WCC in doubt?

[Dunbar]

Hurray for Nathan Cleary for helping to save the World Club Challenge.

As Lorraine said about her son Marty in Back To The Future, "isn't he a dreamboat"!

(Although I do have to point out to those who haven't seen it, Lorraine didn't know Marty was her son at this point... it's complicated).

[sam4731]

17 minutes ago, Exiled Wiganer said:

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. 

Exactly. I've always advocated that teams should play 365 games per year. They should feel lucky to play and stop moaning.

[gingerjon]

2 hours ago, Damien said:

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.

Meat raffle thinking on both sides of the world.

[Barley Mow]

3 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

Meat raffle thinking on both sides of the world.

To me it doesn't matter if it's Magic round week or not - just play it whenever Penrith have their bye.

It seems Wigan are happy to travel whenever it can be played.

[gingerjon]

4 minutes ago, Barley Mow said:

To me it doesn't matter if it's Magic round week or not - just play it whenever Penrith have their bye.

It seems Wigan are happy to travel whenever it can be played.

Tacking the WCC onto NRL Magic is the equivalent of tacking France v England onto Toulouse v Featherstone.

It may be the only way it gets played but it's very revealing of priorities.

Mind you, it not existing until both clubs agree is also quite revealing of priorities.

[Damien]

1 hour ago, Exiled Wiganer said:

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. 

That's a heck of a twist.

[Spidey]

2 hours ago, gingerjon said:

Tacking the WCC onto NRL Magic is the equivalent of tacking France v England onto Toulouse v Featherstone.

It may be the only way it gets played but it's very revealing of priorities.

Mind you, it not existing until both clubs agree is also quite revealing of priorities.

If it has to played on the Magic Weekend - make it the Thursday night in Sydney (there aren't any magic games then are there?)   That at least separates it somewhat from the Magic event itself

[George Watt]

5 minutes ago, Spidey said:

If it has to played on the Magic Weekend - make it the Thursday night in Sydney (there aren't any magic games then are there?)   That at least separates it somewhat from the Magic event itself

Magic games are played on Friday(2matches), Saturday(3matches) and  Sunday(3 matches).

Went this year but not planning to go in 2025.

[M j M]

Does anything in the NRL's contract with Brisbane guarantee there won't be any first grade games played elsewhere that weekend?

[WN83]

If Wigan agree to go over and play it at Magic or on that weekend, great but the first option should be for Penrith to come back over here before Vegas. They do not have any competitive games before and have a spare weekend straight after. It makes far more logistical sense then a side travelling to Australia mid season, with league games either side and the potential of a Cup semi final around the same time. 

I suspect it'll have to be the option of Wigan going over there though, if they can get it on all but it still shouldn't give Penrith a free ride from criticism. To make it happen Wigan are likely to have to play 3 games in 8 or 9 days again at some stage (they might even have to do that twice).That is an actual player welfare issue, not the drivel Penrith and other Aussie clubs/officials come out with but sadly they hold all the cards. I'm glad Wigan are pushing for it and look like they'll do whatever it takes to try and get it on but I won't be showing much gratitude for any bone they're prepared to throw our way. 

[Padge]

Radlinski is now goading the Aussies.

Radlinski has made the bold claim that Nathan Cleary would not get into the Wigan side.

“Do you know what, we’d probably be the only club in the world that says he might not get into our team,” Radlinski said on SEN Radio’s ‘The Run Home with Joel & Fletch’ show.

“At the minute, we’ve got Bevan at number six and a guy at seven called Harry Smith who had an outstanding Grand Final, he really did.

https://www.totalrl.com/i-dont-think-hed-get-in-our-team-wigan-warriors-kris-radlinski-makes-headline-verdict-of-nathan-cleary/

 

 

 

[WN83]

3 minutes ago, Padge said:

Radlinski is now goading the Aussies.

Radlinski has made the bold claim that Nathan Cleary would not get into the Wigan side.

“Do you know what, we’d probably be the only club in the world that says he might not get into our team,” Radlinski said on SEN Radio’s ‘The Run Home with Joel & Fletch’ show.

