Re: Australia and NZ withdraw from world cup : Tue Aug 03, 2021 9:31 am  

MillennialRhino wrote:

Do it without Oz and NZ!

And announce it asap!

Invitational squads, replacement countries, byes - who cares. Just host it! If Oz/NZ change their mind within reasonable time then so be it but don't hang around waiting for them.

The world cup is bigger than them and too important to postpone/cancel - regardless of what they might think.

Unfortunately, it's not just Australia and New Zealand, it's all of the NRL players and the nations that they would represent.
Even England would be at half strength, which as we saw in the warm up game a few weeks ago, isn't great.

Unless players that want to take part from the NRL are allowed to do so, it's game over.

The only issue for me here is that Australian atheletes and sportsmen for pretty much every other sport on the planet are finding ways to compete overseas and yet, the NRL say no and that, is just plain wrong.

They are putting their domestic competition above everything else and to the detriment of the rest of the world.

How can this be right ?

It's no wonder the game is going down the pan.

Re: Australia and NZ withdraw from world cup : Tue Aug 03, 2021 6:24 pm  

RLWC is to be postponed....announcement later this week. https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-40351961.html Refunds, sponsors walking.....I can't see this happening next year, but if it does, the Aussies are in for an eye opener when they see how small the sport is compared to the FIFA jamboree we will be up against....

RLWC is to be postponed....announcement later this week. https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-40351961.html Refunds, sponsors walking.....I can't see this happening next year, but if it does, the Aussies are in for an eye opener when they see how small the sport is compared to the FIFA jamboree we will be up against....

Re: Australia and NZ withdraw from world cup : Tue Aug 03, 2021 6:57 pm  

orangeman wrote: RLWC is to be postponed....announcement later this week. https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-40351961.html Refunds, sponsors walking.....I can't see this happening next year, but if it does, the Aussies are in for an eye opener when they see how small the sport is compared to the FIFA jamboree we will be up against.... Its the correct decision and I dont think the situation is as bad as you suggest. Most sponsors are used to disruption right now and will be understanding, in some cases their logo will now be on the website and posters for a whole year longer which is a benefit to them. Yes the Football World Cup gives a challenge, but there are still some empty nights during that tournament, not every group game is must see and the BBC share coverage with ITV so will still have some free slots. A bonus is it means the Football grounds we have booked will be empty. Also gives them a chance to rethink a few of the games as they now have months of live sales data to see what is selling and what isn't.

orangeman wrote: RLWC is to be postponed....announcement later this week. https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-40351961.html Refunds, sponsors walking.....I can't see this happening next year, but if it does, the Aussies are in for an eye opener when they see how small the sport is compared to the FIFA jamboree we will be up against.... Its the correct decision and I dont think the situation is as bad as you suggest. Most sponsors are used to disruption right now and will be understanding, in some cases their logo will now be on the website and posters for a whole year longer which is a benefit to them. Yes the Football World Cup gives a challenge, but there are still some empty nights during that tournament, not every group game is must see and the BBC share coverage with ITV so will still have some free slots. A bonus is it means the Football grounds we have booked will be empty. Also gives them a chance to rethink a few of the games as they now have months of live sales data to see what is selling and what isn't.

Re: Australia and NZ withdraw from world cup : Tue Aug 03, 2021 7:01 pm  

UllFC wrote:

Yes the Football World Cup gives a challenge

If the dates are kept the same, there is only a one-week overlap.

Re: Australia and NZ withdraw from world cup : Tue Aug 03, 2021 7:06 pm  

Jack Napier wrote:

If the dates are kept the same, there is only a one-week overlap.

Good spot.

Also just read the Football will kickoff on Monday 21st Nov, so that weekend is free for the Semi's. It is just the final we may need to move, but even then its really only clashes with an England game that creates a massive problem. We may need to ask BBC and Old Trafford if they can be flexible on kickoff time, pending final decision when 5he Football draw is made.

Re: Australia and NZ withdraw from world cup : Tue Aug 03, 2021 7:58 pm  

No confidence in them coming next year or for a few after that. Covid isn’t going anywhere and unless we find a way of going over the top of the NRL, they’ll ride the excuse for as long as they can. We’re simply kicking the problem down the street for 12 months. It’s 12 months they need to use getting in to the players Unions to work out a fall back plan.

Re: Australia and NZ withdraw from world cup : Tue Aug 03, 2021 8:17 pm  

When will Australia and NZ commit to come to the postponed tournament, and will they pull out again after committing (like NZ did this year). That is a question for Mr Dutton to answer. I wish him well.

Re: Australia and NZ withdraw from world cup : Tue Aug 03, 2021 8:55 pm  

A very sad day for our sport. The game will end up being a Northern curiosity with the same niche audience as sheep dog trials. The NRL will end up fighting with Aussie rules for the hearts of a small tiny country, they have left the door wide open for the Union borefest to take over. & probably soccer to eventually take a big slice of their audience as it has a vast international competitive programme. I can’t forgive the cowardly self centred attitude of the NRL clubs who have destroyed the game I have played, coached & suported since the early 1960’s. At least it will allow us to finish our season by extending the time to allow all clubs to complete the missed games. I don’t think we will ever see another Australian side in the UK again, which is all the more depressing as we have just watched their hockey & soccer teams competing today in Japan. I am at a loss for words to express the contempt I hold the cowardly actions of the Australians & the NRL.

Re: Australia and NZ withdraw from world cup : Tue Aug 03, 2021 11:25 pm  

We should pump some lottery money into rugby league, then we'll batter the aussies at it like we do at sports they're supposed to be good at like swimming and triathlon

Re: Australia and NZ withdraw from world cup : Tue Aug 03, 2021 11:35 pm  

A massive first step would be to get RL 9's as an Olympic competition...