Sun 16 Oct: RLWC: New Zealand v Lebanon KO 19:30

[MatthewWoody]

Great afternoon of rl.

[The One]

31 minutes ago, Young Blood said:

Anyone know of Douiehi will be suspended? 

Robbie Paul’s only just realised he was sent off.

[Eddie]

41 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

I don't know a single sport with a World Cup finals tournament where every team can win it.

True, but in football any team can beat any other on a given day (no need to list all the examples of this). The nature of League (and Union) is that the same just doesn’t happen, so we get many more predictable blow outs. I was trying to explain that to someone today, they didn’t get it but that’s fair enough. 

[HawkMan]

7 minutes ago, Eddie said:

True, but in football any team can beat any other on a given day (no need to list all the examples of this). The nature of League (and Union) is that the same just doesn’t happen, so we get many more predictable blow outs. I was trying to explain that to someone today, they didn’t get it but that’s fair enough. 

Been watching some of the T20 Cricket World Cup,  they have a very interesting format. 

16 teams, with no hopers like UAE and Namibia ,but the bottom 8 in the rankings take centre stage for the first group phase. The no hopers play in two groups,  the winners and runners up join the big boys who come in at the second group phase.

Don't know if that'll work in RLWC interesting idea though.

[Wendigo7]

3 minutes ago, HawkMan said:

Been watching some of the T20 Cricket World Cup,  they have a very interesting format. 

16 teams, with no hopers like UAE and Namibia ,but the bottom 8 in the rankings take centre stage for the first group phase. The no hopers play in two groups,  the winners and runners up join the big boys who come in at the second group phase.

Don't know if that'll work in RLWC interesting idea though.

Namibia taking out Sri Lanka was a massive shock and Netherlands/UAE went down to the 2nd to last ball. 
Makes for compelling viewing. My only issue with it, is that fans as a result sadly won’t show for any of the games because it’s not their team, a big team, or a game you’d get up for. Considered nothing bagels. 
That’s not fair but that’s what it is. I think persevering is the right move. Bring others up to speed

[RL Tragic]

4 hours ago, DavidM said:

Where’s the crowd . This kiwi team is packed with stars and Lebanon have guys like Moses ? And things like no national anthem singer , it just seems disappointing and low key 

I know we are only in day two but considering the amount of staff , time and money the organisers have had versus other RL world cups the presentation lack of attention to deatails ( like someone to sing anthems ) and some of the attendances are really quiet abysmal. Just over 5k in a RL town featuring two sides stacked with NRL quality players is shockingly bad . 

[Big Picture]

1 hour ago, GUBRATS said:

Yes , which is 8 teams at least too many 

And I read that FIFA's expanding it to 48 after this year's tournament!

[GUBRATS]

1 minute ago, Big Picture said:

And I read that FIFA's expanding it to 48 after this year's tournament!

Yes , how incredibly boring will that be ? 

But it'll make more money 

[GUBRATS]

16 minutes ago, RL Tragic said:

I know we are only in day two but considering the amount of staff , time and money the organisers have had versus other RL world cups the presentation lack of attention to deatails ( like someone to sing anthems ) and some of the attendances are really quiet abysmal. Just over 5k in a RL town featuring two sides stacked with NRL quality players is shockingly bad . 

Many RL fans are very club centric , just the way it is , you only have to look at the busiest threads on this board 

[Londonbornirishbred]

1 hour ago, Eddie said:

True, but in football any team can beat any other on a given day (no need to list all the examples of this). The nature of League (and Union) is that the same just doesn’t happen, so we get many more predictable blow outs. I was trying to explain that to someone today, they didn’t get it but that’s fair enough. 

To be fair to Rugby (both), there's been a few "eye brow" raisers over the last decade or so, what with Japan turning over South Africa in Rah and Tonga flipping the Roos in 2019.
Didn't Scotland draw with the Kiwis in 2016?

The more "Heritage' players who realise that SoO is for the top 2% and opt for their nation earlier, the better. 

[GUBRATS]

1 hour ago, Eddie said:

True, but in football any team can beat any other on a given day (no need to list all the examples of this). The nature of League (and Union) is that the same just doesn’t happen, so we get many more predictable blow outs. I was trying to explain that to someone today, they didn’t get it but that’s fair enough. 

But even in Union a team can retain possession for long periods to keep the score down , or indeed kick penalties to close a gap 

[Big Picture]

7 minutes ago, GUBRATS said:

Yes , how incredibly boring will that be ? 

But it'll make more money 

The minor countries which aren't likely to qualify for a 32-country tournament apparently love it, some of them will get into the limelight now.