“At the minute, we’ve got Bevan at number six and a guy at seven called Harry Smith who had an outstanding Grand Final, he really did.

https://www.totalrl.com/i-dont-think-hed-get-in-our-team-wigan-warriors-kris-radlinski-makes-headline-verdict-of-nathan-cleary/

 

 

 

I've enjoyed how much it's got to some people on social media. It's nothing more than a CEO being savvy and bringing some attention and intrigue to any potential game between the sides. Rads might play rugby league for free but he's not bonkers!

[Spidey]

39 minutes ago, Padge said:

Radlinski is now goading the Aussies.

Radlinski has made the bold claim that Nathan Cleary would not get into the Wigan side.

“Do you know what, we’d probably be the only club in the world that says he might not get into our team,” Radlinski said on SEN Radio’s ‘The Run Home with Joel & Fletch’ show.

“At the minute, we’ve got Bevan at number six and a guy at seven called Harry Smith who had an outstanding Grand Final, he really did.

https://www.totalrl.com/i-dont-think-hed-get-in-our-team-wigan-warriors-kris-radlinski-makes-headline-verdict-of-nathan-cleary/

 

 

 

Go on Rads - keep up the good work

[StandOffHalf]

2 hours ago, Padge said:

Radlinski is now goading the Aussies.

Radlinski has made the bold claim that Nathan Cleary would not get into the Wigan side.

“Do you know what, we’d probably be the only club in the world that says he might not get into our team,” Radlinski said on SEN Radio’s ‘The Run Home with Joel & Fletch’ show.

“At the minute, we’ve got Bevan at number six and a guy at seven called Harry Smith who had an outstanding Grand Final, he really did.

https://www.totalrl.com/i-dont-think-hed-get-in-our-team-wigan-warriors-kris-radlinski-makes-headline-verdict-of-nathan-cleary/

 

 

 

Nice one, Kris. French and Smith are both playing great.

[bobbruce]

9 hours ago, Dunbar said:

Hurray for Nathan Cleary for helping to save the World Club Challenge.

As Lorraine said about her son Marty in Back To The Future, "isn't he a dreamboat"!

(Although I do have to point out to those who haven't seen it, Lorraine didn't know Marty was her son at this point... it's complicated).

Calvin surely. 

[Dunbar]

17 minutes ago, bobbruce said:

Calvin surely. 

Indeed.

This made me laugh when I saw it (apologies to everyone for taking it wildly away from topic but it is funny)

 

 

[eal]

While I understand the argument that it shouldn't be tacked-on to Magic Round, I fear if it is played in Australia the same weekend but elsewhere it will be all but ignored. The entire RL media in Australia will be up in Brisbane so it would be a challenge for the WCC to get a look-in. Magic Round is meant to be a celebration of the game and why not cap off the celebration with the WCC as the final game on Sunday?

[Padge]

Apparently Radlinski's comments have sent a nation into meltdown.

 

[The British Lion]

This situation just demonstrates how the RFL and NRL are so far apart in their 'Global thinking' when it comes to promoting the game beyond their own borders.

We have the RFL who have just (with all due respect to Goole Vikings) inducted another small town to the pyramid.

NRL are looking at PNG, seeking to look at developing the Pacific Nations...albeit not with any level of commitment to a full calendar yet.

Applause to Chris Radlinski (and has been before to other British clubs) in proposing anything they can to get it done.

Its easy with a British 'want' to see this game happen, but as we know historically, the NRL just don't really buy into it.

I think the longer term question is, how do we work towards this being an annual 'event.' I personally don't buy into it must be in Dubai, or other further locations. However - I tell you what, I'd take a fully committed, confirmed, and planned out International competition calendar FIRST, over the WCC before we deal with this beast!

Get Eng v OZ on the regular agenda first!

Edited October 17 by The British Lion

[Damien]

This would be good too:

 

[M j M]

8 hours ago, The British Lion said:

This situation just demonstrates how the RFL and NRL are so far apart in their 'Global thinking' when it comes to promoting the game beyond their own borders.

We have the RFL who have just (with all due respect to Goole Vikings) inducted another small town to the pyramid.

