Rugby League World Cup 2021 (Merged Threads)

[Sports Prophet]

3 hours ago, JohnM said:

Just saying something does not make it true. Player welfare isn't something that has been at the top of the sports agenda in Aus. 

I think you will find that it very much certainly has. How else do you explain the crackdown on contact with the head?

[Davo5]

So the NRL & V’Landys are turning the sport into a version of the AFL,a sport popular in one country that is totally irrelevant to the outside world,the only difference is the AFL attract crowds.

[Damien]

Super League statement:

 

[gavin7094]

21 minutes ago, Cheshire Setter said:

 

You can’t avoid an increase in cases when you open up, so how long should a country wait?

True.  Countries that have adopted a strategy of complete suppression and elimination, though applauded initially, have painted themselves into a corner now because they don't have a clear way out.  But that's a decision for them.

If the situation were reversed, what do you think the SL would have done? 

[Sports Prophet]

2 hours ago, dkw said:

 

Still want to make that bet @Sports Prophet....as expected you were wrong as usual.

I’ll take that bet any day. Grant’s word… your word… neither give me much confidence.

[Smudger06]

1 minute ago, Damien said:

Super League statement:

 

& that from Clubland......

[hunsletgreenandgold]

3 minutes ago, gavin7094 said:

True.  Countries that have adopted a strategy of complete suppression and elimination, though applauded initially, have painted themselves into a corner now because they don't have a clear way out.  But that's a decision for them.

If the situation were reversed, what do you think the SL would have done? 

SL has no jurisdiction over international RL so literally nothing. Shame the NRL believes itself to be in some way different. 

[Smudger06]

3 minutes ago, Damien said:

Super League statement:

 

I think they've nailed it on the head 'unfaltering Spirit'

[theswanmcr]

8 minutes ago, gavin7094 said:

If the tournament went ahead without Aus and NZ, and England or Tonga won it, it the result would forever have an asterisk next to it. 

 

I agree with you gavin7094*

[Clogiron]

I'm not surprised at all by this, I said last year, bearing in mind the Aussies insular attitude, that the World Cup would be in jeopardy and take no pleasure in being right. Covoid was always going to be a long term thing the suprise was in how quick vaccines were developed to move along the path to a return to a type of normality. That like many other countries we are seeing a increase in cases and will continue to see it wax and wane for years to come until a majority of the world's population is vaccinated. Will that ever happen? I doubt it but at least our most at at risk people have some protection. The Aussies however just see the increasing numbers and won't put their valuable cattle at risk for something that they have little regard for. All the talk about banning or shaming them is futile. When I first went there 40+ years ago I came up with the expression 'World famous, in Australia' they failed to grasp the meaning of it but it's still true, to their mind the World revolves around them and a famous entertainer, writer, artist, sportsman there must be the best in the world and its a failing on everyone else's part not to recognise it. Bad publicity from this won't effect their competition, and it's not their duty to help the the game in the Northern hemisphere, let it help itself. Their belated efforts in the Pacific is only to strengthen their own competition. Internationals against Northern hemisphere countries over there create zero interest and dollars now because they are a foregone conclusion, so with the improving Pacific teams why bother traveling to the other side of the World with all that entails especially when there's a convenient excuse to hand.

[CiderWire]

Are the Aussies and NZedders sending their athletes to this years Olympic Games? just a thought.

[ShropshireBull]

Absolute scumbags. Anyone watching the NRL after this is actively contributing to the death of international rugby league. I really think this could be the end of the sport now in the Northern Hemishpere. Every event happens (Olympics, Euros) except ours... 

If we are going to survive we need to build our own annual european tournament now that we can grow , which is completely seperate from them. 

[The Frying Scotsman]

6 hours ago, dkw said:

Absolutely pathetic, disgusting from those nations who have no interest in the players and only self interest in their clubs. Cut all ties with them, let them have their ###### little sport "down under" and invite all the other countries into a fully integrated international calendar for each year, no entry for the pathetic NZ and Australians. Honestly I hope we just tell them to sod off then, carry on the world cup with 2 invite teams made from any players from their pathetic competition that has the balls to play

Right.

The problem is, "their ###### little sport "down under" actually IS effectively global Rugby League as a viable professional game.

The NRL is Fox News, KFC, Toyota, McDonalds and Subway; whereas Rugby League over here is The Warrington Guardian, Eddie Stobart and ABI Sundecks. 

Their "pathetic competition" is where all the best players in the world want to play. It is where every Australian, NZer, Tongan, Samoan, Fijian, PNG, USA, and even a good few of the English squad plays or aims to play their Rugby League.

The failure of the game to develop any sort of global professional presence leaves us in this situation.

Yes.... The World Cup could go ahead now, made up of guys who play for Barrow and train 2 nights a week. Who knows.... England might actually squeak a win, and then you could include that every year in your "fully integrated international calendar" but the outcome would ultimately be the same... Without NRL participants, international Rugby League would be quite simply laughable. 

