qatar build-up) during it.

All whilst having not to appear ludicrously tinpot.

The RLWC lot have got a lot right so I've got more faith in them than I'd normally have in a rugby league project but ... talk about tying one hand behind your back ...

[gingerjon]

If we can run something in the autumn with France, Wales, Scotland and Jamaica ... but those options were there mid-season and we decided to make something up instead.

I can see us just not bothering in the autumn.

[DC77]

18 hours ago, Keith989 said:

 

None of that changes the fact that it has destroyed the domestic game in Ireland and thus weakened Irish football as a whole. It was grand back in the day when English clubs rarely looked outside Britain and Ireland for academy players, now Irish lads have to compete against the rest or world for places, hence why most of the lads are now confined to the lower leagues, instead of playing in what could be fully professional domestic teams in European competitions. Any connections that were there have long been eroded, Irish fans on the whole support the teams that are doing well hence why we will now see a generation of city fans come through as what happened with Chelsea after their success in the early 00s.

You can support who you want as I said just don't be surprised that NI or the ROI are struggling to beat the likes of Luxemburg etc for the foreseeable future.

For the Highlighted part, you're right I don't know how they could (but they are free to support who they want and I'm sure plenty do). The only club in RL I follow on social media is the longhorns here in Ireland, the most exciting thing for me that happened in club rugby was them getting a chance to play in the CC. 

The quality of Irish players has declined, not that they “are confined to the lower leagues”. This decline is the reason they cannot compete with international players.

This decline is largely due to a decline in street football (take a look outside, there ain’t kids kicking a ball about honing their skills ala Robbie Keane in Tallaght, they are indoors on their gadgets). Talent rises to the top. If they were good enough they would make it. In the face of changing social norms not enough is invested in youth football (as Brian Kerr testifies), so there ain’t the conveyer belt of talent coming through. The decline in playing talent is precisely the same in Scotland (and it has a pro league that is easily accessible to any aspiring young Scottish player). 

You following the Longhorns is pretty abnormal though. Folk generally are more interested in talent, in eye catching play, in big games, in big events. It’s what people are drawn to. Again though, football is not parochial so there isn’t a comparison with RL (or say Gaelic football), the latter of which interest is confined to their own geographic location. 

[JonM]

1 minute ago, gingerjon said:

The reality is that we're going to be up against football during the major selling period (the women's Euros - and bear in mind the Lionesses got 11m viewers in their last major tournament on FTA, and England rugby league ... didn't) and then up against it (Premier League then Qatar build-up) during it.

The problem as well is that the FIFA schedule won't be known until late April, so it's not going to be easy (or probably even possible) to schedule our games to avoid clashes with England world cup fixtures.. 

[Toby Chopra]

5 minutes ago, JonM said:

The problem as well is that the FIFA schedule won't be known until late April, so it's not going to be easy (or probably even possible) to schedule our games to avoid clashes with England world cup fixtures.. 

Only the RLWC final would actually clash with FifaWC games. An issue, but not an insurmountable one. 

[Phil]

47 minutes ago, DiH68 said:

FFS! So as usual the Aussies get what they want. Really hoped the organizers would make a stand on this. Should have known better

I seriously don’t know if I can ever forgive the Aussies for this, of course they don’t need my forgiveness and will carry on regardless but nevertheless they’ll get no respect from me ever again 

[17 stone giant]

5 minutes ago, JonM said:

The problem as well is that the FIFA schedule won't be known until late April, so it's not going to be easy (or probably even possible) to schedule our games to avoid clashes with England world cup fixtures.. 

Providing the RLWC Final is played on or before Sunday 20th November, no matches will clash with any football world cup games. That shouldn't be impossible to sort out. The 2021 RLWC was due to end on Sat 27 November, so it's not a million miles different to what would be required next year.

[Sports Prophet]

2 minutes ago, Phil said:

I seriously don’t know if I can ever forgive the Aussies for this, of course they don’t need my forgiveness and will carry on regardless but nevertheless they’ll get no respect from me ever again 

Perfect sentiment for selling out the next meeting.

[Spotty Herbert]

11 minutes ago, ShropshireBull said:

Do not postpone. No money will come from Australia next year and they won´t come next year either. Until they sign a participation for next year and a massive 20 million pound bond which they get back if they show up , do not postpone. 

