It should go ahead with or without the antipodians. The boycott of the 1976 and 1984 Olympic games did not do the Olympics any harm, did it? All it will do for the 2021 RLWC would be to level out the teams competing making a better competition (in my opinion).
It should go ahead with or without the antipodians. The boycott of the 1976 and 1984 Olympic games did not do the Olympics any harm, did it? All it will do for the 2021 RLWC would be to level out the teams competing making a better competition (in my opinion).
Agreed. If they don't want to join in - no problem, play without them. "The world won't come to an end" without them playing in this competition.
It should go ahead with or without the antipodians. The boycott of the 1976 and 1984 Olympic games did not do the Olympics any harm, did it? All it will do for the 2021 RLWC would be to level out the teams competing making a better competition (in my opinion).
It was 1980, wasn't it?
The NRL has officially backed the withdrawal of Aus & NZ today.
As a point of principle, I'd say do it without them. However, as the real issue here is not player safety, it's preserving the NRL 2022 pre-season, how will it work for the likes of Tonga, Samoa, PNG etc. whose players also ply their trade in the NRL? Presumably, they will be blocked as well. So will the RLWC just be home nations, France, Italy, Greece & Jamaica? That would be pointless.
The NRL has officially backed the withdrawal of Aus & NZ today. As a point of principle, I’d say do it without them. However, as the real issue here is not player safety, it’s preserving the NRL 2022 pre-season, how will it work for the likes of Tonga, Samoa, PNG etc. whose players also ply their trade in the NRL? Presumably, they will be blocked as well. So will the RLWC just be home nations, France, Italy, Greece & Jamaica? That would be pointless.
What annoys me, is that they're in a "can't lose" position. coz,,,,,,,,
If it goes ahead without 'em, and we win it, they'll say "You only won it, coz we weren't there!" If,,,,,,,,,
It's played, and someone else wins, they'll come up "We weren't there, and you still missed out!" If.........
They have a change if heart, and come (which is looking more and more unlikely) the words would be summat like "You couldn't manage without us!"
Spelly.
The NRL has officially backed the withdrawal of Aus & NZ today. As a point of principle, I’d say do it without them. However, as the real issue here is not player safety, it’s preserving the NRL 2022 pre-season, how will it work for the likes of Tonga, Samoa, PNG etc. whose players also ply their trade in the NRL? Presumably, they will be blocked as well. So will the RLWC just be home nations, France, Italy, Greece & Jamaica? That would be pointless.
What annoys me, is that they’re in a “can’t lose” position. coz,,,,,,,, If it goes ahead without ’em, and we win it, they’ll say “You only won it, coz we weren’t there!” If,,,,,,,,, It’s played, and someone else wins, they’ll come up “We weren’t there, and you still missed out!” If……… They have a change if heart, and come (which is looking more and more unlikely) the words would be summat like “You couldn’t manage without us!” Spelly.
I'd actually say now they're in a "can't win" position.
Given the fact that The Wallabies, The All Black's, The Springboks and Fiji will be over here at the same time for the RU Autumn Internationals, their flimsy excuse has been shown up for what it is, and has been mercilessly mocked on a worldwide stage.
If they reconsider in the near future, then it would be seen as eating humble pie.
Either way, The Kangaroos and The Kiwis don't come out of this very well at all.
I read somewhere that NRL have to release players for international games, so there should not be an issue for teams using Australian based players. That assumes that players are prepared to travel and that the respective international governing bodies are happy to go ahead.
If Tonga, Samao etc can raise teams to go ahead, with or without NRL based players, the competition should go ahead. The teams left in those Groups involving Australia and NZ could go ahead with three teams, or another two teams (USA/South Africa?)brought in to replace them.
The decision to wimp out reflects badly on Australia and NZ, particularly when other international teams are competing in competitions in the UK and elsewhere. History will show whoever wins, as World Champions and the non-participation of Australia/NZ will be forgotten.
Again, it is all very well to say 'carry on regardless' but what if the great sporting public decide to turn their back on what will be a vastly weakened and watered down competition?
A huge amount of the revenue was to be raised from ticket sales and packed stadiums. How can that ever be the case now without the two best teams?
Without Australia and New Zealand the attraction of watching the games is vastly diminished, and if the support isn't there (which it won't be) then it is likely to be doomed to failure.
Add to that the on-going uncertainty about Covid Passports and any other spanners that the Government may yet choose to throw into the works, means it is another RL disaster waiting to happen.
My first thoughts were for the competition to be postponed, but having given it some more thought and listened to what others have said, I now believe that the RLWC should just simply be cancelled completely and resigned to the history books.
I've said it before, but there's no perfect solution to this, and the more I think about it, the more confused / undecided I become, as to what we should do, but................
As I mentioned earlier, it (to me anyway) looks like it won't be happening this year, but.................
Postpone it till next year, and we'll be battling with the Wendyball WC, but......
Leave it two years, and it's the Yawnion WC, so.............
What's the solution?
Cancel it altogether?
I don't envy Jon Dutton one bit, coz he's got to make a call on summat he's been saddled with, but not his fault!
My prediction? Nooooooooooo idea!
Spelly.
