Rugby League World Cup

[suthol]

I know it's not a proper game but the silence is deafening boys & girls, time to talk your mob up a bit after all they did have a win a week ago.

Promise I won't talk about last night

[disco1]

International RL is a total joke, both the NRL and SL should concentrate on improving the WCC or setting up a club based tournement.

Who on earth wants to see teams of 2nd, 3rd, 4th rate Aussies and Kiwis playing each other under the banners of Samoa, tonga, Ireland, Scotland...etc...etc.

I think the attendances prove my point

[disco1]

satch said:

Its a dilemma for the sport - no question.

To call it a joke is a bit harsh - save that comment for club rugby union in england. Dull as st.

yes the aussies are brilliant, and before we bemoan the result the other night, we made them look good and they took advantage.

The club game in Oz and GB is second to none in terms of entertainment week in week out and is the second best supported spectator sport in the uk. TV figures speak for themselves.

Internationally however its a different matter. the same minority status in the uk is mirrored at international level. and it devalues the sport. the spectacle of club rugby isn't mirrored at this level until we compete so its difficult - there isn't the money in RL to put together the same kind of comp as the heineken - geography gets in the way too.

One thing that can be said thoug his the minor international countries are growing rapidly - Lebanon, Ireland, russia, Scotland, PNG etc all have international rugby league teams - efforts like that should be commended.

As should the groundbreaking use of technology RL pioneered.

Every sport needs a top class level of competetion to sell the game, and showcase the talents - I agree that this is falling someway short at the moment.

Sort of agree, I do love RL but still think international RL is a joke. That team Samoa put out was the NZ team for 3 seasons back!! RL should play to its strengths which is club rugby.

Lebanon, Ireland and Scotland don't really have international teams, admit it! They are teams of people who can't make their respective Aussie, NZ or Eng teams. The Lebanon team is based is Aussies and filled with Aussies. If I went to Leb and asked the local population about their chances in the RLWC they wouldn't have a clue what I was on about. The only home nation apart from England with 'native' RL players, teams, leagues is Wales.

On positive note the Kangaroos (as always) look simply awesome, they produce talent year in year out.

[Eric Mc]

Has anybody counted the number of Rugby League club teams there are in Ireland.?

Precisely none.

And yet they have managed to put together an international side - which beat the Samoans the other day.

I was listening to Irish radio (RTE) the other day and they found it highly amusing (it's not being covered by any Irish TV or radio as far as I know).

[disco1]

Eric Mc said:

And yet they have managed to put together an international side - which beat the Samoans the other day.

Thats becacause they are a team of Aussies/Englishmen, same with Scotland.

The Pacific Island teams are Kiwis

I just dont get how these players who've been capped many times for Oz/NZ can then go get caps for another nation.

Even stranger to me is I just dont get how these proud countrymen could play for another country? For example, I'm Welsh born and bred but have Scottish/English parents yet could never pull on the blue or white jerseys. It just wouldnt be right! They're nothing but mercenries