World Cup 20xx. Will it ever happen?

[Anita Bath]

1 hour ago, Eddie said:

I’ve heard it’s going to be a two team World Cup, Australia v NZ in a one off game in Sydney. 

It will be a long time before they hold another rugby league world cup final in Sydney.

[Harry Stottle]

11 minutes ago, Anita Bath said:

It will be a long time before they hold another rugby league world cup final in Sydney.

The last one was in Brisbane Anita, obviously lack of interest by the Sydney populas took it north, but if one of the 'other' heritage teams made up of Australian nationals with a good number of their 'kinsfolk' living there like Lebanon, Greece or any of the Pacific Island teams were to get to the final that could increase the attendance, but will the organisers take that risk? Odds on it will be Australia and a now rejuvenated Kiwi outfit contesting the final the draw/groups will be structured as such to have them meeting in the final.

[Anita Bath]

I know, I was there, and the one previous to that…precisely because sydney folk dont support international rugby league.

[Harry Stottle]

1 hour ago, Anita Bath said:

I know, I was there, and the one previous to that…precisely because sydney folk dont support international rugby league.

Do you agree with what I said, re a heritage team reaching the final?

[creditwhereitsdews]

13 hours ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

I'd love to hear about your experience of PNG. The games in Port Moresby really were a highlight of that world cup, the atmosphere came across as absolutely electric on tv and a real carnival atmosphere. It really made me want to see a game there at least once in my life. 

I went to PNG v USA in 2017, brilliant experience. Booked with Air New Guinea in Cairns and they arranged my hotel and transport to the ground. They even gave me a VIP ticket to the match which I gave away because I wanted to sit with the locals. Always remember the sign at the entrance saying not to bring in alcohol, knives, guns, drugs, grenades and, most importantly of all, betel nut. I got loads of free Milo on the way in so I was wired by half time. Brilliant atmosphere and then the driver took me around Port Moresby after. Remember seeing a big billboard with David Mead on - it was for booze or cigarettes I seem to remember. Chatted to driver about Stanley Gene and Makali Aizue. Would love to have stayed longer than 48hrs and will try and go back again. Stayed in the complex and a lot of the RLWC refs were there. Papua New Guinea Export beer is superb.

[JohnM]

I would not be at all surprised if the World Cup is cancelled altogether, or at least in it's current form.  It may be if course that those mushrooms I had for breakfast, or that ergot-infected muesli ditto  to blame, but I'm fully expecting Las Vegas to figure somehow in a re-jigged competition.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

14 minutes ago, JohnM said:

I would not be at all surprised if the World Cup is cancelled altogether, or at least in it's current form.  It may be if course that those mushrooms I had for breakfast, or that ergot-infected muesli ditto  to blame, but I'm fully expecting Las Vegas to figure somehow in a re-jigged competition.

The easiest format would be for there to be a European Championship and a Pacific Championship and the winners play each other in a one off game for the world cup, in Vegas if it has to feature. 

[sam4731]

3 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

The easiest format would be for there to be a European Championship and a Pacific Championship and the winners play each other in a one off game for the world cup, in Vegas if it has to feature. 

Let's have an 8 team world series:

Queensland

NSW Country

NSW City

Indigenous All Stars

Maori All Stars

New Zealand

Pasifika

Rest of the World

 

Straight knockout with all matches played in Brisbane. Winner of the tournament plays the Kangaroos in the WC final... as a curtain raiser to the opening round NRL game in Vegas.

[JohnM]

17 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

The easiest format would be for there to be a European Championship and a Pacific Championship and the winners play each other in a one off game for the world cup, in Vegas if it has to feature. 

RLI, RFL etc do make it easy at times to be inward-looking and negative and exasperated.  The sport does, though, have a reputation for innovation, so maybe at this low point in the history of the WC, innovation will come to the rescue as in your idea.

Four game four nation WC finals  in Vegas (2x semis, 1x final, 1x 3rd place play-off) immediately preceded by 4x Regional Championships.  Working that lot out should test out Excel, ChatGPT etc!  But at least it could be modelled

[DavidM]

I don’t know where I’m meant to be going to but I don’t think I’ll go 

[moorside roughyed]

Don't think it will happen tbh.

[BristolDevonCharlie]

15 hours ago, JohnM said:

I'd understood that the deadline for bids to hold the World Cup in the SH had been extended to the end of March 2024. Anyone know if that is correct and if any bids were submitted?

Apparently, according to Brad Walter, WC26 to be discuss at IRL meeting in Singapore next week. 

[BristolDevonCharlie]

On 03/04/2024 at 12:28, Whippet13 said:

I'm sure It'll happen, although there is a more than fair chance the NRL will make a mess of it. Not that we can overly criticise them for that based on how we organised and ran the 2022 event which, Covid impact caveats allowing, was poor.

