Kangaroos facing toughest RLWC semi finals challenge since 1995

[Harry Stottle]

42 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

I was a bit torn last night.

I thought the Fijians played really well and NZ were poor by their standards.  This created a close game.

But despite my heart going for Fiji in the closing stages, logically I really wanted the Kiwis to win.  You only have to look at the last three semi finals to see that Fiji would have been beaten before the game started (as they were in the group game against the Kangaroos).  The Kiwis don't have this mental barrier to overcome.

The Kiwis haven't played well yet but they can.  I think it will be a close semi that can go either way.

A perfect end to the World Cup for me would be defeat Australia in the final but I am not hoping to play them!

I placed a like for the post minus the last paragraph, I want to play the Aussies and beat them, if nothing but to get that very aging 50 year old monkey of our backs.

[Dunbar]

1 minute ago, Harry Stottle said:

I placed a like for the post minus the last paragraph, I want to play the Aussies and beat them, if nothing but to get that very aging 50 year old monkey of our backs.

I also want to play them and beat them.

But winning the World Cup is first and top priority.

Winning a World Cup final against Australia would be a dream come true, it would literally be one of the best days of my life. 

[Tosh]

I want to see a England v New Zealand final 1st and Tonga v NZ final 2nd.

Could shake the Aussies out of their international hibernation and apathy.

[Harry Stottle]

1 minute ago, Dunbar said:

I also want to play them and beat them.

But winning the World Cup is first and top priority.

Winning a World Cup final against Australia would be a dream come true, it would literally be one of the best days of my life. 

Then have the faith you have been telling us for so long in how good this English is, are you still if the opinion they can still beat any of the 3 remaining teams?

[Harry Stottle]

3 minutes ago, Tosh said:

I want to see a England v New Zealand final 1st and Tonga v NZ final 2nd.

Could shake the Aussies out of their international hibernation and apathy.

Losing to "The English" will have more effect than a loss to a SH team.

[Dirkgee]

5 minutes ago, Tosh said:

I want to see a England v New Zealand final 1st and Tonga v NZ final 2nd.

Could shake the Aussies out of their international hibernation and apathy.

Didn't change anything when the Kiwis won in 2008. I'm not sure it would now to be honest. They just don't seem to care about the international game.

[latchford albion]

1 minute ago, Harry Stottle said:

Losing to "The English" will have more effect than a loss to a SH team.

This is true.

[Tosh]

2 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Losing to "The English" will have more effect than a loss to a SH team.

True but I just think a England, NZ or Tonga win would be massive either way for international RL.

Id take that over a 50-50 win against Australia.

[Tosh]

2 minutes ago, Dirkgee said:

Didn't change anything when the Kiwis won in 2008. I'm not sure it would now to be honest. They just don't seem to care about the international game.

Sadly state of origin has become a behemoth.

closely followed by all things NRL.

[Dunbar]

5 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Then have the faith you have been telling us for so long in how good this English is, are you still if the opinion they can still beat any of the 3 remaining teams?

4 remaining teams!

But yes, I think we can beat them.

I am becoming increasing optimistic that we will be in the final as I think we will have too much for Samoa or Tonga.

Then, in the final, yes we can win.  Australia are favourites, no doubt but not as invincible as we have seen in other years, in particular when their middles are beaten, which both the English and Kiwis can do.

And I think you are right.  of the last couple of posts - the impact of England beating Australia will be much more significant than New Zealand so what the hell, let's play them and beat them!

[Harry Stottle]

13 minutes ago, Tosh said:

Sadly state of origin has become a behemoth.

closely followed by all things NRL.

Of course it has and quite rightly so my opinion, but outside a WC final involving England a test series firstly against Aus and secondly against the Kiwi's is what I look forward to moreso than even our GF or CC final.

But, the SoO being an internal comp in Aus the tribal issues of NSW and Q'land come into play, losing to the 'English' would galvanise those factions together it would hurt them all not just the losing fans of either state.

