France v Lebanon test series (Merged Threads)

[Tommygilf]

1 hour ago, Sports Prophet said:

 

 

 

So you are all satisfied that the big bad NRL are to blame here, rather than the blame lying with one #### weak French federation or perhaps the responsibility lying with one even less credible Lebanese federation?

Yeah given it's been explicitly stated that the reason this tour isn't going ahead is because the NRL clubs will not allow players to go.

[Sports Prophet]

59 minutes ago, Damien said:

The NRL have a long track record on this front.

Do they? Denver maybe. When else?

46 minutes ago, Hopie said:

"Due to circumstances beyond the control of the Federation, the two international matches scheduled between the French team and the Lebanese team, on Sunday October 13, 2024 at 3 p.m. at the Balussou Stadium in Pamiers and on Saturday October 19, 2024 at 8 p.m., at the Municipal Stadium in Albi, are canceled.

The decision is motivated by the fact that Lebanese players playing in the Australian professional league have not been released by their clubs, an essential condition for these matches to take place."

Erm... do you have any evidence that contradicts the position of the FFR? It is clear as day as far as I am concerned.

Per below…

18 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

Yeah given it's been explicitly stated that the reason this tour isn't going ahead is because the NRL clubs will not allow players to go.

So you are certain, the French, who have a history of bumbling their way through RL, who have probably only heard whatever line the Lebanese have given them, have the full story?

Nothing written above confirms any specific players, nor the reasons why they have not been released. 

I mean it is very plausible that some players have injuries which require surgery.

No matter how many individuals on this forum would like to continue with paranoid rhetoric, as far as I am concerned, one short scripted and vague press release from the French federation does not constitute the NRL as the big bad evil overlords scuppering international footy at every chance.

Edited September 15 by Sports Prophet

[ATLANTISMAN]

3 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

Do they? Denver maybe. When else?

Per below…

So you are certain, the French, who have a history of bumbling their way through RL, who have probably only heard whatever line the Lebanese have given them, have the full story?

Nothing written above confirms any specific players, nor the reasons why they have not been released. 

I mean it is very plausible that some players have injuries which require surgery.

No matter how many individuals on this forum would like to continue with paranoid rhetoric, as far as I am concerned, one short scripted and vague press release from the French federation does not constitute the NRL as the big bad evil overlords scuppering international footy at every chance.

8 players withdrawn told direct 

[Hopie]

8 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

Do they? Denver maybe. When else?

Per below…

So you are certain, the French, who have a history of bumbling their way through RL, who have probably only heard whatever line the Lebanese have given them, have the full story?

Nothing written above confirms any specific players, nor the reasons why they have not been released. 

I mean it is very plausible that some players have injuries which require surgery.

No matter how many individuals on this forum would like to continue with paranoid rhetoric, as far as I am concerned, one short scripted and vague press release from the French federation does not constitute the NRL as the big bad evil overlords scuppering international footy at every chance.

So no evidence then, thanks.

[Sports Prophet]

11 minutes ago, ATLANTISMAN said:

8 players withdrawn told direct 

There you go. Which players? Withdrawn for what reason? 

What has players withdrawing got to do with the match being cancelled anyway? Why can’t Lebanon raise a team with other players?

If the financing of this series was so dependent on players X, Y and Z playing, then it smacks of poor execution and probably never should have been arranged.

Would England v Australia be cancelled because 8 players were unavailable? I don’t think so. 

This whole storyline just smells like another episode of amateurish execution by the nations involved.

Edited September 15 by Sports Prophet

[Sports Prophet]

13 minutes ago, Hopie said:

So no evidence then, thanks.

What evidence would you like? It’s not the NRL’s event. The NRL isn’t responsible for this series. Why would the NRL even care to comment?

Not that any evidence has been shared on this forum yet which puts the blame squarely at the NRL’s door anyway.

Some will take any chance to blame the NRL for their problems. 

Edited September 15 by Sports Prophet

[bobbruce]

On 14/09/2024 at 14:49, ATLANTISMAN said:

The NRL would never buy SL 

If the NRL decide to do something it will be on their own

 

Without agreement from the RFL this wouldn’t be possible. 

[Damien]

Just now, bobbruce said:

Without agreement from the RFL this wouldn’t be possible. 

I don't believe they would do it without the likes of Wigan, Leeds, Saints etc either. They are still big names in Australia and would need to be on board and agree too.

[bobbruce]

1 minute ago, Damien said:

I don't believe they would do it without the likes of Wigan, Leeds, Saints etc either. They are still big names in Australia and would need to be on board and agree too.

