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.
It's not that I don't like soccer, I just find it boring, but the salaries paid (I refuse to use the word "earn") is (in my opinion) obscene.
I accept it's the number one sport on the planet, but figures only mean summat when you want 'em to. More people watch (amongst others) Wigan, Warrington, and Leeds, than they do my mob, but I've no desire at all to be a Pie, Wire, or Lioner.
I agree the constant tinkering of the laws in RL doesn't help, although some, like the abolition of unlimited tackles many years ago, and the much more recent 40-20, have (again in my opinion) hugely benefitted our game, but..............
This is (prob my fault) moving away from the theme of this thread, so shall we agree to disagree on this matter, and move back to discussing RLWC21 instead mate?
Spelly.
Arguments for and against it taking place in League Express today, but yours truly still remains in the "I don't know what we should do!" camp.
We should know summat concrete this week, but I say yet again, I do not envy Jon Dutton!
Spelly.
Listening to the interview with Jon Dutton on Sky, he gave the distinct impression that the competition will go ahead with or without Australia and New Zealand. I think the only thing that will stop it, is if NRL clubs refuse to release players.
Looks like it's postponed until next year according to a report I've just read.
Spelly.
At least it might give some time to sort out next year's operation.
I wonder whether covid will still be around in 2022? The sport is a complete joke, when other Australian/NZ sports seem quite willing to participate abroad this year.
Well we are going to look awful foolish if they pull out again next year and the tournament goes ahead anyway which could have been done this year.
All three of your comments are very interesting, and make a lot of sense, but......
As I've said many times recently, whatever they arrived at, there'd be loud shouts of "Wrong!"
I'm still not sure that the decision is correct, but I 101% accept it, coz I repeat yet again, that Jon Dutton is blameless in this sorry affair!
I'm presuming that our tickets will be held over until the new dates, similar to when Wembley was fan-less last year.
Let's hope that Covid is just a bad memory, by the time it finally kicks off. Fingers crossed!
Spelly.
I am afraid that they have bowed to the strength of the NRL and Sky. I guess any thought of extra Government funding to cover the losses of postponing this event, is unlikely. Maybe the NRL will cover the losses.
I am afraid that they have bowed to the strength of the NRL and Sky. I guess any thought of extra Government funding to cover the losses of postponing this event, is unlikely. Maybe the NRL will cover the losses.
I wonder if all my free tickets will be valid next year or will i be issued new ones.
I'm equally disappointed, and unsurprised by the decision, and to be honest, I'm far from convinced that it'll still go ahead next year, with the word "cancelled" replacing the current "postponed" one.
In my opinion, international football should be at the forefront of our game, but I'm afraid a (very) lot of our Antipodean cousins (and some Brits as well) are of a dissimilar viewpoint.
My mates and I (and I'm sure we're not on our own by a long way) have shelled out a lot of money on tickets, for a comp that might now not even happen!
It was mentioned on the radio this morning, that when (if?) it's held next year, the dates will have to be tweaked, as there'll be an overlap with the soccer equivalent, and stadia which were booked, may not be available in twelve months' time.
It's a huuuuuuge can of worms, but for the umpteenth time, I say that Jon Dutton and Co are guiltless in this very sorry episode!
Spelly.
Apart from NZ and GB/ England,who was the last side to beat the Australian national team ?
Apart from NZ and GB/ England, who was the last side to beat the Australian national team ?
Tonga beat 'em not that long ago.
They've beaten all the "big three" recently-ish.
Could be dark horses if and when the WC is played, and they'd be my second choice to win it after us.
Spelly.
Covid will still be around in 2022. Whether the World Cup goes ahead will largely depend on how it is being handled. I’d like to think vaccination levels/pre infections would make it hard for the virus to spread quickly and that a proper competition can take place in front of full crowds.
Aussies are well behind us re Covid and just where they will be next year nobody knows.
Come to that, as you say MT, just where we and the NHS will be next year nobody knows. Medics are still finding out how Covid works and politicians are looking at what's best for them as usual.
Not good for anyone atm but getting a serious squad together has to be the Vikings priority. Good podcast from James btw regarding this. Good Championship signings v ex SL is the question.