Sports Prophet Posted September 24 Share Posted September 24 I was really impressed with Saints win yesterday and expect if they were playing the NRL champions next weekend it would be an absolute cracker of a game. Alas, the respective seasons are not aligned and there seems to be little desire for the WCC from down under, let alone a proper one held immediately after the respective Grand Finals. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbruce Posted September 24 Share Posted September 24 I’ve always said it can’t be beyond us to line the seasons up. If like this year when the WC is over here the NRL should finish a week earlier. That way the winners of the NRL could be in the crowd at old Trafford watching the SL GF. Then play the WCC the following week. The players could then go on to join up with there respective national teams. Do the same in reverse if the internationals are being held down under. 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pulga Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 To Aussies the WCC is not much more than a gimmick. It seems the English take it much more seriously. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sports Prophet Posted September 25 Author Share Posted September 25 24 minutes ago, Pulga said: To Aussies the WCC is not much more than a gimmick. It seems the English take it much more seriously. Money talks. I wonder how much it would take. If I recall, the winner of the Auckland 7s netted as much prize money as the NRL Champion of the same year. Even that was not enough for the teams expected to mount an NRL Premiership challenge later in the year to take it seriously. Considering for a moment that any match in Aus would not sellout, is it possible that a WCC could sellout a 50k seater stadium a week after the GF in England? If not, is it fair to say that demand isn't there from the fans either? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pulga Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 1 hour ago, Sports Prophet said: Money talks. I wonder how much it would take. If I recall, the winner of the Auckland 7s netted as much prize money as the NRL Champion of the same year. Even that was not enough for the teams expected to mount an NRL Premiership challenge later in the year to take it seriously. Considering for a moment that any match in Aus would not sellout, is it possible that a WCC could sellout a 50k seater stadium a week after the GF in England? If not, is it fair to say that demand isn't there from the fans either? Do you mean Auckland 9s? I think the main problem is the perceived low quality of Super League. It's a novelty not to be taken seriously. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sports Prophet Posted September 25 Author Share Posted September 25 12 minutes ago, Pulga said: Do you mean Auckland 9s? I think the main problem is the perceived low quality of Super League. It's a novelty not to be taken seriously. Yes, Auckland 9s. For sure that's an issue. If there was a $1.5m cheque for the winners, would that be enough for them to take it seriously? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SydneyRoosters Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 15 minutes ago, Pulga said: Do you mean Auckland 9s? I think the main problem is the perceived low quality of Super League. It's a novelty not to be taken seriously. I would actually be massive if saints beat Penrith in a WCC. I think it would change a lot of peoples view on the super league. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adelaide Tiger Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 The sole focus of both winning teams is to win their respective leagues. To then expect one team to fly half way around the world a day or so after celebrating their victory and be up to play another high intensive game the following weekend IMHO leads to the comments that the WCC is more of a gimmick then a serious challenge. What might work is if both leagues are aligned to finish on the same weekend. For example based on next year, the 23rd September, and then host a WCC 2 weeks later on 7th October. That would give the travelling team an appropriate rest period, time to celebrate and travel and time for game preparation. It would also give two weeks to promote the game as a true WCC. And in a non World Cup year you then give the players a two week break before having an international window from 21stOctober and into mid November. It would also make sense that the internationals are played in the hemisphere where the WCC takes place to keep travelling to a minimum for players. Would the game and IMG have thought of this? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sports Prophet Posted September 25 Author Share Posted September 25 We can hope AT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pulga Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 2 hours ago, Sports Prophet said: Yes, Auckland 9s. For sure that's an issue. If there was a $1.5m cheque for the winners, would that be enough for them to take it seriously? I'm not really sure. Would the $1.5m be split between just the 17 players? Would it go to staff too? Would it be used to offset the cost of the event? I'm not sure it would make a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunbar Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 To be honest, I'm surprised that the NRL champions are not already being described as World Champions by the media over there. 2 1 "The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerjon Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 3 hours ago, Sports Prophet said: Yes, Auckland 9s. For sure that's an issue. If there was a $1.5m cheque for the winners, would that be enough for them to take it seriously? The only time it's ever been played in recent years is when there has been a guaranteed payment to the Australian side. Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sports Prophet Posted September 25 Author Share Posted September 25 18 minutes ago, gingerjon said: The only time it's ever been played in recent years is when there has been a guaranteed payment to the Australian side. And rightly so. You must get paid! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugbyleaguesupporter Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 I don't support this idea but potentially you could crown the lead leaders the champions and then have a play off to determine who plays Aussie champions, in grand final esque event at old Trafford Pro- make regular season more attractive while keeping play offs alive and interest for clubs Con-old Trafford would be 30k ish, not got nrl buy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Frisky Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 8 hours ago, Pulga said: To Aussies the WCC is not much more than a gimmick. It seems the English take it much more seriously. Not true. As someone who is a Roosters member and I attend a few games each season and you will see how proud they are to hold the record of WCC wins - they call themselves the most successful team in the world and the record books back that up. The likes of Penrith seem to be indifferent to is - is it because they got well beat the last time they played so are scared it will happen again?? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pulga Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 2 hours ago, Dunbar said: To be honest, I'm surprised that the NRL champions are not already being described as World Champions by the media over there. We're not quite at AFL's level.... yet. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pulga Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 9 minutes ago, Mr Frisky said: Not true. As someone who is a Roosters member and I attend a few games each season and you will see how proud they are to hold the record of WCC wins - they call themselves the most successful team in the world and the record books back that up. The likes of Penrith seem to be indifferent to is - is it because they got well beat the last time they played so are scared it will happen again?? Ok, so apart from the dozen roosters fans, we, as Australians don't really take it seriously. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 5 hours ago, SydneyRoosters said: I would actually be massive if saints beat Penrith in a WCC. I think it would change a lot of peoples view on the super league. Not if its NRL pre-season. Any win by an English club then still leaves question marks and excuses, as we have seen many times before. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 1 hour ago, Sports Prophet said: And rightly so. You must get paid! Well no, not by the other team competing. It should be more equitable than that. If English clubs had the same attitude then even what we have seen to date would have never happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Copa Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 (edited) 8 hours ago, Pulga said: To Aussies the WCC is not much more than a gimmick. It seems the English take it much more seriously. We’d love it here in Canberra if the Green Machine was playing. Edited September 25 by Copa 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Frisky Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 24 minutes ago, Pulga said: Ok, so apart from the dozen roosters fans, we, as Australians don't really take it seriously. Depends on who you support lad - if your team had won a few WCC you may be more up for it - your not a Penrith fan are you.. Take it you watch a lot of SL then for your balanced views on this matter. Most Australia teams do take it seriously- the last 2 times its been played in Australia the host club has had its season best crowd for the WCC ( Roosters and Melbourne) - as Australia is off the global radar it was a chance for their fans to claim to be the best in the world - a rare thing in Australian sport. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pulga Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 41 minutes ago, Copa said: We’d love it here in Canberra if the Green Machine was playing. You gotta win the whole shebang first sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Frisky Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 2 minutes ago, Pulga said: You gotta win the whole shebang first sorry. And that's why it should be the pinnacle of Club RL - you can only play in the match if you are the best team in your competition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Copa Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 22 minutes ago, Pulga said: You gotta win the whole shebang first sorry. I live in hope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whippet13 Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 There is zero interest from clubs, players or administrators (NRL, SL and IRL) to hold the WCC at the end of the seasons for a long list of very good reasons. International RL is far more important to developing the sport and that is rightly taking priority. I've been to about 10 WCC games over the years' in England and Australia and love the concept, but there are far more strategically important autumn playing priorities so it should stay where it is. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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