Rugby League World Cup 2021 (Merged Threads)

[Wirral Warrior]

Are you for real?

You are really that naive to believe the 'virus' excuse....sorry , reason.

Even the great Gus Gould is confused. One minutes its the virus from a direct health point of view , then its the knock on impact to the start of next season. Which is it?

He and the NRL never wanted the RLWC and have looked ( and will continue to look) for an excuse to cancel the whole thing.

Sport is up and running around the world. Full respect to individual players if they choose not to tour, but the player pool is so large for both countries , surely they could forward 2 competitive teams rather than hide behind the virus excuse.

That's why Johnson (Simon that is) referred to the decision as 'cowardly'.

Would have had more respect for the decision if they just told the truth.......ie. it will impact on our pre-season and as its 'overseas' its not our problem!

11 minutes ago, DC77 said:

The more I hear from the Aussie side on this (the last being the BBC podcast from 5 August which I heard yesterday) the more the English response reeks of the insular “little Englander”. 

The NZ players from the NRL have been stuck in Aus and cannot get back to NZ before Christmas. And yet we have folk here, including esteemed folk on Forty20, claiming the virus is just an excuse for the Aussies/Kiwis not travelling 10,000 miles to a virus riddled island and that there is an ulterior motive. The BBC presenter, after hammering the Aussies in multiple BBC podcasts, finally gave the Aussies a brief consideration after hearing about the extreme situation in Aus from the NRL.com fella. How gracious of him. 

I get now why Vlandys responded in the way he did (not a colonial outpost, we are a sovereign nation). 

 

 

[Damien]

49 minutes ago, DC77 said:

The more I hear from the Aussie side on this (the last being the BBC podcast from 5 August which I heard yesterday) the more the English response reeks of the insular “little Englander”. 

The NZ players from the NRL have been stuck in Aus and cannot get back to NZ before Christmas. And yet we have folk here, including esteemed folk on Forty20, claiming the virus is just an excuse for the Aussies/Kiwis not travelling 10,000 miles to a virus riddled island and that there is an ulterior motive. The BBC presenter, after hammering the Aussies in multiple BBC podcasts, finally gave the Aussies a brief consideration after hearing about the extreme situation in Aus from the NRL.com fella. How gracious of him. 

I get now why Vlandys responded in the way he did (not a colonial outpost, we are a sovereign nation). 

 

You just sound like you are trolling now.

[DavidM]

It’s not the English response though is it , it’s everyone else apart from Australia and then New Zealand . The pathetic dog whistle little Englander rubbish is just the usual tactic to rouse support at home and is sheer deflection . How anyone can’t see through all their bluster is beyond me . And if they’re getting a hammering good they deserve every bit of it

[DC77]

1 hour ago, Tommygilf said:

That would all be fantastically true if the sabotage plan was limited to Australians and Kiwis.

Because that failed to collapse the World Cup as they had hoped, the NRL and its clubs turned to pressuring the players of other nations and the Indigenous squads into not going. Much in the same way they did over the England vs Kiwis game in Denver.

Again, for people so concerned with "player welfare", it is truly shocking that the RLPA stated they weren't even asked prior to the Kiwi and Kangaroo withdrawal. Its almost like it has nothing to do with player welfare!

If you believe this is anything but self interested NRL sabotage, you're kidding yourself.

Aussies and Kiwis who play for Aus and NZ is the same thing as the other Aussie and Kiwi born NRL based players who play for other nations. The NRL.com fella outlined this as being the major reason for their reluctance to go. With RU (wallabies) it’s just one group of players, likewise the Aussie Olympians all under the roof of one building, whereas with RL it’s a group of players who represent most (if not all?) the 16 teams in the competition who would be spread out and sharing facilities with the general public. Such a spread out group cannot be contained. In Australia they are taking such drastic measures that NZ players are stuck in Aus until Christmas.

Take the little Englander approach if you want, the Aussies ain’t bowing down to anyone.

[gingerjon]

3 minutes ago, DC77 said:

likewise the Aussie Olympians all under the roof of one building

How did they compete then?

