I just can't make my mind up, as to what the better decision would be as to whether hold / delay the World Cup.
If's it's held back till next year, millions more people will have been jabbed, making the world (hopefully) a safer place, but the (re)booking of the stadia would be a logistical nightmare.
I wouldn't have Jon Dutton's job for a gold pig, coz whatever decision he and his team come up with, there's gonna be huge shouts of "WRONG!!!!!" from some fans, so.......
If it was you making the call, would it be "Yes!" Or would it be No!"
Over to you!
Spelly.
Have thought for some time they should postpone in the hope of being able to play a normal competition with full crowds, no restrictions and all teams being in a position to take part.
I suppose it all dependent on what Australia and New Zealand decide. No point in going ahead without either of them. The problem is that it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that there could be international travel restrictions for some time to come.
Restrictions are gone from Monday onwards, why would we be able to play in full stadiums?
sounds to me like the Aussies can’t be arsed. Sod em, play without them.
Restrictions are gone from Monday onwards, why would we be able to play in full stadiums? sounds to me like the Aussies can’t be arsed. Sod em, play without them.
Is the word "not" missing in between "we" and "be" from your first sentence? I would suggest that it is.
Can't agree with the second bit I'm afraid, coz if by some (very remote) chance that the comp went ahead Aussie-less, it'd be a huuuuuuuuuugely watered down affair.
Spelly.
Totally agree with Spelly on this and it highlights yet another issue with the rugby league game. I am afraid that without Australia and New Zealand, the so called World Cup would be a meaningless farce.
Rugby Union has benefited greatly from promoting the International game, but in rugby league it is nothing but a side show to the clubs running the game, particularly in the UK. In any future review of the game, serious consideration needs to be given to promoting and developing an international game along the lines of rugby union.
An annual European series - England Wales, Ireland, Scotland and France - with moves to bring in other countries where the game is developing. With a stronger game developing in France and potentially Canada and USA and other countries too, maybe we could have a competitive World Cup and not the current set up, which produces many meaningless games before minimal crowds and little tv coverage, inevitably leading to a final between any two of England, Australia or New Zealand. There should also be room for a Great Britain (the Lions) team to challenge the Australasian dominance of the world game.
The European series has been tried before without success. England don't produce enough players so what chance have the likes of Ireland and Scotland got, where they don't even know what RL is. Wales in the early 90s was about as good as it could have got for them, in fact they were a much better watch than the RU at the time, and they still only attracted 8,000-10,000 at Swansea. Their players now are nothing like the same profile, if it didn't take off then, it sure as hell won't now.
Anyway, looks like the RLWC has got the green light (for now).
The European series has been tried before without success. England don’t produce enough players so what chance have the likes of Ireland and Scotland got, where they don’t even know what RL is. Wales in the early 90s was about as good as it could have got for them, in fact they were a much better watch than the RU at the time, and they still only attracted 8,000-10,000 at Swansea. Their players now are nothing like the same profile, if it didn’t take off then, it sure as hell won’t now. Anyway, looks like the RLWC has got the green light (for now).
Yeah, there's summat on the Beeb's 'site, saying that it will go ahead, and that there'll be a formal announcement on Thursday.
My mates and I have a shed-load of tickets booked, we're really looking forward to it, and now it's (almost) got the nod, I hope it's a massive success, meaning I can (yet again) dream of England lifting that glittering trophy!
Spelly.
It'll go ahead but you can bet there'll be shed loads of Southern Hemisphere players who decide not to make the trip.
If England win the competition with Aussies, NZ, Tonga etc well below strength it will be something of a hollow victory. Lose it in those circumstances and it would just look embarrassing. Bit of a no-win situation. That’s how I see it anyway.
The Beeb's 'site has just announced that it's now "officially" gonna take place, but.................
The Aussies are yet to sign that they'll be here, so..............
What do we read into that?
They've not yet said they aren't coming, but.........
An RL World Cup without 'em, would be like a soccer equivalent minus Brazil, snooker at the Crucible Ronnie O'Sullivan-less, or the Ally Pally darts with Michael van Gerwen absent!
In the article, it states Dutton is confident they'll sign, but it also mentions there's no timescale on it.
Does a (severely) watered down competition await us?
As you know, I'm the eternal optimist, but.............
I have a real fear that there'll be no Green and Gold here come the Autumn!
Spelly.
To be fair to Australia. They didn't even have vossey and the fox team doing commentary on the origin fox app. Just channel 9. So they won't be letting people fly round the world. It is pointless with them or without. Australia could there backs from just fullbacks alone. And we have Jake Connor...
In addition their Govt efforts at controlling the pandemic or vaccinating the nation are pitiful and failing.
The NRL are going into an isolation bubble in Queensland, miles away from 'home' in an attempt to keep their season alive. By the time the RLWC arrives the players will be ready for home and a break with their families tbh.
If Williams gets homesick I guess that the Aussie players will feel much the same.
It's not as if our team was pulling up trees either, to throw out a real challenge.
Let's concentrate on getting our sick game back into shape, then throw the gauntlet down.
If England win the competition with Aussies, NZ, Tonga etc well below strength it will be something of a hollow victory. ...
You can only play what's in front of you!
In addition their Govt efforts at controlling the pandemic or vaccinating the nation are pitiful and failing. The NRL are going into an isolation bubble in Queensland, miles away from ‘home’ in an attempt to keep their season alive. By the time the RLWC arrives the players will be ready for home and a break with their families tbh. If Williams gets homesick I guess that the Aussie players will feel much the same. It’s not as if our team was pulling up trees either, to throw out a real challenge. Let’s concentrate on getting our sick game back into shape, then throw the gauntlet down.
With a total of 912 deaths and 85 new cases yesterday hardly failing. Melbourne has been in lockdown several times because of a handful of new cases and they lockdown immediately not given a months notice like this country.