I’ve said it before, but there’s no perfect solution to this, and the more I think about it, the more confused / undecided I become, as to what we should do, but……………. As I mentioned earlier, it (to me anyway) looks like it won’t be happening this year, but…………….. Postpone it till next year, and we’ll be battling with the Wendyball WC, but…… Leave it two years, and it’s the Yawnion WC, so…………. What’s the solution? Cancel it altogether? I don’t envy Jon Dutton one bit, coz he’s got to make a call on summat he’s been saddled with, but not his fault! My prediction? Nooooooooooo idea! Spelly.
Come on Spelly, you're better than that... 🤦♂️
The decision to move the NRLW to October in order that it clashes with the World Cup is simply vindictive. It takes away the whole narrative of the World Cup - Men, Women, Wheelchair.
If the NRL are going to go out of their way to prevent NRL, NRLW players attending (the Players appear up for it, Australian, New Zealand, Tonga, Indigenous whatever) then we probably have no option to postpone. Doesn't seem any point to postpone to 2022 because their is no guarantee this situation might not still be going on then and no guarantee therefore the NRL players will attend.
Best just to put off until 2025 and let the NRL explain to players in Australia why they have denied them for many of them their only chance to play in a World Cup.
An absolute disaster for the game worldwide.
In fairness its not only the NRL who have treated the World Cup with contempt. Step forward Super League playing loop fixtures and playing twice a week up until 2 weeks before the World Cup was due to start.
Makes you want to weep
I’ve said it before, but there’s no perfect solution to this, and the more I think about it, the more confused / undecided I become, as to what we should do, but……………. As I mentioned earlier, it (to me anyway) looks like it won’t be happening this year, but…………….. Postpone it till next year, and we’ll be battling with the Wendyball WC, but…… Leave it two years, and it’s the Yawnion WC, so…………. What’s the solution? Cancel it altogether? I don’t envy Jon Dutton one bit, coz he’s got to make a call on summat he’s been saddled with, but not his fault! My prediction? Nooooooooooo idea! Spelly.
Come on Spelly, you’re better than that…
At the best, I'll call it soccer! We play football! Three out of the four ways of scoring in our game are done with the foot. That's 75%!
In the round ball version, where some players are on salaries that resemble telephone numbers, a goal can be scored with any part of the body, apart from the bit between the shoulder and finger nails. How many come from headers? You can't get much further away from the foot than the head can you?
I'm (for once) with the Aussies on this one, coz of their terminology!
Spelly.
The decision to move the NRLW to October in order that it clashes with the World Cup is simply vindictive. It takes away the whole narrative of the World Cup – Men, Women, Wheelchair. If the NRL are going to go out of their way to prevent NRL, NRLW players attending (the Players appear up for it, Australian, New Zealand, Tonga, Indigenous whatever) then we probably have no option to postpone. Doesn’t seem any point to postpone to 2022 because their is no guarantee this situation might not still be going on then and no guarantee therefore the NRL players will attend. Best just to put off until 2025 and let the NRL explain to players in Australia why they have denied them for many of them their only chance to play in a World Cup. An absolute disaster for the game worldwide. In fairness its not only the NRL who have treated the World Cup with contempt. Step forward Super League playing loop fixtures and playing twice a week up until 2 weeks before the World Cup was due to start. Makes you want to weep
Couldn't agree more mate!
Our game has shot itself in the foot so often, it's surprising we can crawl, let alone walk!
As every day passes, I become further convinced that come October, and November, I'll be in Monton, rather than Newcastle, Hull, London, Donny, et al.
Spelly.
The varying comments on here just prove that to even try and hold a RLWC in 21 or any other year is a futile exercise and merely papers over the cracks.
Just give it up as a bad job and concentrate on sorting out the fundamental problems of the domestic game over here before looking further afield.
Maybe then, and only then, could the potential for International footy be back on the table for discussion.
I’ve said it before, but there’s no perfect solution to this, and the more I think about it, the more confused / undecided I become, as to what we should do, but……………. As I mentioned earlier, it (to me anyway) looks like it won’t be happening this year, but…………….. Postpone it till next year, and we’ll be battling with the Wendyball WC, but…… Leave it two years, and it’s the Yawnion WC, so…………. What’s the solution? Cancel it altogether? I don’t envy Jon Dutton one bit, coz he’s got to make a call on summat he’s been saddled with, but not his fault! My prediction? Nooooooooooo idea! Spelly.
Come on Spelly, you’re better than that…
At the best, I’ll call it soccer! We play football! Three out of the four ways of scoring in our game are done with the foot. That’s 75%! In the round ball version, where some players are on salaries that resemble telephone numbers, a goal can be scored with any part of the body, apart from the bit between the shoulder and finger nails. How many come from headers? You can’t get much further away from the foot than the head can you? I’m (for once) with the Aussies on this one, coz of their terminology! Spelly.
Football = Association Football
Rugby League = Rugby League Football
I get you don't like the game, but is there any need to be so derogatory towards it?
Like it or not, Football is the world's Number 1 sport.
And the reason why people all over the world love it is because its such a simplistic game to play and watch.
There's been a handful of rule changes in over 130 years ...In Rugby League however, they tinker about with the rules every single season.
As for the astronomical wages in Football, I agree it's too much, but that's what happens when you've got multinational conglomerates throwing money at the game.
Rugby League would suffer exactly the same affliction if it was a worldwide success itself.