[Scubby]

2 hours ago, DC77 said:

The more I hear from the Aussie side on this (the last being the BBC podcast from 5 August which I heard yesterday) the more the English response reeks of the insular “little Englander”. 

The NZ players from the NRL have been stuck in Aus and cannot get back to NZ before Christmas. And yet we have folk here, including esteemed folk on Forty20, claiming the virus is just an excuse for the Aussies/Kiwis not travelling 10,000 miles to a virus riddled island and that there is an ulterior motive. The BBC presenter, after hammering the Aussies in multiple BBC podcasts, finally gave the Aussies a brief consideration after hearing about the extreme situation in Aus from the NRL.com fella. How gracious of him. 

I get now why Vlandys responded in the way he did (not a colonial outpost, we are a sovereign nation). 

 

Roger Tuivasa Shek got home okay. I'm sure the Warriors will be granted permission by the NZ govt to return home in early September when their season is over.

[Damien]

10 minutes ago, DC77 said:

whereas with RL it’s a group of players who represent most (if not all?) the 16 teams in the competition

At most NRL players make up the majority of players in 9 teams. Even many of those would have a smattering of players from elsewhere too.

[Big Picture]

10 minutes ago, Damien said:

At most NRL players make up the majority of players in 9 teams. Even many of those would have a smattering of players from elsewhere too.

I count ten: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands, Italy, Lebanon and Greece.  In addition antipodeans would probably make up half of the Ireland and Scotland teams.

[Damien]

12 minutes ago, Big Picture said:

I count ten: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands, Italy, Lebanon and Greece.  In addition antipodeans would probably make up half of the Ireland and Scotland teams.

Papua New Guinea aren't mainly NRL players.

[Tommygilf]

39 minutes ago, DC77 said:

Aussies and Kiwis who play for Aus and NZ is the same thing as the other Aussie and Kiwi born NRL based players who play for other nations. The NRL.com fella outlined this as being the major reason for their reluctance to go. With RU (wallabies) it’s just one group of players, likewise the Aussie Olympians all under the roof of one building, whereas with RL it’s a group of players who represent most (if not all?) the 16 teams in the competition who would be spread out and sharing facilities with the general public. Such a spread out group cannot be contained. In Australia they are taking such drastic measures that NZ players are stuck in Aus until Christmas.

Take the little Englander approach if you want, the Aussies ain’t bowing down to anyone.

Its not the same though is it. 

If the FA said we're boycotting the Qatar World Cup, players from or representing every other nation wouldn't be prevented from going.

I see you've taken the kidding yourself option.

[Big Picture]

10 minutes ago, Damien said:

Papua New Guinea aren't mainly NRL players.

That's splitting hairs, most of their non-NRL players play in the Queensland state league so they're susceptible to pressure from the NRL too.  Lebanon likewise has some players in the NSW state league and the same applies to them.

 

[Exiled Wiganer]

I suspect a bit of DNFTT is called for on this thread. 

[Davo5]

2 hours ago, Damien said:

You just sound like you are trolling now.

Or goes by the name of Gus 

[Damien]

18 minutes ago, Big Picture said:

That's splitting hairs, most of their non-NRL players play in the Queensland state league so they're susceptible to pressure from the NRL too.  Lebanon likewise has some players in the NSW state league and the same applies to them.

 

Just because you were wrong does not mean it's splitting hairs. It's the NRL that has caused issues because of their trial games. That said a good chunk of the PNG squad play for the Hunters and a fair few play in England, including their captain, and France. A minority play in the NRL.

[Big Picture]

1 hour ago, Damien said:

Just because you were wrong does not mean it's splitting hairs. It's the NRL that has caused issues because of their trial games. That said a good chunk of the PNG squad play for the Hunters and a fair few play in England, including their captain, and France. A minority play in the NRL.

Newsflash: the Queensland and NSW state leagues are affiliates of the NRL, and their seasons are aligned with the NRL season.  Did you not know that?

[Damien]

13 minutes ago, Big Picture said:

Newsflash: the Queensland and NSW state leagues are affiliates of the NRL, and their seasons are aligned with the NRL season.  Did you not know that?