Edited November 6, 2022 by Harry Stottle

[Dirkgee]

3 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Of course it has a quite right so, my opinion but outside a WC final involving England a test series firstly against Aus and secondly against the Kiwi's is what I look forward to moreso than even our GF or CC final.

But, the SoO being an internal comp in Aus the tribal issues of NSW and Q'land come into play, losing to the 'English' would galvanise those factions together it would hurt them all not just the loser's of either state.

I honestly think, having spoken to many Australians about league that they would pick their state winning origin over a world cup win. It might provoke a reaction for a few weeks, right up until the NRL season started and anything further away than New Zealand may as well not exist.

[Harry Stottle]

2 minutes ago, Dirkgee said:

I honestly think, having spoken to many Australians about league that they would pick their state winning origin over a world cup win. It might provoke a reaction for a few weeks, right up until the NRL season started and anything further away than New Zealand may as well not exist.

That may well be the attitude of the apathy that exists, but Engjand winning and beating Australia in the final is more than likely unthinkable and would be akin to poking a stick into a Hornets nest, I was down under when Tonga beat Australia in '19 and the reaction on the media from the likes of Joey Johns and Gus Gould was utter devastation, being beat by England would ratchet that up another notch or two, and what about the player's and coaching staff of Aus being the first to lose a Cup/Series in 50 years?

[Wigan Riversider]

Happy to play NZ in final if get there.

[Dirkgee]

3 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

That may well be the attitude of the apathy that exists, but Engjand winning and beating Australia in the final is more than likely unthinkable and would be akin to poking a stick into a Hornets nest, I was down under when Tonga beat Australia in '19 and the reaction on the media from the likes of Joey Johns and Gus Gould was utter devastation, being beat by England would ratchet that up another notch or two, and what about the player's and coaching staff of Aus being the first to lose a Cup/Series in 50 years?

And most non Tongas in Australia forgot about it within a week to go and continue non stop preaching about the NRL and origin. Maybe though England would be different, I hope so because goodness knows the international game needs a right shot in the arm.

[Phil]

There’s some compelling arguments here but my view is that the best scenario for the international game is the Aussies not making the final.

My caveat in that scenario though is will it make them withdraw even further into their soo bunker? 

[MatthewWoody]

3 hours ago, Harry Stottle said:

Wasn't this in the Australian "SL War" when the Kangaroos were devoid of a lot of their star player's?

Just asking.

And still won the final

[north yorks trinity]

20 hours ago, The Partisan said:

2000 - v Wales (Won 46 -22....albeit after an early Welsh challenge) 

2008 - v Fiji (Won 52-0)

2013 - v Fiji (Won 64 -0)

2017 - v Fiji ( Won 54 - 6)

1995 saw Australia get home in extra time against a gritty New Zealand team. 

 

I think this could be a defining moment for the sport.

 

Could be the first RLWC final (where finals have been played) to not feature Australia since 1954. 

 

So to my English compatriots of international Rugby League, IF you guys make it to the final ...what scenario would you prefer to see ? 

 

England playing a semi final winning Australia so you can possibly have that occassion of enjoying a historic win over the arch enemy in a RLWC final to reclaim the trophy after 50 years .....

 

or

 

.... seeing New Zealand end Australia's campaign setting up a historic first ever final between England and New Zealand and hopefully avenging the 2013 heartbreaking semi final loss ? 

No fence sitting ...pick a scenario

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not fence sitting but depends when I answer it:

Now - I want a NZ semi final win as (with no disrespect at all) I see them as more beatable in the final.

After the final if England have won - it would definitely be so much sweeter to beat Australia. 

[David Shepherd]

21 hours ago, The Partisan said:

2000 - v Wales (Won 46 -22....albeit after an early Welsh challenge) 

2008 - v Fiji (Won 52-0)

2013 - v Fiji (Won 64 -0)

2017 - v Fiji ( Won 54 - 6)

1995 saw Australia get home in extra time against a gritty New Zealand team. 

