Expand World Club Challenge

[thorson1987]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ary-hetherington/story-e6frexnr-1225833861008

Expand World Club Challenge to six teams: Gary Hetherington


LEEDS chief executive Gary Hetherington has demanded the NRL and Rugby Football League be "more proactive" and expand the World Club Challenge to six teams from next year. After describing Sunday's clash with Melbourne as the most important in the Rhinos' recent history and offering players the entire STG50,000 ($A86,700) winners' pot, Hetherington says it's time for the respective leagues to treat the WCC concept with the same respect.
"My understanding is that this is the final year of a three-year contract between the RFL and the NRL to play the game here in England at this time of year," said Hetherington, who first floated the six-team idea in 2008.
"Now is the time to develop it further. I know it is on the agenda and I know it has been discussed with a number of NRL club chief executives to expand it.
"The Champions' League in soccer and the Heineken Cup in rugby union have shown the potential for proper international club competitions."


Hetherington's proposal involves the third-placed sides from each hemisphere playing on a Friday night in the UK next February, with the second-placed sides meeting on Saturday and the top teams on Sunday.
The Super League would pause for an entire weekend - instead of using the split round which currently operates - and there would be a prize to the league which won the best-of-three as well as the normal "world champion" title on the line in the final match.
"The NRL and the RFL need to be more proactive in promoting things like this," he said.
"This property would develop its own sponsorship and television rights income and eventually become valuable enough so that places like Singapore or Dubai or cities in Australia could bid for it."
Rhinos utility Greg Eastwood said Hetherington called the players together recently and offered them the whole WCC prize pool if they win at Elland Road on Sunday. That's around A$5200 per man.
"Gary had a chat to the boys and went through the bonuses, about what the club would give us," Eastwood told Rugby League Week.
"It's good money - but we've got to win first."
The former Brisbane and Bulldogs star said the focus on the match in the Leeds camp was so intense that it might have distracted them from their domestic campaign.
"(Coach) Brian McClennan, all he's been talking about since I got here is Melbourne and what we're going to do against them," he said.
"That's good in a way but on the other hand, maybe it's possible to focus too much on Melbourne and let our guard down and we have lost against Wakefield and Castleford."
In team news, Melbourne prop Jeff Lima has erased any doubts over hamstring and foot injuries by training fully in London before the Storm travelled to Leeds by train late today.
Rory Kostjysn and Gareth Widdop are believed to be fighting it out for one Melbourne bench spot.
Leeds have a number of injury doubts, headed by centre Brett Delaney (hamstring) and winger Scott Donald (shoulder).

I hope they do something like this.

 

[Evenflow]

So instead of just putting one Australian team out so close to the start of the season proper we'll put 3 out instead. Yep, excellent idea! :sarcasm:

f**k that, unless they do it so it's equally fair to both sides it'll always be a farce. Why not play it a month or so after both grand finals?

 

[Loudstrat]

Could be a great idea, but extra pressure on the elite players would kill it. It would compete with the international schedule.

The trouble is that everyone wants to see the elite players. Aussie clubs are prone to send a side to the WCC which is quite different to their premiership wining side. If this comp could go ahead without some of the rep players and maintain credibility - then do it.

Problem is there are so many whingers at anything to do with pommy clubs that it would be bagged from day one.

Besides, would the Broncos or Dogs be the third placed side from last year?

 

[RufusRex]

didnt they try this sh*t during superleague

 

[joshreading]

I think the simple but obvious step is having the WCC a week or two after the GF. Move it between both countries. At times Stadiums might mess us up a little but I am sure things could be worked out.

 

[siv]

I think the simple but obvious step is having the WCC a week or two after the GF. Move it between both countries. At times Stadiums might mess us up a little but I am sure things could be worked out.

yes yes yes

Game should be played on the third week of October in the country hosting the 4 nations

Game needs to be played before Oct 31 so that teams actually play with their contracted squads rather than the fiasco we have right now where squads change and games are played as a trial

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Even if it was played 2 weeks after the GF's, it still wont be considered more important then the Grand Final. Still would rather that though.

 

[joshreading]

It need not be 'more important' - only treated as important. I think for instance the Storm would certainly have sold out Etihad Stadium last year and had the City virtually to itself.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

It need not be 'more important' - only treated as important. I think for instance the Storm would certainly have sold out Etihad Stadium last year and had the City virtually to itself.

Perhaps, but would the Sea Eagles the year before have taken it seriously? No one will take it seriously if the players dont, and considering the Manly boys' partying after the GF, I couldnt imagine them wanting to play another game which isnt held in such high reguard. At the moment it appears that the sides are taking it more seriously, but I wouldnt be suprized if its just a cover for the fans and so that the RFL can promote the game better. What i wouldnt give for a player giving his Grand Final interview and say "one more to go".

Another option is for the NRL and the RFL to get together and put in a combined prize pool. THEN im sure the players would take it more seriously if there was enough money on offer.

I have alot of faith in the WCC concept, it could add a whole other dimension to the RL competition landscape, but I think it needs a little bit of tinkering and testing, and a hell of alot more backing from the NRL. At the moment I dont think the WCC is financially self sufficiant, and it wont be without equal effort on behalf of the NRL and or the RLIFroll.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Unless other comps outside NRL and ESL were stronger I'd leave it the way it is.

But at least play it down in Australia once and after the GF, not leading into the season.

 

[m0nty]

Sure, why not, schedule more and more games. Pretty soon we'll have NRL players in a game every weekend from January to December, with half a week off for Christmas.

 

[siv]

Perhaps, but would the Sea Eagles the year before have taken it seriously? No one will take it seriously if the players dont, and considering the Manly boys' partying after the GF, I couldnt imagine them wanting to play another game which isnt held in such high reguard. At the moment it appears that the sides are taking it more seriously, but I wouldnt be suprized if its just a cover for the fans and so that the RFL can promote the game better. What i wouldnt give for a player giving his Grand Final interview and say "one more to go".

Another option is for the NRL and the RFL to get together and put in a combined prize pool. THEN im sure the players would take it more seriously if there was enough money on offer.

I have alot of faith in the WCC concept, it could add a whole other dimension to the RL competition landscape, but I think it needs a little bit of tinkering and testing, and a hell of alot more backing from the NRL. At the moment I dont think the WCC is financially self sufficiant, and it wont be without equal effort on behalf of the NRL and or the RLIFroll.

It would have been Steve Menzies last game in Manly colours if played two weeks after the GF - it would have been al lot more serious than playing it in late Feb teh following year

 

[Jankuloski]

Topic already exists:
http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=352969&page=2

 

[Bluebags1908]

Double post.

 

[Bluebags1908]

Could be a great idea, but extra pressure on the elite players would kill it. It would compete with the international schedule.

The trouble is that everyone wants to see the elite players. Aussie clubs are prone to send a side to the WCC which is quite different to their premiership wining side. If this comp could go ahead without some of the rep players and maintain credibility - then do it.

Problem is there are so many whingers at anything to do with pommy clubs that it would be bagged from day one.

Besides, would the Broncos or Dogs be the third placed side from last year?

Bulldogs would be 3rd because they finished higher on the ladder after 26 rounds.

 

[Lockyer4President!]

Bulldogs would be 3rd because they finished higher on the ladder after 26 rounds.

Which would be cancelled out by the fact that they are a sh*t club with sh*t fans. So Broncs would be third.

 

[Perth Red]

Play it two weeks after the GF's, put up a $2million purse, hype it to hell and bill it is the most important trophy to win in World club RL. How hard can it be?