Reduced 2026 and 2030 men's to five weeks, 18 games, 10 teams to make it cheaper and more manageable. Basically, done in just over a month. 

Shame, but means it is more likely to happen as it is far more affordable for nations (without Northern Powerhouse money etc). 

Edited April 5 by BristolDevonCharlie

[BristolDevonCharlie]

7 hours ago, moorside roughyed said:

Don't think it will happen tbh.

NRL now appreciate international footy, so I am sure it will. 

It is also the Aussie government's vehicle of influence in the Pacific. 

[JohnM]

Yourcomments are appreciated and I understand ( and agree with) the reasoning behind the 5/10/18 numbers. but I'm afraid I don't share your optimism. Normally, I'd say 'time will tell' and I generally take a positive outlook on these things. However, I am not convinced NRL see any value in the international game. 

 

[Anita Bath]

19 hours ago, Harry Stottle said:

Do you agree with what I said, re a heritage team reaching the final?

No…afraid dressing aussies up in fancy dress is not a basis for a world cup for me.

[moorside roughyed]

8 hours ago, BristolDevonCharlie said:

NRL now appreciate international footy, so I am sure it will. 

It is also the Aussie government's vehicle of influence in the Pacific. 

The NRL might "now" appreciate international rugby league but do the Australian fans?

[gogledd]

On 03/04/2024 at 23:23, The Hallucinating Goose said:

I'd love to hear about your experience of PNG. The games in Port Moresby really were a highlight of that world cup, the atmosphere came across as absolutely electric on tv and a real carnival atmosphere. It really made me want to see a game there at least once in my life. 

 

On 03/04/2024 at 23:44, Leigh-On-Kiwi said:

I've heard from people who were supposed to attend the GB tour, that they had been warned about leaving the complex because of the high crime rates and if you were to do so, not to do it without an armed guard... I don't think it warrants watching a game of league.

 

On 04/04/2024 at 07:42, The Hallucinating Goose said:

I've heard this kind of thing, I know the British government do actually advise against all travel to PNG but the games still looked fantastic there!

Hi Both,

I don't want to divert the thread too much but since you both asked about my travels to PNG heres a brief response.

I flew independently, and not as part of the Wales entourage - so it wasn't cheep!

Its as hot as a blast furnace once you get off the plane!

The Wales mens Team Manager is a friend, and ex-police officer - he advised me NOT to go - the Foreign Office advice is scary!

I reached out to people on Facebook who were in PNG and had links to Wales to help me. One was a nephew of a North Wales Crusaders fan who worked in PNG, the other was one of the RLWC2017 organisers on the ground in PNG. They advised me to stay in a hotel with armed security - I picked the Crowne Plaza; the hotel arranged to pick me up from the airport. One of the guys took me out into Port Moresby on the night before the game for a few beers and to watch the opening game of the tournament on TV in the hotel where Wales tem were stopping (The Stanley).

I was driven to the game (after an amazing Chinese meal) but friends of the organiser. I had a ticket gifted to me by the WRL so I was in the air-cooled corporate bit rather than baking out in the blistering heat!

The atmosphere was unreal! I've never heard such a noise in a stadium. The fans are absolutely fanatical about RL. Wales lost but at least scored in the last minute.

After the game I blagged a lift back to the team hotel in the kit van, as I'd got split up from the guys who took me to the stadium. Wales had a police escort back to their hotel which was lined with hundreds and hundres of people wanting to wave to the players or get souvenirs. 

To be honest, I really didn't go out of the hotel unless I was accompanied by someone who knew Port Moresby or when I went to the game....basically I flew in for the game and out again after, back to Australia. 

I met some lovely lads from Canterbury Bulldogs in my hotel. They'd been out helping to construct a school somewhere in PNG. They shared a taxi with me back to the airport and game me a Bulldogs polo shirt!

I'm glad I did it. I'm glad I made arrangements before going and went with the knowledge I had contacts to help me. I'd love to have seen more of Port Moresby and PNG but everyone warns you of the consequences of getting caught up in criminal activities. Would I go again.... yes, purely for rugby league purposes though.

[Eddie]

I’ve already booked my flights. 

[sam4731]

47 minutes ago, Eddie said:

I’ve already booked my flights. 

I didn't realise you can book flights for 'The Southern Hemisphere'

[Anita Bath]

7 hours ago, gogledd said:

 

 

Hi Both,

I don't want to divert the thread too much but since you both asked about my travels to PNG heres a brief response.

I flew independently, and not as part of the Wales entourage - so it wasn't cheep!

Its as hot as a blast furnace once you get off the plane!

The Wales mens Team Manager is a friend, and ex-police officer - he advised me NOT to go - the Foreign Office advice is scary!