Who cares? They did not sign any statement and haven't been mentioned throughout this whole saga. They are not top flight leagues. Again that does not change what I replied to or what you replied to, which was regarding NRL players. Aren't the Hunters owned by the PNG RL anyway? 

Look you tried to be smart, failed then moaned about splitting hairs when what you said was incorrect. The only person splitting hairs is the one trying to say its 10 and not 9. Now that is splitting hairs.

Edited August 10, 2021 by Damien

[DC77]

38 minutes ago, Damien said:

Who cares? They did not sign any statement and haven't been mentioned throughout this whole saga. They are not top flight leagues. Again that does not change what I replied to or what you replied to, which was regarding NRL players. Aren't the Hunters owned by the PNG RL anyway? 

Look you tried to be smart, failed then moaned about splitting hairs when what you said was incorrect. The only person splitting hairs is the one trying to say its 10 and not 9. Now that is splitting hairs.

They are under the NRL umbrella though.

I had a look on Wikipedia and counted nine Aus based PNG players (most in the lower league), half the squad. On a side note looking at their squad I was surprised that a team made up of quite a few lower league players were able to beat GB quite recently. 

Basically anyone who plays in Aus, their participation in the RlWC was compromised due to the measures Australia as a nation are taking towards this pandemic. Had they been where we are then yeah, the virus would have been a non issue with regard to playing. They aren’t though, the Kiwis not being able to get back to NZ before Christmas just an example of that. If they cannot get back home to NZ it’s a tad cheeky to expect them to travel halfway around the world. A town gets 100 cases in Aus they go berserk, here we have towns with 5k cases and everything is open. With the vaccine roll out here it’s a very different situation to Aus.

[LeeF]

2 hours ago, Exiled Wiganer said:

I suspect a bit of DNFTT is called for on this thread. 

Definitely and there is a track record

[Cumbrian Fanatic]

12 minutes ago, DC77 said:

They are under the NRL umbrella though.

I had a look on Wikipedia and counted nine Aus based PNG players (most in the lower league), half the squad. On a side note looking at their squad I was surprised that a team made up of quite a few lower league players were able to beat GB quite recently. 

Basically anyone who plays in Aus, their participation in the RlWC was compromised due to the measures Australia as a nation are taking towards this pandemic. Had they been where we are then yeah, the virus would have been a non issue with regard to playing. They aren’t though, the Kiwis not being able to get back to NZ before Christmas just an example of that. If they cannot get back home to NZ it’s a tad cheeky to expect them to travel halfway around the world. A town gets 100 cases in Aus they go berserk, here we have towns with 5k cases and everything is open. With the vaccine roll out here it’s a very different situation to Aus.

Its a tad cheeky telling them they can't go rather than asking their opinion on whether they want to, or are prepared to go

[Damien]

25 minutes ago, DC77 said:

They are under the NRL umbrella though.

I had a look on Wikipedia and counted nine Aus based PNG players (most in the lower league), half the squad. On a side note looking at their squad I was surprised that a team made up of quite a few lower league players were able to beat GB quite recently. 

Basically anyone who plays in Aus, their participation in the RlWC was compromised due to the measures Australia as a nation are taking towards this pandemic. Had they been where we are then yeah, the virus would have been a non issue with regard to playing. They aren’t though, the Kiwis not being able to get back to NZ before Christmas just an example of that. If they cannot get back home to NZ it’s a tad cheeky to expect them to travel halfway around the world. A town gets 100 cases in Aus they go berserk, here we have towns with 5k cases and everything is open. With the vaccine roll out here it’s a very different situation to Aus.

Talk about clutching at straws. Even the NRL or any representative never mentioned part time state leagues. This was all about 16 NRL clubs and their pre season trial games. Stop trying to change the facts to suit your opinion.

Aren't the Hunters owned by the PNG RL anyway? The players are the employees of the PNG RL and have nothing to do with the NRL. There is no player welfare nonsense that the NRL can use.

The rest of your post is just waffle where you are ignoring the facts that have been pointed out in the last 150 pages. You are even ignoring and not replying to where this nonsense has been pointed out to be false by people in the last couple of pages. Then the rather pointless line about. GB That is pure trolling.

