Australia and New Zealand withdraw from RLWC

[Matterhorn]

Replace australia / new zealand with the USA / Serbia & let the 3 trbojevic brothers represent

Problem solved.

 

[FearTheVee!]

Yet they do, and in the case of the English the only people they have to blame for the current state of affairs are themselves.

I mean whether we like it or not RL exists in a competitive business environment, 'Fair' doesn't come into it FFS, never has never will. Just like it isn't fair that a bunch of people expect, no, demand, that the NRL sacrifice potentially millions of dollars by delaying their season so they can participate in a competition that will undoubtedly not even come close to making up the difference.

Nobody is asking the NRL to delay their season, nor do they need to, nor do they need to lose any money.

Talk about a straw man argument.

 

[The Great Dane]

Nobody is asking the NRL to delay their season, nor do they need to, nor do they need to lose any money.

Talk about a straw man argument.

You don't know anything about the RLPA's collective bargaining agreement do you...

I really can't be bothered going into that as I'll just end up repeating myself anyway, so instead I'll just quote myself-

As long as the risk isn’t worth the return clubs are going to be reluctant to participate in internationals that impact on their season, and as things stand internationals aren't really a big money spinner for either the clubs or the NRL, and that's without even factoring in covid and it's impact.

It is what it is and there's no point whinging about it. If you want it to change then you need a few countries (particularly in the Northern Hemisphere) to get their shit together and start producing drawcards that make internationals relevant to the mainstream culture again, how you go about doing that is debatable, however one thing is for sure, that growth starts locally.

 

[FearTheVee!]

You don't know anything about the RLPA's collective bargaining agreement do you...

I really can't be bothered going into that as I'll just end up repeating myself anyway, so instead I'll just quote myself-

Thanks for repeating yourself, but it said nothing about delayed seasons or losing money which is odd.

If your point is not that they will lose money, but that they don’t make enough money to bother, that’s a different point. And a sad one at that.

As for the RLPA, last time I checked they were all for a safe WC.

Respect to you for calling a spade a spade though and admitting this is all about money and self interest - and not hiding behind player safety like the cowards at the top. Maybe they should tell the likes of the Jamaica RL lads that there’s just not enough it in it for them to bother supporting.

 

[Perth Red]

Bennett won’t stand in the way of any souths player who wants to go.

Ex-England boss Wayne Bennett backs World Cup going ahead without Aussies and Kiwis

WAYNE Bennett believes World Cup wreckers Australia and New Zealand could and maybe should find the show going on without them. It was also revealed England star Tom Burgess delayed his wedding to …

www.thesun.co.uk

 

[Perth Red]

Gould being his usual dckhead self. Take away Australian pokies and see how strong player development is here.

 

[The Great Dane]

Thanks for repeating yourself, but it said nothing about delayed seasons or losing money which is odd.

If your point is not that they will lose money, but that they don’t make enough money to bother, that’s a different point. And a sad one at that.

As for the RLPA, last time I checked they were all for a safe WC.

Respect to you for calling a spade a spade though and admitting this is all about money and self interest - and not hiding behind player safety like the cowards at the top. Maybe they should tell the likes of the Jamaica RL lads that there’s just not enough it in it for them to bother supporting.

The RLPA's collective bargaining agreement with the NRL mandates that each player must have x-amount of weeks off in the offseason annually (I've forgotten how many atm, it's late, I'm tired, and the exact number doesn't matter anyway). That means if they go away to play in the WC they have to take that time off after it and it impacts on their preseason, add to that quarantine time and you have a shitshow that will impact on the season.

BTW, the total lack of self awareness of people calling the NRL self interested is astounding.

The RFL, and English RL in general, are being just as self interested and money driven in demanding that the WC goes ahead when there's literally nothing stopping it from being postponed a year. All of their arguments are 'look at all the sponsors, money, and exposure we'll lose if the WC doesn't go ahead', i.e. literally exact same 'money and self interest' driven issues the NRL were weighing up when they decided whether or not to participate. So spare me the NRL are the only self interested ones BS.