Otherwise they have killed us and had to do nothing for it. 

Spot on. We must have a multi million $$$ bond IF we are going to see it postponed to next year.

[ATLANTISMAN]

22 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

Alright, Pangloss

No need for that Gingerman:(

[Spidey]

3 minutes ago, 17 stone giant said:

Providing the RLWC Final is played on or before Sunday 20th November, no matches will clash with any football world cup games. That shouldn't be impossible to sort out. The 2021 RLWC was due to end on Sat 27 November, so it's not a million miles different to what would be required next year.

That would probably require the NRL season finishing early,  Think they'll do it?

[Spotty Herbert]

3 minutes ago, 17 stone giant said:

Providing the RLWC Final is played on or before Sunday 20th November, no matches will clash with any football world cup games. That shouldn't be impossible to sort out. The 2021 RLWC was due to end on Sat 27 November, so it's not a million miles different to what would be required next year.

So your lot will cut short the NRL season to enable that to happen? Yes, sure ....

[Phil]

3 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

Perfect sentiment for selling out the next meeting.

What? 

[Toby Chopra]

17 minutes ago, Damien said:

I'd be absolutely disgusted by the World Cup not taking place and what has happened in recent months.

This coupled with talk of a 10 team Super League just further reduces my desire to follow this game and reduces my interest on it. I simply have absolutely no faith in the people that run this game at any level to make things better.

Lots of different groups responsible for all that, though. Some of them lack ability, and some of have acted with sheer willful malice. 

But John Dutton's RLWC team has been one of the rare positives in recent times, and if they  - knowing the reality of the finances and logistics  - decide that postponing is the least worst option, then I think they've earned the right to be trusted. 

[JonM]

8 minutes ago, Toby Chopra said:

Only the RLWC final would actually clash with FifaWC games. An issue, but not an insurmountable one. 

Ok, that's not so bad. It's still going to ensure that the tournament is largely free of media coverage outside of the BBC. 

Ticket sales are going to be hit really hard, no matter what. The audience for this kind of event is people who aren't necessarily specifically RL fans. I just can't see people going for tickets for an event that has no guarantee of taking place and which can be killed off with 4 minutes notice.

[Hela Wigmen]

Let it go, it’s over. World Cup off this year. We might get it next year, probably not, there’ll be something else to blame, a new calendar, the wrong shaped clouds etc. 

 

[Man of Kent]

1 minute ago, JonM said:

.Ticket sales are going to be hit really hard, no matter what. The audience for this kind of event is people who aren't necessarily specifically RL fans. I just can't see people going for tickets for an event that has no guarantee of taking place and which can be killed off with 4 minutes notice.

Not necessarily. It's another year to sell it out.

[17 stone giant]

1 minute ago, Man of Kent said:

Not necessarily. It's another year to sell it out.

I'm not going to buy my tickets until 3 minutes before the tournament begins. It's important to stay one step ahead of those unreliable Anzacs.

[Toby Chopra]

5 minutes ago, JonM said:

Ok, that's not so bad. It's still going to ensure that the tournament is largely free of media coverage outside of the BBC. 

Ticket sales are going to be hit really hard, no matter what. The audience for this kind of event is people who aren't necessarily specifically RL fans. I just can't see people going for tickets for an event that has no guarantee of taking place and which can be killed off with 4 minutes notice.

All true. But a lot of people already feel that about this year. 

There's a lot of bravado on here about how we can just carry on without Australia and NZ, largely because we don't want to feel bullied by them. I get that, I feel it too. 

But outside regular RL circles the 2021 tournament is dead already. 

No good outcomes left, the NRL has seen to that, just looking for the least bad ones now. 

[Man of Kent]

4 minutes ago, ShropshireBull said:

It´s also the tv. This year we are the event. Next year we´re barely the fifth most important thing happening, England association football will have played, commonwealth games. A fraction of the games will get shown. And if Dutton leaves before next year then he would have just washed his hands of it. Come out and say it´s on, or the NRL can hand over a 25 million quid bond, plus pay for the wages of all the staff for another year. 

I keep hearing that the RLWC is up against lots of other tournaments next year but they aren't all on the same time, and nor are they all in the UK.

The general public doesn't really care about tournaments - I'm thinking about the Olympics in particular - until they are actually on, or perhaps a few days beforehand. 

2022 is not ideal but it's doable.