[LeeF]

1 minute ago, Damien said:

Talk about clutching at straws. Even the NRL or any representative never mentioned part time state leagues. This was all about 16 NRL clubs and their pre season trial games. Stop trying to change the facts to suit your opinion.

Aren't the Hunters owned by the PNG RL anyway? The players are the employees of the PNG RL and have nothing to do with the NRL. There is no player welfare nonsense that the NRL can use.

The rest of your post is just waffle where you are ignoring the facts that have been pointed out in the last 150 pages. You are even ignoring and not replying to where this nonsense has been pointed out to be false by people in the last couple of pages. Then the rather pointless line about. GB That is pure trolling.

I don’t think it is an opinion more a stance to allow trolling 

[John Drake]

Quick note to all concerned in this thread.

If you think someone is a troll, put them on ignore. Never respond to them. At all. Ever. Certainly don't divert the thread into a discussion all about them, rather than the topic at hand.

There is nothing guaranteed more to annoy a genuine troll and drive them away than steadfastly ignoring them.

By using the ignore feature on here, you don't even have to see their posts at all, so ignoring them involves no effort of willpower.

However, it his worth pointing out that someone expressing a strong opinion contrary to your own does not, in itself, constitute trolling.

If the comment is on topic, and does not contain personal abuse or foul language, however annoying it might be to your sensibilities to read, it isn't really trolling and we cannot ban someone for it.

If you see any posts which are deliberately off topic, or do involve personal abuse, or attempts at foul language, then please report them. And as is always our advice, do not respond to them.

Now, back on topic.

Thanks.

[Jim from Oz]

21 hours ago, rlno1 said:

Great podcast here with IRL boss Troy Grant, talks about RLWC2021 and future of international RL

Explains alot to give us hope

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/chasing-kangaroos-for-international-rugby-league-fans/id1441882710

OK I have now listened to this. Troy Grant comes across really well.

Some points:

* IRL is still hoping France will back 2025 RLWC but nothing confirmed. Incredibly, as of early 2020 there was NO bidder for this tournament, and it was Troy Grant's idea and initiative to take it up with the French.

* IRL is STILL working on the mythical 8-year international RL calendar and they hope it will be agreed to and released by year end. It will be condensed by one year in the 2022-25 period because of the 2021 RLWC postponement; it will also include the qualification pathways for the 2025 RLWC.

* The 2023 RL World Cup Nines is still "on track". No venue or date mentioned.

* IRL still hoping to increasingly commercialise and professionalise all their operations, but progress is slow.

* Most incredibly, Troy Grant and the entire RLWC board are ALL volunteers.

 

Edited August 11, 2021 by Jim from Oz

[tiffers]

On 09/08/2021 at 16:44, Big Picture said:

You have it a bit backwards there.  The International game can't generate profits for ILR and individual federations unless those Internationals become big events played by full time pros, and for that a league must first exist which can provide somewhere for full time pros from all the relevant countries to play.  Until that league does exist, there won't be any profitable Internationals other than those against Australia and New Zealand.

I have to say I disagree there. I think our lack of action on the field with regards to internationals has caused this huge gulf in quality, resources and indirectly weakened our game.

I firmly believe we need to be playing more internationals at all levels. If nothing else, it allows those countries to get a regular calendar and work at smaller levels with sponsors/corporates etc. This strategy builds longer term to generate consistency, stablility and provides a basis for growth to build revenues from. I dont think we need to be focused on filling huge grounds to start with (for most NH countries). Yes the comeptitions/games need to be profitable. But a minor profit for Greece or Italy that we would no doubt turn our noses up at in England, would go a long way to growing the game in that country. It could pay for new equipment for the amateur game or help finance the national teams to tour somewhere else and further monetise the international game. The key thing is that the expectations we set for England & French international revenues will be different to Serbia.

We have seen the results of inaction, unwillingness and snobbery from the top tier nations. We are at a tipping point for RL's international scene. We have to get more internationals rolling.

[The Future is League]

This seems a good proposal to me

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/15816644/proposed-move-for-the-rescheduled-rugby-league-world-cup-revealed-after-2021-axe/

Edited August 11, 2021 by The Future is League