 

[The Great Dane]

Gould being his usual dckhead self. Take away Australian pokies and see how strong player development is here.

View attachment 51252

Call him a dick all you like, but where's the lie?

 

[FearTheVee!]

The RLPA's collective bargaining agreement with the NRL mandates that each player must have x-amount of weeks off in the offseason annually (I've forgotten how many atm, it's late, I'm tired, and the exact number doesn't matter anyway). That means if they go away to play in the WC they have to take that time off after it and it impacts on their preseason, add to that quarantine time and you have a shitshow that will impact on the season.

BTW, the total lack of self awareness of people calling the NRL self interested is astounding.

The RFL, and English RL in general, are being just as self interested and money driven in demanding that the WC goes ahead when there's literally nothing stopping it from being postponed a year. All of their arguments are 'look at all the sponsors, money, and exposure we'll lose if the WC doesn't go ahead', i.e. literally exact same 'money and self interest' driven issues the NRL were weighing up when they decided whether or not to participate. So spare me the NRL are the only self interested ones BS.

So players who play internationals in the off season get less rest than others? Wow - like every other sport then.

I know about the agreement for a set number of weeks off. Are you saying it’s not possible to play in a WC and have the mandated rest period (genuine question)? Or are you saying th NRL clubs won’t allow them that rest as they want them earlier into pre-season after a WC?

 

[The Man Shake]

Gould being his usual dckhead self. Take away Australian pokies and see how strong player development is here.

View attachment 51252

Gould wants rugby league to remain a provincial sport. It’s why in his commentary he’s always talking down the game. Expansion, internationals, no no no no no. He’s a traditionalist, stuck in the past. Thinks there’s nothing better than Sunday footy at that Leichhardt dump.

 

[Matterhorn]

To all the NRL commentators who think we should just delay for a year, here are a few points to consider?

Will the UK government stump up the same cash next year - I imagine some of the funds allocated by the government have already been spent on various lead up events & promotions. Also with inflation it may end up being more? I'm sure it will. When is something ever cheaper when you delay?
Will the BBC also show the same number of matches live as this year? I doubt considering it clashes with the soccer world cup. Then will the media even talk about it with the soccer lead up & games being played. Remember they only showed back page sport coverage when Aus/NZ pulled out.
Will the same grounds be available next year? I doubt it. What compensation will they have to pay the grounds now if they cancel - considering some grounds may have already booked catering/ticket collectors/parking attendants/security etc.
Will the same sponsors stick around? I doubt it. Will you still want to promote something just cancelled so far out from starting. Some companies may have already allocated marketing/advertising budgets for 2022 already so some of the current sponsorships may have been signed years ago.
Will the same players be available? Some players may have played 1 more year just so they could represent there country & retire. Many have done that before.
Will even the same country's be available next year? How will Jamaica or Greece for that matter with no money for 12 months from profits incoming survive. Remember these mainly run on volunteers to keep going.
Lastly will the British public have the patience to wait another 12 months after first having the ashes cancelled then maybe world cup 2021 postponed. Wouldn't it be ironic if some of those people having bought tickets end up watching the Wallabies or All Blacks instead. Mainly as a show of support for them coming over. Yes a lot of rusted ones will but for the casual person who bought a ticket just for the carnival event wouldn't know nathan cleary or cameron munster if they bumped into them on the street. However, they might forever if they came over.

Remember we are not the Olympics or Fifa or international Rugby Union.

We cant turn on/off a switch and delay for 12 months for all the reasons outlined above.

By all reports this year we had the perfect window to play with little competition in other sports.

As I said in another post i fear this short term decision may have long term effects moving forward.

I thought rugby league was better than this & if you call the NRL Big Brother then they should of gone out of there way to help there little cousin over on the other side of the world.

I'm afraid our reputation has been damaged now & will take a long time to repair.

To those people saying AFL is the enemy and we need to look after our own backward - well i'm sure if you asked someone in AFL land they would give anything to showcase what we have now on the international stage. Don't be fooled by some hybrid game played in Ireland between Australia. In twenty years they may have a good foothold in Africa & other countries & host there own world cup.

