WCC in doubt?

[John m]

Was always at risk of not happening due to Las Vegas.

 

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/major-world-club-challenge-update-with-event-in-doubt-and-dependent-on-nrl-and-super-league-winners

[Gerrumonside ref]

It should be the Vegas main event in reality 

[John m]

1 minute ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

It should be the Vegas main event in reality 

Should be but it’s treated as a glorified trial game by the Aussies.

[Damien]

Just now, Gerrumonside ref said:

It should be the Vegas main event in reality 

Yes, but obviously the NRL don't want their competition to be 2nd billing to anything.

[Damien]

Just now, John m said:

Should be but it’s treated as a glorified trial game by the Aussies.

When they lose. And Penrith certainly didn't treat it that way this year.

[John m]

Also Vegas should have stayed as a purely NRL event.

[Gerrumonside ref]

Just now, John m said:

Should be but it’s treated as a glorified trial game by the Aussies.

I think the Americans might be more willing to buy into it and I know I’m more interested in a WCC at Vegas than any other type of game.

[John m]

3 minutes ago, Damien said:

Yes, but obviously the NRL don't want their competition to be 2nd billing to anything.

Which is fair enough as it is their event after all.

Edited September 30 by John m

[Dunbar]

It's fine.  You can't expect any sport to plan its fixtures more than 5 months out, that's insane.

[John m]

6 minutes ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

I think the Americans might be more willing to buy into it and I know I’m more interested in a WCC at Vegas than any other type of game.

Will never happen sadly due to the fact that 4 NRL teams take part in the Las Vegas event and the possibility of the NRL winners coming from one of those 4 teams.

[Gerrumonside ref]

3 minutes ago, John m said:

Will never happen sadly due to the fact that 4 NRL teams take part in the Las Vegas event and the possibility of the NRL winners coming from one of those 4 teams.

The NRL event as you call it is something new that could and should change.

Judging by the empty seats and lack of American interest generally other than as a novelty, I’d hardly say it’s been a roaring success so far.

 

Edited September 30 by Gerrumonside ref

[John m]

3 minutes ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

The NRL event as you call it is something new that could and should change.

Judging by the empty seats and lack of American interest generally other than as a novelty, I’d hardly say it’s been a roaring success so far.

 

It’s too early to judge it a success or failure and that should only be done after the 3rd or 4th event.

personally speaking would I call it a “roaring success” probably no but judging by the North American YouTubers that have become fans of the NRL off the back of the Vegas double header I would say it’s had some/limited success.

[Gerrumonside ref]

1 minute ago, John m said:

It’s too early to judge it a success or failure and that should only be done after the 3rd or 4th event.

personally speaking would I call it a “roaring success” probably no but judging by the North American YouTubers that have become fans of the NRL off the back of the Vegas double header I would say it’s had some/limited success.

It’s just a wasted opportunity to be something bigger but I guess we are dealing with Australian perceptions here.

[John m]

Just now, Gerrumonside ref said:

It’s just a wasted opportunity to be something bigger but I guess we are dealing with Australian perceptions here.

Wasn’t the whole idea dreamt up by Peter v’landys purely for gambling reasons and to get the North American sports fans betting on NRL games?

[Gerrumonside ref]

Just now, John m said:

Wasn’t the whole idea dreamt up by Peter v’landys purely for gambling reasons and to get the North American sports fans betting on NRL games?

I think that was part of the argument and quite a seedy one at that.

[Damien]

21 minutes ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

The NRL event as you call it is something new that could and should change.

Judging by the empty seats and lack of American interest generally other than as a novelty, I’d hardly say it’s been a roaring success so far.

 

Lets face it its already changed to add English teams in order to boost fan numbers attending.

[Henson Park Old Firm]

Warrington and Strom will be champions 

[John m]

1 minute ago, Henson Park Old Firm said:

Warrington and Strom will be champions 

If so then it could happen.

[phiggins]

This was always going to be an issue as soon as Wigan and Warrington arranged the Vegas game. Once clubs make moves like this, off their own bat (and I completely get why they have), then the organisations in charge of schedules lose control of the schedules they are meant to be pulling together.

[John m]

16 minutes ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

I think that was part of the argument and quite a seedy one at that.

Never quite understood it TBH.

why would a American sports fan bet on a sport he’s never heard of let alone has in depth knowledge about the teams and current form etc.

[John m]

5 minutes ago, phiggins said:

This was always going to be an issue as soon as Wigan and Warrington arranged the Vegas game. Once clubs make moves like this, off their own bat (and I completely get why they have), then the organisations in charge of schedules lose control of the schedules they are meant to be pulling together.

Exactly making the WCC play second fiddle to vegas.

[Damien]

9 minutes ago, phiggins said:

This was always going to be an issue as soon as Wigan and Warrington arranged the Vegas game. Once clubs make moves like this, off their own bat (and I completely get why they have), then the organisations in charge of schedules lose control of the schedules they are meant to be pulling together.

The issue isn't Wigan or Warrington though. They will do whatever they need to to make the WCC work. The NRL was never going to have the WCC on the same weekend as Vegas anyway, for obvious reasons.

[Worzel]

43 minutes ago, John m said:

Will never happen sadly due to the fact that 4 NRL teams take part in the Las Vegas event and the possibility of the NRL winners coming from one of those 4 teams.

They'll start using the WCC as a Las Vegas warm-up in future years 

Anyway, it's not an issue in 2025, as neither Melbourne nor Hull KR are going to Vegas so it'll all work out fine!!

[John m]

7 minutes ago, Worzel said:

They'll start using the WCC as a Las Vegas warm-up in future years 

Anyway, it's not an issue in 2025, as neither Melbourne nor Hull KR are going to Vegas so it'll all work out fine!!

Haha!!!

stuff vegas. Humberside is where the action is

[phiggins]

18 minutes ago, Damien said:

The issue isn't Wigan or Warrington though. They will do whatever they need to to make the WCC work. The NRL was never going to have the WCC on the same weekend as Vegas anyway, for obvious reasons.

No issue at all with Wigan and Warrington. But I think when clubs are doing their own thing like this, then it will cause issues with the schedules. I also think it's a poor look on RL Commercial that Vegas has been done without their input.

But the RFL don't do themselves any favours either. I'm amazed that they can add a week to the start of the season, to have SL clubs enter the cup a round early, but they can't free up a weekend for the WCC, instead hoping the SL champions and whoever they are scheduled to play in round 2 get knocked out of the challenge cup early.