WCC in doubt?

[Sports Prophet]

Unfortunately, in this century, the match has failed to live up to any supposed potential apart from at a stretch Roosters v Wigan a decade ago at the SFS or Leeds v Bulldogs another 9 years before that at Elland Rd.

I am short on believing that finances alone will get clubs interested. The $1m winners prize money didn’t even entice most NRL clubs to take the pre-season 9s seriously.

I think the only thing it will take is a reduction in the NRL season and finding a permanent place in the calendar for this to really grow into a match befitting the title (which needs changing to something better which doesn’t include the word Challenge in it), but this comes when there are also calls for the club season to be reduced to cater for international footy.

The sport and the governors can’t please everyone and unfortunately the fans haven’t bought into this fixture enough for their calls to play the game to outweigh other stakeholders interest against the idea of the match being a permanent feature of the season.

 

[The Rocket]

On 09/10/2024 at 04:10, Dunbar said:

I stopped expecting anything from Rugby League a while back and so I don't get disappointed now.  It is quite a liberating feeling.

My go to position for dealing with disappointment in something that has happened in the game is `well, it`s only a sport`, `only a game ` type thing, I find telling myself that helps.

Having said that I`m back on here, the Oz forum and the papers everyday looking for and getting excited about good news. I`m sure there`s some interesting insight into addiction, compulsion, human nature in there somewhere.

[Hopie]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/oct/09/penrith-panthers-nrl-abandon-world-club-challenge-isaah-yeo

"The Panthers are planning for disruptions at the other end of their pre-season as well. At least 12 players will delay their mandated leave from the Panthers to participate in Samoa’s tour of England or the Pacific Championships. Privately, the Panthers felt their team went into the 2024 World Club Challenge underdone following last year’s Pacific Championships, and that was without a trip to Las Vegas thrown in."

Here we go again, the "disruptions" to the season are the internationals and the WCC. These should be a core part of our wider strategy, but the two games Samoa play in a narrow window, and a one off world club challenge are a problem for the NRL clubs. With the NRL in charge growth of anything other than the NRL is severely restricted.

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

I have no words for this sorry state of affairs 

NSW and QLD Aussies can continue to delude themselves their game is massive when in reality they only cover a little corner of their country with a few Islands of 10,000s of people thrown in 

They have one of the richest nations in the world ripe to help expand the game into (UK). Yet they prioritize  d***head schemes like Vegas that will at best solidify interest amongst existing rich Aussies and a few northerners 

This sort of **** will come back and bite them ....might be years ahead but it will 

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

On 08/10/2024 at 11:20, crashmon said:

The bottom line is that for the NRL, the pinnacle of the club game is winning the grand final.  Thats it.
For the SuperLeague the WCC is seen as the pinnacle game, as thne your world champions

For the NRL is just a pre-season warm up game.

Sums up how the NRL and the Aussies see SL.

Yes we might beat them every year, but that does not change the perception that the NRL has of the NH and superleague in general.  And you need to change that perception somehow if you want Penrith et al to treat the WCC seriously

Only under specific circumstances is that true 

Let's say Wigan lose to KR Saturday ....a magic fairy comes along and says "we can change history....if you agree to change the WCC win of 2024 to a loss against Penrith we will change the result against Hull KR'

I'm pretty sure Wigan would choose a consecutive SL title over a WCC win

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

And another thing.....

I used to be a WatchNRL subscriber and used to demolish all the content / shows 

Cancelled it after the BS that the Aussies pulled for the WC.

I'd drifted back to it via watching most of the Sky games etc since the Saints WCC win.....was closeish this season to getting fully back into it with WatchNRL etc

Not any more.....like Duncan Bannatyne I am now oooot when it comes to the NRL

Hope we smash up/humiliate the NRL stars in the Samoa series ....I don't even want a tight contest now 

[Dunbar]

2 hours ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

And another thing.....

I used to be a WatchNRL subscriber and used to demolish all the content / shows 

Cancelled it after the BS that the Aussies pulled for the WC.

I'd drifted back to it via watching most of the Sky games etc since the Saints WCC win.....was closeish this season to getting fully back into it with WatchNRL etc

Not any more.....like Duncan Bannatyne I am now oooot when it comes to the NRL

Hope we smash up/humiliate the NRL stars in the Samoa series ....I don't even want a tight contest now 

I was as disappointed as anyone about how the SH / NRL scuppered the World Cup... and plenty of other selfish and short sighted decisions to boot.

But UK Rugby League is hardly immune from the same type of selfishness and short-sightedness, I am not going to deny myself watching entertaining Rugby League games due to feeling animosity to the participants.  I may never watch anything if that was the case.

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

1 hour ago, Dunbar said:

I was as disappointed as anyone about how the SH / NRL scuppered the World Cup... and plenty of other selfish and short sighted decisions to boot.

But UK Rugby League is hardly immune from the same type of selfishness and short-sightedness, I am not going to deny myself watching entertaining Rugby League games due to feeling animosity to the participants.  I may never watch anything if that was the case.

I am

[MatthewWoody]

Very bad decision. We don't have continental club competition in league and the WCC is the only thing that comes close. 