Then we can reflect and say remember 2021 that was our year to shine & suddenly be recognized on the world stage but we blew it because the NRL decided not to come & participate.

 

[Matua]

As a bit of balance maybe, I've seen some commentary about how rugby (union) has gone ahead, but that forgets that lots of tours and matches have been cancelled.

The Springboks pulled out of the Rugby Championship last year where they would have been travelling to a fully opened up country with no Covid in the community.

All of the inbound European teams to NZ cancelled their tours. NZ played tests with Tonga and Fiji with a best players they could find (Tonga pulled in a few players playing club rugby in NZ).

A bunch of other tours/tests between other countries were cancelled as well.

 

[siv]

For players who can play for other teams

Let them decide

Could end up being the best thing for IRL if they push ahead without Australia and NZ

 

[Perth Red]

Call him a dick all you like, but where's the lie?

Well for starters it doesn’t need nrl players to survive, it signs them to raise standards. As does nrl from uk I might add!

 

[LeagueXIII]

Gould being his usual dckhead self. Take away Australian pokies and see how strong player development is here.

View attachment 51252

What an ignorant comment from Gould. If Australia had to compete with top soccer leagues and RU establishment lets see how powerful we would be. Just the arrogance from Gould, pathetic. He thinks he is running the game now that V'landys listens to him. I'm very close to giving up on Australian RL.

 

[LeagueXIII]

The RLPA's collective bargaining agreement with the NRL mandates that each player must have x-amount of weeks off in the offseason annually (I've forgotten how many atm, it's late, I'm tired, and the exact number doesn't matter anyway). That means if they go away to play in the WC they have to take that time off after it and it impacts on their preseason, add to that quarantine time and you have a shitshow that will impact on the season.

BTW, the total lack of self awareness of people calling the NRL self interested is astounding.

The RFL, and English RL in general, are being just as self interested and money driven in demanding that the WC goes ahead when there's literally nothing stopping it from being postponed a year. All of their arguments are 'look at all the sponsors, money, and exposure we'll lose if the WC doesn't go ahead', i.e. literally exact same 'money and self interest' driven issues the NRL were weighing up when they decided whether or not to participate. So spare me the NRL are the only self interested ones BS.

It's 8 weeks. How did players play in the 2017 RLWC which finished in December then have an 8 week break?

There is an agenda at play here. But don't listen to me let James Graham explain it to you as he did on Sydney radio yesterday, with Peter Sterling (hr3) and Ryan Girdler in support:

Saturday Scrum Hour 1 | James Graham Blasts The NRL Over World Cup Decision, Victor Radley Joins The Show & Tony's Sporting Quiz! - Triple M Rocks Footy NRL

Saturday Scrum Hour 1 | James Graham Blasts The NRL Over World Cup Decision, Victor Radley Joins The Show & Tony's Sporting Quiz!

omny.fm

 

[LeagueXIII]

Call him a dick all you like, but where's the lie?

Greater agenda's at play. By the way how are all the athletes going in Japan? Anyone dieing?

 

[LeagueXIII]

So players who play internationals in the off season get less rest than others? Wow - like every other sport then.

I know about the agreement for a set number of weeks off. Are you saying it’s not possible to play in a WC and have the mandated rest period (genuine question)? Or are you saying th NRL clubs won’t allow them that rest as they want them earlier into pre-season after a WC?

No the 'leaders' of our sport are using it as an excuse. Players in the past have made arrangements with clubs regarding the break, otherwise Cameron Smith would barely of had a preseason as he was always away on tours.

 

[Jim from Oz]

I am totally lost as to what all this is about. I have never heard of sportsflick. Did they get the Australian rights to the rugby league World Cup?

 

[RL The greatest game]

Rubbish, it's the staff more than the players, and it's long covid that they are probably more concerned about. In any case as I said yesterday, I think that an Oz and NZ will be at the WC.

As a fan of kick and clap it's easy to see why you are delighted the Kiwis and Kangaroos wont be going to the RLWC