Rugby League World Cup 2021 (Merged Threads)

[londonrlfan]

9 minutes ago, Phil said:

Should be IMO 

We need more "non RL" people involved in the sport, like Richard Lewis was. 

[gingerjon]

1 minute ago, londonrlfan said:

That wasn't his fault.

That’s my understanding too.

But given the past outright hostility the NRL has shown to internationale I’d be really interested in knowing what steps the RLWC took to prevent this happening. And how come we got this late before it was revealed that participation agreements hadn’t been signed.

[Northern Eel]

2 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

I have no idea what you mean by the last line.

His CV could very well be impressive. So far he can’t include “delivered successful Rugby League World Cup” and, even when he can, I’d rather we have the best person leading the complex beast of the RFL (which may be Dutton) rather than just give it to someone because they were the visible face of one project.

Because we had years of “Sally Bolton should do this” after the 2013 World Cup and it really did show up how small time our view often is.

Whenever I have spoken to him, or heard him speak, he sounds like someone who sees RL like many supporters do. That’s priceless. 
 

If advising UEFA, PGA European Tour, Tour de France and the RFL aren’t significant enough to make him a strong contender for a future role, I suspect we will be waiting a long time before we find someone at the helm with more to offer ‘on paper’. It’s hardly a preposterous suggestion; well not in my mind anyway. 

[Exiled Wiganer]

He was central to 2013, so has already delivered a successful World Cup. He is superb, and a man of integrity, as well as working all day every day for our game. 

[gingerjon]

5 minutes ago, Northern Eel said:

Whenever I have spoken to him, or heard him speak, he sounds like someone who sees RL like many supporters do. That’s priceless. 
 

If advising UEFA, PGA European Tour, Tour de France and the RFL aren’t significant enough to make him a strong contender for a future role, I suspect we will be waiting a long time before we find someone at the helm with more to offer ‘on paper’. It’s hardly a preposterous suggestion; well not in my mind anyway. 

It rather depends what he advised them on. But I do take your point about the breadth of his experience outside rugby league.

[Exiled Wiganer]

18 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

That’s my understanding too.

But given the past outright hostility the NRL has shown to internationale I’d be really interested in knowing what steps the RLWC took to prevent this happening. And how come we got this late before it was revealed that participation agreements hadn’t been signed.

He answered these questions in his interview. 

[gingerjon]

4 minutes ago, Exiled Wiganer said:

He answered these questions in his interview. 

Apologies - didn’t see it. Like I say, I’m interested in a “nice to know” way but, ultimately, being right and pointing out hypocrisy will make not a blind bit of difference to whether NRL players come to the World Cup.

[Devon Ram]

8 hours ago, DC77 said:

Not sure it can be done.

It’s not so much just the names that Big Picture is alluding to (towns that RL clubs are based in) it’s the perception that the sport of RL is parochial, ie. entrenched in their own communities which leaves it detached from outsiders. Even London Broncos for instance, they are in London, have London in its name, so you would think “global”, buts it’s RL, viewed as a parochial game. Also London is just seen as an outpost.

Unless people outside the RL heartland suddenly took up the game (and they haven’t in 125 years) the club game will remain parochial within England. I think the opportunity is outside England as fans in Toronto don’t have this same perception of the game in England. Perhaps a London Broncos would resonate more with foreigners. 

As an Irishman when I see an English RL team on tv I think that’s a culture that belongs to a specific geographic group in the north of England. When I see an English football club (certainly one of the bigger clubs) I think a combination of the city they are based in as well as its English and international identity. When I’m at Anfield I’m surrounded by other non scousers in the stands. I then see a team made up of an Egyptian top goalscorer, a Dutch leader in defence, Brazilian in nets, led by a German manager, and flags representing a range of player nationalities being waved around the stadium. And before the game starts an anthem that is probably the most famous on the planet is played (and sung). Anyone in the world can identity with this. 

Britpop was very parochial which is why it didn’t have the same international resonance that a Coldplay had for example. RL in England is the sports equivalent of Britpop just in a more confined space within England.

 

 

 

What a load of tosh, maybe you should step away from Anfield & try traveling around Rugby League grounds, lets take the other week i traveled up from Devon for the Cup Final on the train up where other Westcountry based Rugby League fans. In the evening due to problems with our train we had to go up to Reading on the Swansea train loads of Rugby League fans going back to South Wales plus once we got our return Westcountry train a large group of us travelled back after a few beers in Paddington. A bit more info for you about 5 amature sides reside in the Westcountry IE Devon & Cornwall.

[Damien]

The Dutton interview for those that missed it:

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/rugby-league/12370342/we-are-working-relentlessly-to-deliver-safe-wc

[Keith989]

1 hour ago, Mr Frisky said:

You mean, to give that team their correct name- The British Isles 13.

So yes, cheers for singing but your country was represented in that game as well dont forget kid. - you can't pick and choose.

"Great Britain's first tour for 23 years ended in defeat on Saturday as the team suffered a shock 28-10 loss against Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby."

"As debate rages on whether the Great Britain Rugby League Lions - as is, apparently, the official title.

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12040/11864192/lions-tour-2019-phil-clarke-and-brian-carney-review-great-britains-winter-tour

[Mr Frisky]

13 minutes ago, Keith989 said:

"Great Britain's first tour for 23 years ended in defeat on Saturday as the team suffered a shock 28-10 loss against Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby."

"As debate rages on whether the Great Britain Rugby League Lions - as is, apparently, the official title.

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12040/11864192/lions-tour-2019-phil-clarke-and-brian-carney-review-great-britains-winter-tour

As I said, officially know as the British Isles 13 (even on the shirt badge) so don't worry your included lad.