 

I think this could be a defining moment for the sport.

 

Could be the first RLWC final (where finals have been played) to not feature Australia since 1954. 

 

So to my English compatriots of international Rugby League, IF you guys make it to the final ...what scenario would you prefer to see ? 

 

England playing a semi final winning Australia so you can possibly have that occassion of enjoying a historic win over the arch enemy in a RLWC final to reclaim the trophy after 50 years .....

 

or

 

.... seeing New Zealand end Australia's campaign setting up a historic first ever final between England and New Zealand and hopefully avenging the 2013 heartbreaking semi final loss ? 

No fence sitting ...pick a scenario

 

 

 

 

 

 

Australia, no contest. Winning against NZ, while being a massive achievement in itself will come nowhere the feeling we'd get from beating the chain draggers.

[WN83]

8 hours ago, Dunbar said:

I also want to play them and beat them.

But winning the World Cup is first and top priority.

Winning a World Cup final against Australia would be a dream come true, it would literally be one of the best days of my life. 

I long for the day it happens. I’ve been lucky as a kid to have grown up watching Wigan winning everything and to still win things now and again. I love cricket and football as well and out of the three sports I need to see England win something in the football but above everything comes England winning a World Cup or an Ashes in Rugby League. It would be pretty emotional. I can’t let myself thing we’re a shot of doing it because it’s the hope that kills you. 
 

I wouldn’t lose sleep if the Aussies get beat Friday but I do want to play them shouid we reach the final. Winning any World Cup would be special but doing it by beating the Aussies in a final would be something else. 

Edited November 6, 2022 by WN83

[Wigan Riversider]

2 minutes ago, WN83 said:

I long for the day it happens. I’ve been lucky as a kid to have grown up watching Wigan winning everything and to still win things now and again. I love cricket and football as well and out of the three sports I need to see England win something in the football but above everything comes England winning a World Cup or an Ashes in Rugby League. It would be pretty emotional. I can’t let myself thing we’re a shot of doing it because it’s the hope that kills you. 
 

I wouldn’t lose sleep if the Aussies get beat Friday but I do want to play them shouid we reach the final. Winning any World Cup would be special but doing it by beating the Aussies in a final would be something else. 

Let's just win this one in 2 weeks against NZ and win the next one in France in 2025?

Just hoping

[WN83]

3 minutes ago, Wigan Riversider said:

Let's just win this one in 2 weeks against NZ and win the next one in France in 2025?

Just hoping

I’d take it!
 

I just need to see us beat the Aussies in a sudden death game. I’ve sat through too many beatings by them to not get a reward some day. It has to happen one day surely?! 

[Wigan Riversider]

2 minutes ago, WN83 said:

I’d take it!
 

I just need to see us beat the Aussies in a sudden death game. I’ve sat through too many beatings by them to not get a reward some day. It has to happen one day surely?! 

Yes me too.

As I previously posted on another thread (I think) yesterday was the finest that I have seen my country play in 40 years. I really don't remember earlier than the 1982 Kangaroos The Invincibles.

Thus it's 50 years since we won anything and I certainly don't remember 1970 nor 1972.

50+ years of hurt.

Let's just win this one hopefully against NZ as I have had too much heartache against the Aussies.

Can't handle the excitement in reality.

Don't want to go to work even though I work PT.

[Londonbornirishbred]

On current form, it'll be Australia v England in the final. That said, if the Kiwis can get on top up front early, then we might see exactly how much steel is behind the Kangaroos to go with their undoubted flair.
New Zealand have been poor all tournament and I believe either Samoa or Tonga would have beaten them if they'd met in pool play. McGuire doesn't seem to know what he wants and the players are mirroring that. Very disjointed.

 

[GeordieSaint]

I really don’t care if we beat Australia or NZ in the Final. I just want us to win.