Sat 29 Oct: RLWC: Australia v Italy KO 19:30

[Eddie]

42 minutes ago, MatthewWoody said:

People came to see the basketball Dream Team in the 1992 Olympics.

Slightly different that. 

[MatthewWoody]

We as rl fan and community have to understand there is a problem if so few people come to watch the best Int team play.

[MatthewWoody]

1 minute ago, Eddie said:

Slightly different that. 

We were talking about non close game 

[GeordieSaint]

1 minute ago, MatthewWoody said:

We as rl fan and community have to understand there is a problem if so few people come to watch the best Int team play.

It’s been spoken about elsewhere mate - biggest factor is 3 games in 10 days in one of the poorest areas of the  country. This on paper was probably the least appetising of the 3 games despite the Aussies playing. 

[MatthewWoody]

Just now, GeordieSaint said:

It’s been spoken about elsewhere mate - biggest factor is 3 games in 10 days in one of the poorest areas of the  country. This on paper was probably the least appetising of the 3 games despite the Aussies playing. 

Still, a problem imho. 

St Helens should be one of the rl capitals in the world. 

[GeordieSaint]

Just now, MatthewWoody said:

Still, a problem imho. 

St Helens should be one of the rl capitals in the world. 

I’d argue it is. But it doesn’t mean thousands have people have spare cash to throw around on their entertainment.

What is also interesting is a couple of the worst attending games so far have been an Australian and New Zealand game where they were expected to thump the opposition. Clearly the assumption putting those two teams in heartland locations would draw a crowd is false. Yet Australia - Scotland got 10k plus in Coventry. There is something in this that should be analysed for any future competitions. 

[Eddie]

17 minutes ago, MatthewWoody said:

We were talking about non close game 

It was a massive global brand playing in a hyped series of events in big cities. 

[Eddie]

10 minutes ago, GeordieSaint said:

I’d argue it is. But it doesn’t mean thousands have people have spare cash to throw around on their entertainment.

What is also interesting is a couple of the worst attending games so far have been an Australian and New Zealand game where they were expected to thump the opposition. Clearly the assumption putting those two teams in heartland locations would draw a crowd is false. Yet Australia - Scotland got 10k plus in Coventry. There is something in this that should be analysed for any future competitions. 

Plus is Australia whacking a load of other Aussies with Italian grandparents actually entertainment? I’d argue it isn’t. 

[MatthewWoody]

Of course there is, I agree with you.

But still, as we attack the Aussies when they don't care about the int game etc, we should be honest in saying there is maybe less int rl appetite in England than we used to think. 

 

[MatthewWoody]

2 minutes ago, Eddie said:

It was a massive global brand playing in a hyped series of events in big cities. 

Still, Kangaroos are a brand that should be massive in St Helens, aren't they?

[GeordieSaint]

Just now, Eddie said:

Plus is Australia whacking a load of other Aussies with Italian grandparents actually entertainment? I’d argue it isn’t. 

I actually quite enjoyed the game. The Italians threw themselves into the fight and showed up well.

St Helens also turned up 10k+ to see Tonga who are majority heritage players so I don’t think heritage is thr key factor. Multitude of factors at play here but the key one IMO is too many games in a short period of time. 

[Gerrumonside ref]

1 minute ago, Eddie said:

Plus is Australia whacking a load of other Aussies with Italian grandparents actually entertainment? I’d argue it isn’t. 

That’s a different debate and I severely doubt families in St Helens used it when deciding which group games they could afford to attend.

 

[MatthewWoody]

1 minute ago, GeordieSaint said:

I actually quite enjoyed the game. The Italians threw themselves into the fight and showed up well.

St Helens also turned up 10k+ to see Tonga who are majority heritage players so I don’t think heritage is thr key factor. Multitude of factors at play here but the key one IMO is too many games in a short period of time. 

Agree.

Rl people know about Int heritage players and so on. 

I think we have the right to be disappointed by the people from the rl heartland. 

[Gerrumonside ref]

1 minute ago, MatthewWoody said:

Still, Kangaroos are a brand that should be massive in St Helens, aren't they?

Money is tight at the moment in places like St Helens.

There were multiple games on at the Totally Wicked Stadium and they got supported in order of attractiveness I would guess.

Dont forget too that every game is televised (or easily available by iPlayer).

I think Geordiesaint is spot on in what he is saying.

[GeordieSaint]

Just now, MatthewWoody said:

Agree.

Rl people know about Int heritage players and so on. 

I think we have the right to be disappointed by the people from the rl heartland. 