NRL are looking at PNG, seeking to look at developing the Pacific

I don't think it demonstrates that at all. This is an international fixture that the RFL have always been committed to and the NRL utterly ambivalent. The NRL's track record on looking after the sport's international interests is abysmal.

[Damien]

It's just constant Penrith excuses:

The latest proposal to get the World Club Challenge on appears to have hit a snag after Penrith Panthers' CEO explained why Magic Round is a no-go. Nathan Cleary appeared to breathe life into hopes that the game could take place when he proposed that the match take place during the NRL's big weekend.

Wigan Warriors are desperate for the game to take place and have stated that they are willing to go down under to defend the crown they earned by beating Penrith earlier this year. In theory, the Magic Round is a good opportunity as there are 17 NRL teams, leaving one team with a bye. Wigan's involvement would fix that issue.

 

However, Penrith CEO Brian Fletcher appears to have poured cold water on that idea after revealing a hidden snag that makes the prospect unrealistic.

Speaking to James Graham on The Bye Round, Fletcher said: "You know there's a commercial arrangement that's already in place with the NRL for the next three years (for us) to be the home team at Brisbane. There's a commercial arrangement there to play a certain opponent.

"I've been trading emails with Kris Radlinski overnight and the window is just so small for them, for us. With mandated leave, which rolls into mandate training periods before you can play, the window to play that game, complicated by Vegas.

"We've been looking at it. From Penrith's point of view, Kris is keen to go it on but from the Panthers' point of view, we're just really struggling at the moment to see where it fits in the schedule with all the other arrangements."

Fletcher did say the return-to-play and welfare protocols in place could be waived, which would make the traditional early-season date a reality. But Fletcher stated the club was reluctant to do that.

"It could be, but this is the fifth pre-season in a row we've started late so our decision is more about player wellbeing at the moment. It's the fifth year in a row the players are coming back the first week of January and we're expecting them to play in this instance, a Grand Final, the second week of February."

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/world-club-challenge-magic-round-30187603

[sam4731]

Like I've said before, ask Melbourne to fill in. Problem solved.

[Wigan Riversider]

57 minutes ago, Damien said:

It's just constant Penrith excuses:

The latest proposal to get the World Club Challenge on appears to have hit a snag after Penrith Panthers' CEO explained why Magic Round is a no-go. Nathan Cleary appeared to breathe life into hopes that the game could take place when he proposed that the match take place during the NRL's big weekend.

Wigan Warriors are desperate for the game to take place and have stated that they are willing to go down under to defend the crown they earned by beating Penrith earlier this year. In theory, the Magic Round is a good opportunity as there are 17 NRL teams, leaving one team with a bye. Wigan's involvement would fix that issue.

 

However, Penrith CEO Brian Fletcher appears to have poured cold water on that idea after revealing a hidden snag that makes the prospect unrealistic.

Speaking to James Graham on The Bye Round, Fletcher said: "You know there's a commercial arrangement that's already in place with the NRL for the next three years (for us) to be the home team at Brisbane. There's a commercial arrangement there to play a certain opponent.

"I've been trading emails with Kris Radlinski overnight and the window is just so small for them, for us. With mandated leave, which rolls into mandate training periods before you can play, the window to play that game, complicated by Vegas.

"We've been looking at it. From Penrith's point of view, Kris is keen to go it on but from the Panthers' point of view, we're just really struggling at the moment to see where it fits in the schedule with all the other arrangements."

Fletcher did say the return-to-play and welfare protocols in place could be waived, which would make the traditional early-season date a reality. But Fletcher stated the club was reluctant to do that.

"It could be, but this is the fifth pre-season in a row we've started late so our decision is more about player wellbeing at the moment. It's the fifth year in a row the players are coming back the first week of January and we're expecting them to play in this instance, a Grand Final, the second week of February."

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/world-club-challenge-magic-round-30187603

Is this the same B Fletcher who was injured after 1 tackle playing for Wigan in the early 2000s and vowed to play for nothing when he was fit again?

It never happened.

Award Wigan the WCC now?

[M j M]

Real champion teams embrace and overcome difficulties. Penrith are just running scared of yet another beating. It's so utterly transparent. We can be sure a club like Melbourne, one with a more serious stature in the game, would have found a way to play this game.