The RFL is effectively the clubs anyway so they would have to convince the vast majority to go with it. 

[bobbruce]

On 13/09/2024 at 12:23, The Daddy said:

Now the France v Lebanon games have been cancelled.

And this is my major reservation about the NRL having free reign over the UK game. They're not committed enough to developing International RL.

It's not gonna be good for the international game

https://treizemondial.fr/les-deux-matchs-de-la-france-face-au-liban-annules/

I don’t think this is happening but the NRL are commited to developing NRL internationals. It just isn’t bothered about ones it doesn’t control. 

[Damien]

6 minutes ago, bobbruce said:

I don’t think this is happening but the NRL are commited to developing NRL internationals. It just isn’t bothered about ones it doesn’t control. 

And a very limited number of NRL internationals at that, just the bare minimum to stop players complaining too much and to keep them in check.

[Tommygilf]

44 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

Do they? Denver maybe. When else?

Per below…

So you are certain, the French, who have a history of bumbling their way through RL, who have probably only heard whatever line the Lebanese have given them, have the full story?

Nothing written above confirms any specific players, nor the reasons why they have not been released. 

I mean it is very plausible that some players have injuries which require surgery.

No matter how many individuals on this forum would like to continue with paranoid rhetoric, as far as I am concerned, one short scripted and vague press release from the French federation does not constitute the NRL as the big bad evil overlords scuppering international footy at every chance.

Absolutely certain, as that is exactly what has been said. 

Some NRL clubs don't want their players going on this tour (for their own reasons not stated), that is the only reason it isn't going ahead as the funding, stadia and opposition was all sorted.

[Sports Prophet]

59 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

Absolutely certain, as that is exactly what has been said. 

Some NRL clubs don't want their players going on this tour (for their own reasons not stated), that is the only reason it isn't going ahead as the funding, stadia and opposition was all sorted.

What little has been said is from one narrative, vague and any accusations based on such information that the big bad NRL are at play here is nothing but conjecture.

In the mean time, I’ll wait to hear from all relevant parties before making a judgement.

Edited September 15 by Sports Prophet

[Sports Prophet]

Just imagine how embarrassing it must be to have to cancel a series, only days after announcing it to be on.

I would probably be keen to seperate myself from any responsibility of the event falling over too.

If we were to actually consider how this whole event came about and the short lead in time, it sounds like a mess from the get go, which is so out of character for the French federation.

The lack of due diligence for this “organised” event to me seems non-existent.

Edited September 15 by Sports Prophet

[langpark]

2 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

This whole storyline just smells like another episode of amateurish execution by the nations involved.

I tend to agree.

Also, I think it should be noted that "NRL" seems to have become the broader (lazier) term that refers to any Aussie club (all levels), coaches, administrators etc, especially on this thread. I bet the actual NRL knew nothing, and still know nothing about this fixture. 

[Hopie]

46 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

Just imagine how embarrassing it must be to have to cancel a series, only days after announcing it to be on.

I would probably be keen to seperate myself from any responsibility of the event falling over too.

If we were to actually consider how this whole event came about and the short lead in time, it sounds like a mess from the get go, which is so out of character for the French federation.

Ever heard of Occam's razor? The FFR have released a statement, so if you believe the reason to be something other than what they said then they must be lying, or at least passing on a lie from someone else. You are waiting for someone you trust more than a national confederation to confirm or dispute the position "before" making your mind up about what happened, but why would someone dispute or confirm the truth in this situation? So you won't get that will you!

Either you are trolling, or you need to look deeper at your analysis method.

[Tommygilf]

1 hour ago, Sports Prophet said:

What little has been said is from one narrative, vague and any accusations based on such information that the big bad NRL are at play here is nothing but conjecture.

In the mean time, I’ll wait to hear from all relevant parties before making a judgement.

The NRL clubs are refusing to release players, and thus the Lebanese touring party has collapsed. It really is that simple.

[Sports Prophet]

4 hours ago, Hopie said:

Ever heard of Occam's razor? The FFR have released a statement, so if you believe the reason to be something other than what they said then they must be lying, or at least passing on a lie from someone else. You are waiting for someone you trust more than a national confederation to confirm or dispute the position "before" making your mind up about what happened, but why would someone dispute or confirm the truth in this situation? So you won't get that will you!

Either you are trolling, or you need to look deeper at your analysis method.

I haven’t heard of that expression Hopie, thanks for the insight.

I don’t think it is outside the depths of reasonable expectations to at least hear from Lebanon RL on this matter is it? I mean they are the ones who have cancelled the series, not the NRL.