[gavin7094]

Just now, CiderWire said:

Are the Aussies and NZedders sending their athletes to this years Olympic Games? just a thought.

Probably not a good analogy.  Covid cases are threatening the Olympics.  The organisers are still talking about cancelling them even at this late stage and 55% of Japanese population don't want them to go ahead.  Seeing this unfolding it wouldn't surprise me if it influenced the NRL's decision. 

[Big Picture]

5 hours ago, Rupert Prince said:

Are other countries locking up  harder?   Ask that to all the Italians celebrating the Euros. Are you being stopped from going into a cafe etc in France.

We are heavily vaccinated and overwhelmingly safe. We should take sensible precautions and we have many treatments for the illness.   How is it that we can have the Lions tour in SA...   Well !?  SA has not stopped it

This is Aussie NZ politics.  And they will pressurise the Islanders next, because loads play in the NRL.

Here in Canada things are easing up.  Four provinces have dropped their mask regulations and the US border will reopen in August.  This decision disgusts me, but I can't say I'm surprised.

[The Rocket]

18 minutes ago, LeeF said:

If a few players stood up then I am sure that lots more would

And that`s what we need right now, if the players stood up and said we want to go, I`d guarantee the NRL would buckle faster than you could say Jack Robinson, they talk about the game belonging to the fans, but the fact is, the game IS is the players, a lot of these blokes will never get another chance, even another year a lot of blokes won`t be the same players, there will be young bucks coming through, personally I think a player revolt is our best shot.

[Smudger06]

5 minutes ago, The Rocket said:

And that`s what we need right now, if the players stood up and said we want to go, I`d guarantee the NRL would buckle faster than you could say Jack Robinson, they talk about the game belonging to the fans, but the fact is, the game IS is the players, a lot of these blokes will never get another chance, even another year a lot of blokes won`t be the same players, there will be young bucks coming through, personally I think a player revolt is our best shot.

I think you could be right. 

[ShropshireBull]

20 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

I think you will find that it very much certainly has. How else do you explain the crackdown on contact with the head?

Because they don´t want to get sued into oblivion. 

[Smudger06]

9 minutes ago, ShropshireBull said:

Absolute scumbags. Anyone watching the NRL after this is actively contributing to the death of international rugby league. I really think this could be the end of the sport now in the Northern Hemishpere. Every event happens (Olympics, Euros) except ours... 

If we are going to survive we need to build our own annual european tournament now that we can grow , which is completely seperate from them. 

Unfortunately I think this is beginning to sound about right. Hopefully look at Canada, USA & Jamaica joining the European teams though. 

[EssexRL]

14 minutes ago, CiderWire said:

Are the Aussies and NZedders sending their athletes to this years Olympic Games? just a thought.

yes they are. says all you need to know

 

[ShropshireBull]

I mean do we go ahead or do we drop it. I think it is too late to cancel now but a tournament without both Australia and NZ means we have been gutted. Will be hilarious if the players just choose other nations anyway. I think we say screw it and run anyway and we need to be serious now about creating are our tournament. Four nations (France Scotland Eng Wales, 3 games and a final) from 2022. Australia is dead to us. 

[Saint Toppy]

18 minutes ago, CiderWire said:

Are the Aussies and NZedders sending their athletes to this years Olympic Games? just a thought.

Of course they are, its the pussies in the NRL

[LeeF]

29 minutes ago, gavin7094 said:

Some sports were very heavily affected and the overall medal table was heavily skewed.

So, if your definition of a credible tournament is one where the best in the World compete and the better participant wins, then yes, the 1980 Olympics were not credible.

But really, the 2 aren't comparable.

If the tournament went ahead without Aus and NZ, and England or Tonga won it, it the result would forever have an asterisk next to it. 

 

So you think the 1980 & 1984 Olympics were not credible? Of course they were credible 

Then you compare to the RLWC but say they aren’t comparable. 

There will be no asterisk just like the aforementioned Olympics and any other sporting event

[BrisbaneRhino]

The difference vs the Olympics is that for those athletes its the absolute pinnacle of their sports.  In Australian RL Origin is the peak followed by winning the NRL. Internationals are a distant third except for some of the islanders, notably Tonga.  Don't hold your breath waiting for a player revolt from the Aussies or Kiwis.

What annoys me is when listening to some discussions about this last week how blase some of the Aussie commentators were about how the WC should just be cancelled and moved to next year.  No idea of the financial impact that could have, how such events take a long time to plan and cost a lot upfront. Nobody asked - well how would you be able to do it next year or the year after when cities in Aus go into lockdown with a handful of cases?

Also no idea how absolutely vital big events are to the financial survival of the game in England. 

 

[hunsletgreenandgold]

This is the kind if pressure that's needed! This is genuinely great to see regardless of the outcome.