[frank]

22 minutes ago, RL Tragic said:

I know we are only in day two but considering the amount of staff , time and money the organisers have had versus other RL world cups the presentation lack of attention to deatails ( like someone to sing anthems ) and some of the attendances are really quiet abysmal. Just over 5k in a RL town featuring two sides stacked with NRL quality players is shockingly bad . 

Have to agree in regard to the attendances but the way things are in the UK financialy for some I'm not surprised. Also having it on free to air doesn't help.

[Londonbornirishbred]

2 hours ago, frank said:

 Also having it on free to air doesn't help.

Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

Personally, I'll take the hit on attendances if it widens the audience for RL in the "long term", but that is for the RFL/IMG/SL Owners to figure out. How to keep the publicity and public interest raised by this tournament going until the end of January? 

Won't be easy. especially as the wendyballers have their 4 year jamboree in a months time!

[RayCee]

3 hours ago, frank said:

Have to agree in regard to the attendances but the way things are in the UK financialy for some I'm not surprised. Also having it on free to air doesn't help.

It may have helped to use more grounds around the country. Having five games at Warrington (I believe) - as an example only - in a town with RL fans being club-centric and many financially unable to attend all those games will affect crowd numbers. Government funding around Northern Powerhouse may be the reason but it has it's downsides too. 

[Young Blood]

Apparantley Douiehi said "gives us some f***king calls", a send off based on that is a bit too much 10 minutes is sufficent.

[gingerjon]

6 hours ago, Big Picture said:

And I read that FIFA's expanding it to 48 after this year's tournament!

Yes, and changing the group structure so you move to knock out matches more quickly.

[Gomersall]

35 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

Yes, and changing the group structure so you move to knock out matches more quickly.

Aren’t they going with 3 team groups too? Lose your opening game and it’s a mountain to climb. It’s going to lead to an even more cautious first game for a lot of teams IMO.

[gingerjon]

Just now, Gomersall said:

Aren’t they going with 3 team groups too? Lose your opening game and it’s a mountain to climb. It’s going to lead to an even more cautious first game for a lot of teams IMO.

I believe that's the case.

And, given how deathly group stage World Cup football can be already, I'm not sure there are too many downsides to reducing the number of opportunities to be bored rigid by a team playing for 0-0 and hoping for one on the break.

[JimBronco]

Does anyone else believe that each team should have more than one captain's challenge per game? Say three would be better? Or is anyone against the captain's challenge and it should be scrapped?

[AB90]

3 hours ago, Young Blood said:

Apparantley Douiehi said "gives us some f***king calls", a send off based on that is a bit too much 10 minutes is sufficent.

Lol if true how is that a red card!

[JimBronco]

Very harsh to be sent off for that really. 10 minutes in the bin would have been fair.

[Guest]

6 minutes ago, JimBronco said:

Does anyone else believe that each team should have more than one captain's challenge per game? Say three would be better? Or is anyone against the captain's challenge and it should be scrapped?

Having been at the HJ last night, it would be an improvement in the ground at least to have some sort of idea what the challenges are for. In the NRL, the audio from the video refs go out over the PA, so everyone in the ground knows whats happening, but sat in the stand last night it appeared that the game just ground to a halt with no explanation. 

[MZH]

8 hours ago, GUBRATS said:

But even in Union a team can retain possession for long periods to keep the score down , or indeed kick penalties to close a gap 

I suppose you could also say however that in league, when you have the ball, you get a minute respite to take a few carries and then try to kick deep. In Union, even when you have the ball, every tackle is another fight for possession, and if you are massively outclassed you are going to be getting turned over a lot and giving alot of penalties away at the breakdown whilst in possession. The fact is, in games like League or Union where physically is so important, there's very little you can do if the opposition is simply too good for you. In football you can be organised and work hard and with a bit of luck that can sometimes bring results.

[Mattrhino]

9 hours ago, RL Tragic said:

I know we are only in day two but considering the amount of staff , time and money the organisers have had versus other RL world cups the presentation lack of attention to deatails ( like someone to sing anthems ) and some of the attendances are really quiet abysmal. Just over 5k in a RL town featuring two sides stacked with NRL quality players is shockingly bad . 

The biggest issue was the pricing. Any idiot idiot could see but the guys at RLWC didn't do anything until a few weeks before the tournament.

There is something out there called market forces that you can't just ignore. Kia can't just raise there prices to match Ferrari's just because they both have four wheels and an engine.

We stupidly raised our prices to a premium without any justification. Just because Union and NFL can flog £70-£100 tickets doesn't mean we can.

The Women's EUROs got it right, they realised what market they were in a priced accordingly.