The fact that we haven’t heard from Lebanese RL yet on this withdrawal actually speaks volumes. 

So no, this isn’t trolling and my analysis is bang on as far as I am concerned.

[Sports Prophet]

3 hours ago, Tommygilf said:

The NRL clubs are refusing to release players, and thus the Lebanese touring party has collapsed. It really is that simple.

You haven’t a clue which players have not been released, by which clubs, or why. Therefore Tommy, you are making some grand assumptions there is a big NRL conspiracy at play here when in reality, that is unlikely to be the case.

[Tommygilf]

2 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

I haven’t heard of that expression Hopie, thanks for the insight.

I don’t think it is outside the depths of reasonable expectations to at least hear from Lebanon RL on this matter is it? I mean they are the ones who have cancelled the series, not the NRL.

The fact that we haven’t heard from Lebanese RL yet on this withdrawal actually speaks volumes. 

So no, this isn’t trolling and my analysis is bang on as far as I am concerned.

The Lebanese RL are hardly going to come out and criticised the NRL (clubs) publicly, given it seems like they can only play a match at the latter's behest?

[Sports Prophet]

4 hours ago, langpark said:

I tend to agree.

Also, I think it should be noted that "NRL" seems to have become the broader (lazier) term that refers to any Aussie club (all levels), coaches, administrators etc, especially on this thread. I bet the actual NRL knew nothing, and still know nothing about this fixture. 

Yeah, at which point the grand NRL beat down continues to gather momentum among the ill informed.

[Tommygilf]

1 minute ago, Sports Prophet said:

You haven’t a clue which players have not been released, by which clubs, or why. Therefore Tommy, you are making some grand assumptions there is a big NRL conspiracy at play here when in reality, that is unlikely to be the case.

It's not a big NRL conspiracy, it's a handful of clubs telling a handful of players they aren't going on an off season jolly. Perfectly logical reasoning, in line with what we have seen on other occasions.

That has been reported. If you wish to be blinkered to it be my guest, I'm sure it'll be a huge surprise for you when you finally get the evidence you'll accept.

[Sports Prophet]

40 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

The Lebanese RL are hardly going to come out and criticised the NRL (clubs) publicly, given it seems like they can only play a match at the latter's behest?

Why wouldn’t they criticise the clubs? I mean as far as you are concerned, the clubs have scuppered the support of a benefactor/s and a potential tour. They should be furious.

Are you suggesting they are withholding their criticism in the hope next time the clubs will all of a sudden be really helpful? That is a ridiculous train of thought.

There is an IRL available. Despite their limited capacity to enforce much, if either FFRXIII or LRL have issues with NRL players being illegitimately withheld, then they can complain to the IRL to investigate. My mail says neither organisation have made any such official complaint and until they do and an investigation shows there is anything underhand at play here, I am not willing to hang the NRL with the flimsy information we currently have to hand.

Edited September 15 by Sports Prophet

[Hopie]

9 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

 

 

 

So you are all satisfied that the big bad NRL are to blame here, rather than the blame lying with one #### weak French federation or perhaps the responsibility lying with one even less credible Lebanese federation?

The less credible Lebanese federation you say?

7 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

What evidence would you like? It’s not the NRL’s event. The NRL isn’t responsible for this series. Why would the NRL even care to comment?

Not that any evidence has been shared on this forum yet which puts the blame squarely at the NRL’s door anyway.

Some will take any chance to blame the NRL for their problems. 

The only evidence blames the clubs down under, NRL is the organisation of Australian clubs is it not? Just as the RFL would be blamed if a France v Wales game was cancelled because English clubs refuse to release their players.

6 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

What little has been said is from one narrative, vague and any accusations based on such information that the big bad NRL are at play here is nothing but conjecture.

In the mean time, I’ll wait to hear from all relevant parties before making a judgement.

So the French have made a statement, you don't think the Lebanese are credible, and you don't expect the NRL to comment, who will your scatter-gun aim at next to avoid blaming the NRL/Australian clubs?

[Sports Prophet]

30 minutes ago, Hopie said:

The less credible Lebanese federation you say?

The only evidence blames the clubs down under, NRL is the organisation of Australian clubs is it not? Just as the RFL would be blamed if a France v Wales game was cancelled because English clubs refuse to release their players.

So the French have made a statement, you don't think the Lebanese are credible, and you don't expect the NRL to comment, who will your scatter-gun aim at next to avoid blaming the NRL/Australian clubs?

There is no scatter gun. I am simply waiting to hear an offical word from both organisations which were due to participate in this fixture, no matter how professional each organisation may be. So far we have only heard from one.