Unfortunately RLW never published this last week, which is a shame as the discourse on this is important for the international game. I have issue with a few points in this article, starting with the last line about making a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Yes, that's what everyone will have to do because they ballsed it up first time around on largely unsubstantiated grounds. The issue is the emerging nations keep getting sold bloody sow's ears and, if they keep taking it, that's exactly what they'll continue to get. Each year there is another broken promise to deal with.
In terms of the ENWC being organised by the competing nations, I think everyone participating would have been happy if the RLIF wanted to organise it, but they were basically told the RLIF were happy with it, but we had to do all the legwork. The countries didn't take charge of planning ENWC to fall out of line or through a sense of rebellion. It was so shit would get done. Comparing this to the NRL in Hawaii example is problematic as the NRL give their teams ample opportunity to play throughout the year in a structured fashion. How many international games a year would happen if the RLIF alone was responsible for making them happen? They barely make games happen for the top 14 nations, let alone the remainder.
Let's be 100% honest that there was NEVER EVER a plan for a 2018 ENWC until they realised enough teams were on board to make things happen. There was no forethought of how to expose or encourage the developing nations in a World Cup year prior to that, no 'legacy' that these nations enjoyed from the 2013 World Cup, and basically little consideration at all. In terms of the comments about heritage, frankly that's a little bit insulting, and in the case of Latin American Rugby League, we're very pedantic about the record-keeping that substantiates this background, as I noted teams like Hungary, Thailand and Africa United were in recent events. In many ways, there is less chance of someone "doing a Nathan Fien", because to represent a minnow nation and get your arse kicked consistently, you have to have a real, deep, passionate connection with what you represent. Nobody gets paid and would perhaps incur several $1000s worth of expenses to represent their heritage. Our heritage records are catalogued and Dropboxed and the RLIF has open access to these folders.
My other issue is assuming an ENWC would have to be 'the best of the second tier'. The reason for ENWC to exist is promotional, first and foremost. We need to be exhibiting a pathway, an incentive and a showpiece for the sport in all continents. While we need rules in place, Rugby League has an incredible capacity to be detrimentally ideological in its approach to worldwide development. The reality of starting up leagues in foreign countries, getting these to a point where they fulfil all the RLIF criteria, staying financially viable during this period, being considered a serious sport by the public, government, other sports is reliant on being tied to the top level in some publicly visible way, not being left to wither on the vine at arm's length in the vain hope something survives and takes root. Well done to countries like Serbia who can fulfil all the RLIF criteria and have worked hard to establish their domestic competitions. It'll still be 50 years before they compete with the top teams.
We can remain concreted to strict ideologies of development systems and continue to get the same expansion results rugby league has suffered internationally in previous decades. Bringing 100s of people from developing nations to a World Cup, letting them see the splendour and spectacle of the event, the seriousness with which it is taken at the top level, the career opportunities, the tangible lifestyle and educational possibilities, would have done an infinite amount to encourage the spread of the game. Instead we are leaving these people to hang out to dry, with no feedback, no funding, no sense of what the game is like at the top level, terrible international broadcast rights and a dodgy livestream system, waiting for people to somehow stumble on the game and fall in love with it. It's lunacy. For next year's delayed ENWC we are told funding will be allocated AFTER a committee of participating nations goes away and formulates the business plan. What other global sport does that? Organise your own business plan, your own strategy, not leave it with the countries you just bent over royally. Who is in control of this situation?