I disagree about the heartland base - the planning assumptions by the organisers are what’s wrong here. Numbers of games, cost etc have all been badly thought through hence rubbish crowds at Saints last night and Warrington on the opening weekend. It’s the organiser’s fault.

[MatthewWoody]

1 minute ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

Money is tight at the moment in places like St Helens.

There were multiple games on at the Totally Wicked Stadium and they got supported in order of attractiveness I would guess.

Dont forget too that every game is televised (or easily available by iPlayer).

I think Geordiesaint is spot on in what he is saying.

I tend to agree with you but still, I somehow am disappointed. 

The game was very interesting and I think we showed a good and creative attitude and approach. 

Gonna write a longer post about Italy RL's wc campaign as soon as I have access to my laptop. 

I'll just say I'm sure Tiziano, our former player and vicepresident who sadly died 45 y.o. this Spring, is happy from wherever he is because we scored against the Kangaroos and played well. 

Vossy announced club rl footy is starting again this weekend in Italy so I'm very happy.

[MatthewWoody]

3 minutes ago, GeordieSaint said:

I disagree about the heartland base - the planning assumptions by the organisers are what’s wrong here. Numbers of games, cost etc have all been badly thought through hence rubbish crowds at Saints last night and Warrington on the opening weekend. It’s the organiser’s fault.

It can be both, imho.

[Eddie]

10 minutes ago, MatthewWoody said:

Still, Kangaroos are a brand that should be massive in St Helens, aren't they?

I don’t think so, and St Helens is a lot smaller than London. 

[MatthewWoody]

Just now, Eddie said:

I don’t think so, and St Helens is a lot smaller than London. 

Hmm, call me naive but I thought the prospect of watching the Kangaroos playing could be terrific for a RL city.

[Eddie]

1 minute ago, MatthewWoody said:

 

Vossy announced club rl footy is starting again this weekend in Italy so I'm very happy.

That’s great news, have you got any details about it?  If RL could get the lads who play that mental football game in Florence to start a team I reckon they’d be decent! 

[Eddie]

Just now, MatthewWoody said:

Hmm, call me naive but I thought the prospect of watching the Kangaroos playing could be terrific for a RL city.

Honestly I just don’t think that’s the case any more, it’s years since Australia were over here and people have forgotten about them. If we’d had a load of Ashes series over the last decade then maybe it would be different but they’re just not the draw that they once were. This is another game that could have been played in Cumbria in front of a full house though.  

[Gerrumonside ref]

1 minute ago, MatthewWoody said:

I tend to agree with you but still, I somehow am disappointed. 

The game was very interesting and I think we showed a good and creative attitude and approach. 

Gonna write a longer post about Italy RL's wc campaign as soon as I have access to my laptop. 

I'll just say I'm sure Tiziano, our former player and vicepresident who sadly died 45 y.o. this Spring, is happy from wherever he is because we scored against the Kangaroos and played well. 

Vossy announced club rl footy is starting again this weekend in Italy so I'm very happy.

It’s not the best crowd but no slight was intended towards Australia or Italy by it.

I think the number of games in close succession and the prices being charged are the main factors and the organisers deserve your ire more than the people in St Helens.

I’m glad you took positives out of the game and the manner of the victory over Scotland is another one.

Hopefully onwards and upwards for Italian RL and again sorry to hear about the sad loss of your friend at no age at all.

Best regards.

[Eddie]

15 minutes ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

That’s a different debate and I severely doubt families in St Helens used it when deciding which group games they could afford to attend.

 

Agreed, they would have looked at which ones would be the most entertaining, and Australia humping Italy just isn’t. 

[bobbruce]

1 hour ago, MatthewWoody said:

People came to see the basketball Dream Team in the 1992 Olympics.

In an 8000 capacity arena I doubt they broke any attendance records. 

[MatthewWoody]

5 minutes ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

It’s not the best crowd but no slight was intended towards Australia or Italy by it.

I think the number of games in close succession and the prices being charged are the main factors and the organisers deserve your ire more than the people in St Helens.

I’m glad you took positives out of the game and the manner of the victory over Scotland is another one.

Hopefully onwards and upwards for Italian RL and again sorry to hear about the sad loss of your friend at no age at all.

Best regards.

Thanks mate. 

This Italy teams is young and we can build on this group the the next qualification campaign and hopefully 2025 WC. Let's hope we can give action to more domestic players. Interesting article about Celerino inside the new RL World. All the sacrifices and life choices he made for the love of the game...

About the whole campaign, I was disappointed by the v Fiji game. Not because of the loss but because of how it happened.