I reached out to people on Facebook who were in PNG and had links to Wales to help me. One was a nephew of a North Wales Crusaders fan who worked in PNG, the other was one of the RLWC2017 organisers on the ground in PNG. They advised me to stay in a hotel with armed security - I picked the Crowne Plaza; the hotel arranged to pick me up from the airport. One of the guys took me out into Port Moresby on the night before the game for a few beers and to watch the opening game of the tournament on TV in the hotel where Wales tem were stopping (The Stanley).

I was driven to the game (after an amazing Chinese meal) but friends of the organiser. I had a ticket gifted to me by the WRL so I was in the air-cooled corporate bit rather than baking out in the blistering heat!

The atmosphere was unreal! I've never heard such a noise in a stadium. The fans are absolutely fanatical about RL. Wales lost but at least scored in the last minute.

After the game I blagged a lift back to the team hotel in the kit van, as I'd got split up from the guys who took me to the stadium. Wales had a police escort back to their hotel which was lined with hundreds and hundres of people wanting to wave to the players or get souvenirs. 

To be honest, I really didn't go out of the hotel unless I was accompanied by someone who knew Port Moresby or when I went to the game....basically I flew in for the game and out again after, back to Australia. 

I met some lovely lads from Canterbury Bulldogs in my hotel. They'd been out helping to construct a school somewhere in PNG. They shared a taxi with me back to the airport and game me a Bulldogs polo shirt!

I'm glad I did it. I'm glad I made arrangements before going and went with the knowledge I had contacts to help me. I'd love to have seen more of Port Moresby and PNG but everyone warns you of the consequences of getting caught up in criminal activities. Would I go again.... yes, purely for rugby league purposes though.

I have just returned from a small expedition cruise to north east coast and islands of PNG based on history, culture and wildlife ( birds and snorkelling are amazing) The small towns and villages and islands are completely distinct from the challenges, problems and violence of the big cities. We visited Milne Bay (site of first Japanese land defeat in WW2) and the northern end of the Kokoda Track. Although Port Moresby is only about 100 miles or so from PM these communities have no meaningful association with the capital….its separated by the mountain range so any city based services involve a 5 hour eachway ship ride to Lae.

The people are warm and friendly but poor and the villages depend on the revenue these small scale expedition cruises bring in. The trip I was on was 70 passengers. For some of the islands it was the first tourist visit since before the pandemic. 

I would recommend a trip to this side of PNG to anyone. No safety concerns.

[BristolDevonCharlie]

12 hours ago, moorside roughyed said:

The NRL might "now" appreciate international rugby league but do the Australian fans?

Does that matter? If the Australian government are funding the Pacific tests, then it gives things a chance to grow. Even if they play most Tests in the Pacific, PNG and NZ for the next few years. 

[BristolDevonCharlie]

18 hours ago, JohnM said:

Yourcomments are appreciated and I understand ( and agree with) the reasoning behind the 5/10/18 numbers. but I'm afraid I don't share your optimism. Normally, I'd say 'time will tell' and I generally take a positive outlook on these things. However, I am not convinced NRL see any value in the international game. 

 

And until after the RLWC 2021 I would have said that was true, but a few things have changed.

Firstly, the NRL's PVL and Abdo are on the IRL board now, and so have been leading the new direction they are taking.

Two, they have convinced the Aussie government to fund the Pacific Championships (https://www.pm.gov.au/media/pacific-rugby-league-championships) and so is cost neutral from their perspective. 

Plus, with new calendar, they have setup the IRL with an annual revenue generation exercise (WC's in 2026, 2028, 2029 & 2030, and World Series in 2025, 2027 & 2029) and can now sell broadcast rights and sponsorship (they have taken these functions back in house for these tournaments) for these which will start to make them a self-sustaining organisation. 

Of course, like everything in RL through a British lense, we are sceptical. But now the NRL have realised International Footy helps them, I think we will see more consistency. 

[Damien]

1 minute ago, BristolDevonCharlie said:

And until after the RLWC 2021 I would have said that was true, but a few things have changed.

Firstly, the NRL's PVL and Abdo are on the IRL board now, and so have been leading the new direction they are taking.

Two, they have convinced the Aussie government to fund the Pacific Championships (https://www.pm.gov.au/media/pacific-rugby-league-championships) and so is cost neutral from their perspective. 

Plus, with new calendar, they have setup the IRL with an annual revenue generation exercise (WC's in 2026, 2028, 2029 & 2030, and World Series in 2025, 2027 & 2029) and can now sell broadcast rights and sponsorship (they have taken these functions back in house for these tournaments) for these which will start to make them a self-sustaining organisation. 

Of course, like everything in RL through a British lense, we are sceptical. But now the NRL have realised International Footy helps them, I think we will see more consistency. 

You've not followed Rugby League for long have you?

[BristolDevonCharlie]

4 minutes ago, Damien said:

You've not followed Rugby League for long have you?

You've only made that joke 185 times before!!