[GUBRATS]

2 hours ago, GeordieSaint said:

“NRL players will catch COVID-19 as biosecurity measure in places will be breached…”

Probably , but will they even know ?

[Keith989]

14 minutes ago, Mr Frisky said:

As I said, officially know as the British Isles 13 (even on the shirt badge) so don't worry your included lad.

 

Can you show me where on the jersey it is?

 

 

Edited August 1, 2021 by Keith989

[Mr Frisky]

17 minutes ago, Keith989 said:

 

Can you show me where on the jersey it is?

 

 

Just Google it lad - very common and easy to find, funny how your example doesn't show it but then again you chose a player who didn't play for GB in that shirt - when he did play for GB the GB shirts had British Isles 13 on the badge.

Why so touchy anyway we are all part of the British Isles and GB made sure Southern Ireland were included.

[Keith989]

Just now, Mr Frisky said:

Just Google it lad - very common and easy to find, funny how your example doesn't show it but then again you chose a player who didn't play for GB in that shirt - when he did play for GB the GB shirts had British Isles 13 on the badge.

Why so touchy anyway we are all part of the British Isles and GB made sure Southern Ireland were included.

I did google it hence why I found the picture 

[Exiled Wiganer]

1 hour ago, gingerjon said:

Apologies - didn’t see it. Like I say, I’m interested in a “nice to know” way but, ultimately, being right and pointing out hypocrisy will make not a blind bit of difference to whether NRL players come to the World Cup.

I don’t know how to answer that, as it doesn’t bear any relation to the facts we are dealing with here. 

[Mr Frisky]

2 minutes ago, Keith989 said:

I did google it hence why I found the picture 

5 seconds to Google....Bryan Carney has the one in the photo at home

[Damien]

Do we really need the GB and Ireland debate yet again on this thread?

[Keith989]

1 minute ago, Mr Frisky said:

5 seconds to Google....Bryan Carney has the one in the photo at home

The tour was in 2019... You keep brining up things from old tours as if it has relevance to the 2019 one... Anyway back to the thread.

[my missus]

i really hope we can ride this out and put on a great world cup this will probably be my last chance to see us win something in this country, and if we win it, in 5 years time no one will give a flying #### if the aussies were in it.

[Damien]

International development NRL style:

The name Tas Baitieri has been a fixture in Pacific rugby league circles since the turn of the century and his drive to develop the game in the region has been unparalleled.

So the NRL's decision to get rid of his role as International Development Manager has stunned many, with the NRL's Country Manager in Samoa, Maika Felise stunned by the decision.

"I'm just speechless. Filling his shoes is going to be very hard because he knew how to treat Pacific people and he knew how to get through to them about what he wants to do in the Pacific with rugby league," he told Pacific Beat.

https://www.abc.net.au/radio-australia/programs/pacificbeat/pacific-rugby-league-shock-over-tas-baitieri-redundancy/12875102

[Jim from Oz]

2 hours ago, Damien said:

The Dutton interview for those that missed it:

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/rugby-league/12370342/we-are-working-relentlessly-to-deliver-safe-wc

Thank you Damien. Just watched it … he's very impressive.

I'm hoping beyond hope that RLWC 2021 can go ahead in some form … as well all know now, it's up to the players to save it.

I wonder if a 14-team tournament is also being considered?

[Jim from Oz]

5 minutes ago, Jim from Oz said:

Thank you Damien. Just watched it … he's very impressive.

I'm hoping beyond hope that RLWC 2021 can go ahead in some form … as well all know now, it's up to the players to save it.

I wonder if a 14-team tournament is also being considered?

I also wonder who (apart from Troy Grant, I presume) he is referring to when he says he has "people on the ground" in Australia?

[The Rocket]

1 hour ago, Damien said:

The name Tas Baitieri has been a fixture in Pacific rugby league circles since the turn of the century and his drive to develop the game in the region has been unparalleled.

So the NRL's decision to get rid of his role as International Development Manager has stunned many, with the NRL's Country Manager in Samoa, Maika Felise stunned by the decision.

"I'm just speechless. Filling his shoes is going to be very hard because he knew how to treat Pacific people and he knew how to get through to them about what he wants to do in the Pacific with rugby league," he told Pacific Beat.

In a statement to Pacific Beat it(the NRL) said "A Pacific Programs Manager and Pacific Programs Coordinator will be based in Australia, and teams of development and community program staff employed in Tonga, Fiji, Samoa and Papua New Guinea through our partnership with the Australian Government."

As long as they employ appropriate people I don`t have a problem. There are many complaints within the League community that Pacific Islander/Maori and Aboriginal are under represented in administrative roles. This may be part of the strings attached to Oz Gov`t funding.

We recently had the popular and intelligent Andrew Langmack up here doing development work, a shuffling, shambolic, disheveled character you ever saw, just awful as a face for the code, but as I said, he was always popular. I`m just hoping the NRL just doesn`t start handing out jobs for the boys based on popularity contests or who needs it the most.

Edited August 1, 2021 by The Rocket

[gingerjon]

10 hours ago, Damien said:

The Dutton interview for those that missed it:

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/rugby-league/12370342/we-are-working-relentlessly-to-deliver-safe-wc

He does come across well and, at least, in control of what the options are and very clear about explaining them. I know we know but it would have been nice if he could have had a few more seconds to explain just how unwieldy the 'simple' move to 2022 would be.

What I didn't hear, because I don't think he really has the answer (because I'm not sure there can be one) is what is left other than appealing to the players' sense of adventure and patriotism and whether that really will be enough to get past an NRL/ARLC determined to make sure the World Cup either doesn't happen or happens without any NRL players.

(I'm also prepared to admit I was wrong last night. Whilst I'm not going to coronate him RFL chief tomorrow, he came across so much better than I can remember anybody else in a position of authority in this game ever doing.)