WCC news

[adamkungl]

The huge positive of these results is that first of all it gives a huge shot of confidence to the English players that maybe, just maybe, they can hang with the Australians for a full 80 minutes. Secondly it gives the NRL a kick in the arse to actually take this concept seriously and send our absolute best sides over (Premiers, Runners Up, League Leaders, for example). Positives all around for the international game.

As much as Cronulla want to whinge and make excuses, they never adapted to Wigan's pressure. These Warriors are an outstanding team coached very well and will go close to reaching another Old Trafford appearance if not championship victory. Cronulla looked very flat without Ennis guiding them around the ruck and lacked pace out wide without Barba or Holmes. That said, you need to overcome these setbacks and Wigan were missing players as well.

I'm already intrigued by the 2018 series in whatever shape it takes.

Nothing builds interest in sport like the underdog winning

 

[Dakink]

Biggest problem Widdop has is Mary... put him under a decent coach and watch him thrive

 

[franklin2323]

How many players that played for Broncs and Sharks will be in the Aust team? Darius maybe it. So the results while good for the game over there it means nothing on the International scene

 

[franklin2323]

The huge positive of these results is that first of all it gives a huge shot of confidence to the English players that maybe, just maybe, they can hang with the Australians for a full 80 minutes. Secondly it gives the NRL a kick in the arse to actually take this concept seriously and send our absolute best sides over (Premiers, Runners Up, League Leaders, for example). Positives all around for the international game.

As much as Cronulla want to whinge and make excuses, they never adapted to Wigan's pressure. These Warriors are an outstanding team coached very well and will go close to reaching another Old Trafford appearance if not championship victory. Cronulla looked very flat without Ennis guiding them around the ruck and lacked pace out wide without Barba or Holmes. That said, you need to overcome these setbacks and Wigan were missing players as well.

I'm already intrigued by the 2018 series in whatever shape it takes.

The timing doesn't allow for best teams from NRL 2 weeks out from the season starting no NRL team will be at their best

 

[roughyedspud]

except if they win it yeah?

 

[Perth Red]

The timing doesn't allow for best teams from NRL 2 weeks out from the season starting no NRL team will be at their best

SL are only 1 week into the season, given the alleged superiority of the NRL and the amount of pre season games and work not sure you could say they were hugely underdone compared to the SL teams. Both the NRl teams put out strong squads and both the SL teams had players missing as well. Of course home ground advantage and bragging rights are in the SL teams favours but tbh neither game was that close and the NRl teams looked inferior in most aspects to the SL teams. If this is because the NRl teams were of a poorer standard than usual or the SL teams have improved is impossible to say, either way it was SL 2 - NRL 0

What was very noticeable was the NR teams struggles with the fast play of the balls, when the ref stopped the wrestle they really struggled, not surprising I guess given the slow pace of an NRL game.

 

[Warriors Fever]

not surprising I guess given the slow pace of an NRL game.

Do you even watch NRL or just Souths, Dragons etc. A lot of games were very fast paced last year.

 

[franklin2323]

except if they win it yeah?

No they are never at their best. I would think ESL teams aren't either so early on

 

[franklin2323]

Do you even watch NRL or just Souths, Dragons etc. A lot of games were very fast paced last year.

Canberra, Penrith both went far playing fast paced off the cuff footy

 

[franklin2323]

SL are only 1 week into the season, given the alleged superiority of the NRL and the amount of pre season games and work not sure you could say they were hugely underdone compared to the SL teams. Both the NRl teams put out strong squads and both the SL teams had players missing as well. Of course home ground advantage and bragging rights are in the SL teams favours but tbh neither game was that close and the NRl teams looked inferior in most aspects to the SL teams. If this is because the NRl teams were of a poorer standard than usual or the SL teams have improved is impossible to say, either way it was SL 2 - NRL 0

What was very noticeable was the NR teams struggles with the fast play of the balls, when the ref stopped the wrestle they really struggled, not surprising I guess given the slow pace of an NRL game.

I don't see Broncos making the 8 and The Sharks are far weaker then last year. regardless Both NRL teams won't be at their best for a good month

 

[Foreign Legion]

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/set-of-six-storm-in-a-preseason-teacup-20170917-gyj3ez.html




Melbourne's overwhelming premiership favouritism has the biggest match of next pre-season under a significant cloud.

The World Club Challenge is a particularly big headache in 2018 because Super League is starting in the rather unusual venue of WIN Stadium, Wollongong, on February 10, before Wigan and Hull also face NRL opposition at ANZ Stadium.

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Despite that, financial and broadcast pressure requires the WCC to be held in England if possible – even if either team are involved and have to fly home for it.