I see why they decided this way but still not happy. 

They could have decided to play it during the season, in Australia. This would work. 

[Damien]

Just as I thought:

 

[Damien]

I'm glad Radlinski has clarified this now the Grand Final has been won:

"I've been reluctant to talk about it until we're in the conversation but I'll try my best this week," Radlinski told Rugby League Live.

"I started conversations with Vegas and always had the World Club Challenge in mind. The date was set, but things have changed. I've read about it in the press like everyone else, unfortunately.

"It would be really sad for it to fall away after what was built last year. I thought Penrith were amazing, the occasion was amazing, but to read it's not going to happen, it's not what we want.

"We'll play in the UK, we'll play in Australia, we'll play anywhere if it can be done."

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/wigan-penrith-world-club-challenge-30131424

Edited October 13 by Damien

[arcticchris]

On 10/10/2024 at 15:10, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

Only under specific circumstances is that true 

Let's say Wigan lose to KR Saturday ....a magic fairy comes along and says "we can change history....if you agree to change the WCC win of 2024 to a loss against Penrith we will change the result against Hull KR'

I'm pretty sure Wigan would choose a consecutive SL title over a WCC win

I wouldn’t personally. Beating Penrith is bigger for me.

[Henson Park Old Firm]

2 hours ago, Damien said:

Just as I thought:

 

Looks like it's on... Gotta love the WCC promotion for the game.

[Damien]

 

 

[DoubleD]

The reality is that Radlinski can push for it all he wants but it takes 2 to tango and Penrith will unlikely agree to it. They’ll be too concerned about taking another hiding 

[StandOffHalf]

4 hours ago, Damien said:

Just as I thought:

 

Good on Wigan! I wonder whether Penrith will come out from hiding with their tails between their legs, or just sit balefully under the Mountains gripping the NRL trophy.

[Welshleaguelover]

Andrew Voss had the right idea.

Give Penrith the bye week for the magic round and have Wigan fly over and play them then.

But no, Player welfare

[hunsletgreenandgold]

Not sure if this has been posted anywhere else but the biggest name in RL is lending his weight to getting the WCC challenge played. Nathan Cleary reckons the game could be added to the NRL Magic Round - his dad/coach has a slightly different view, saying if it does get payed Vegas makes more sense. Either way, those kind of names expressing a want to play it and Radlinski throwing the proverbial kitchen sink at it,hopefully means this can get added to the calendar for 2025! 

https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/news-2024-nathan-cleary-world-club-challenge-magic-round-ivan-cleary-reaction-20241015-p5kice.html

[Sports Prophet]

On 13/10/2024 at 23:22, Damien said:

I'm glad Radlinski has clarified this now the Grand Final has been won:

"I've been reluctant to talk about it until we're in the conversation but I'll try my best this week," Radlinski told Rugby League Live.

"I started conversations with Vegas and always had the World Club Challenge in mind. The date was set, but things have changed. I've read about it in the press like everyone else, unfortunately.

"It would be really sad for it to fall away after what was built last year. I thought Penrith were amazing, the occasion was amazing, but to read it's not going to happen, it's not what we want.

"We'll play in the UK, we'll play in Australia, we'll play anywhere if it can be done."

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/wigan-penrith-world-club-challenge-30131424

I hope this works but I suspect it will not. Kris has nothing to lose here (until the match itself I guess). He knows that Penrith are unlikely to waver, so he can start bugging it up that Wigan are ready to do whatever to Penrith, whenever and wherever. Good on him. In his shoes I would be calling out Penrith and the NRL as well.

[eal]

I really like the Magic Round idea, doubt it'll happen though.

[Anita Bath]

NRL wont want to play it as part of magic round which already sells out. 

[George Watt]

Peter V'landys has commented on the chances of Penrith meeting Wigan in Brisbane.

He said he likes innovation and anything that comes out of left field and he's very impressed that Nathan Cleary had thought of this. He added that if it can happen it will happen notwithstanding that there is a bit of logistical work to be done and a bit of planning to do but we will investigate it.

Edited October 16 by George Watt

[Damien]

5 hours ago, eal said:

I really like the Magic Round idea, doubt it'll happen though.

I like it at the sametime as Magic round as it makes sense if that's when it can be fitted in with a bye for Penrith at that time.

It absolutely should not be part of Magic though and should be a standalone event.

[Damien]

56 minutes ago, George Watt said:

Peter V'landys has commented on the chances of Penrith meeting Wigan in Brisbane.

He said he likes innovation and anything that comes out of left field and he's very impressed that Nathan Cleary had thought of this. He added that if it can happen it will happen notwithstanding that there is a bit of logistical work to be done and a bit of planning to do but we will investigate it.

It should not be part of Magic. The NRL should not get a freebie match and the WCC should be bigger than being tacked on to Magic. Sure play it during Magic round though but in Penrith/Sydney. 

It wasn't Clearys idea either. Vossy put this out there way before Cleary.

[Exiled Wiganer]

I particularly liked Radlinski’s take that playing a game any time anywhere was a privilege and a pleasure compared with real life work. That’s the way to look at all this “player welfare” stuff.