Rightly or wrongly, British officials are not confident the Storm will want to travel – meaning the entire fixture would be played at AAMI Park or not at all.

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Melbourne Storm prepare for anything in preliminary final showdown with Brisbane Broncos
"The football department haven't even discussed the WCC," Storm football manager Frank Ponissi said on Sunday. "And to be brutally honest, I won't even consider even raising the topic with Craig [Bellamy] at this stage. We don't even want to entertain discussion about it."

 

[adamkungl]

Ffs this shit should be written into club's duties to retain their NRL licence.
The indifference by some clubs and NRL admin to this event is infuriating.

 

[roughyedspud]

Play it in Melbourne then...our teams don't mind..

 

[Foreign Legion]

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A play-off between the champions of the NRL and the English Super League is in danger of being shelved for the first time in nearly two decades, with Australian clubs showing little interest in next year's World Club Series particularly due to the demanding schedule brought on by the World Cup.

NRL clubs, including premiers Melbourne, will supply dozens of players to the 14 nations competing in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea from October 27 but the tournament stands to have a significant impact on teams' preparations for next year's NRL competition.

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The Auckland Nines and the All Stars match have already been taken off the calendar as a result next year and the World Club Challenge – which in recent years has formed part of the WCS concept – is looking increasingly likely to be the latest casualty of the 2018 pre-season

Melbourne are still basking in the glory of their 34-6 grand final victory over North Queensland on Sunday night and are yet to properly turn their attention to what lies ahead this summer.

However, with seven members of the Kangaroos squad and an already-busy pre-season schedule it is understood there is not a great desire at the Storm to take on the winners of the English Super League and contest the WCC, let alone travel to the northern hemisphere as previous NRL premiers have done.


Melbourne and the Cowboys already have a testimonial match in the works for their captains Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston at Suncorp Stadium. And they are likely to travel across the Tasman for another pre-season trial against the New Zealand Warriors after the two teams met on the Sunshine Coast in February. If the Storm do not take up an offer to play the winner of Saturday's Super League grand final between Leeds and Castleford, it would be the first time since 1999 that a WCC match has not been held.

There is a similar mood of indifference among other Australian clubs despite the fact they stand to be paid $100,000 from the Super League for taking part in the WCS and can collect an additional £25,000 ($42,500) for winning.

English clubs have picked up the $300,000 travel bill for touring Australian teams in recent seasons as the concept was expanded from just a play-off between the NRL and Super League winners to involve as many as three clubs from each competition. That was reduced to two each this year with Brisbane joining 2016 premiers Cronulla in England.

While there have been suggestions the WCS could be held in Australia, Leeds and Castleford are pushing ahead with plans to host Australian clubs in February. Leeds announced on Tuesday that their WCS match would be held at Elland Road.
http://www.theage.com.au/rugby-leag...ubs-show-little-interest-20171003-gytnv7.html

 

[CC_Roosters]

Another Australian disgrace

 

[adamkungl]

Sick of the speculation every f**king year. Arrogant, insular, and disrespectful from the NRL and its clubs that this fixture isn't set in stone, and more generally the way this fixture is conducted.

 

[LeedsStorm]

God forbid an NRL player plays more than 30 games in a season...

If Wigan v Hull is a drawcard in Woolongong, I'd start having the WCC between the superleague GF and Challenge cup winners and taking it on the road. Maybe some developing nation teams as the curtain raiser - PNG hunters v Toronto anyone? It's not necessarily the case that the WCC is only financially viable if an NRL club is involved. If anything, they completely devalue the event. Sack em off! Any superleague victory is written off as a trial win anyway so I don't buy this "its a chance to test us against the best" notion

 

[WireMan]

Talk about sore losers.

Get spanked by teams in a competition they thought was inferior so have a major cry.

Funny how brisbane who got one game away from the final were beaten by a team that stunk the place out in there league.

Good job they didn't play any of the decent sides!

Storm are wise to run away from the game.

 

[roughyedspud]

South's v Wigan
St George v hull FC at ANZ - WCS
Melbourne v cas or Leeds at AAMI - WCC

it is really that simple..what the fxxk are they struggling with??

 

[LeedsStorm]

South's v Wigan
St George v hull FC at ANZ - WCS
Melbourne v cas or Leeds at AAMI - WCC

it is really that simple..what the fxxk are they struggling with??

But but but we have to play a world cup this year and we'll be REALLY tired!

I'm all for player welfare. It's quite clear top Super league players play too many games, but this notion that everything including nines, all stars and WCC needs to be cancelled in world cup year is just weak.