Italy

[expansionist]

I need to vent on my thoughts around the Italian team for this RLWC.

They qualified with mostly domestic players, and then for the RLWC selected a largely heritage team. With one notabel exception - Mirco Bergamesco.

He is the closest thing the Italians have to a famous player. He has a large profile in Italy AND he always talks up rugby league. He is profoundly proud of their qualifying and FIRL.

He gets selected to the squad with 22 heritage players - mostly lower graders - he travels to the RLWC and the doesnt get selected - at all - for any game.

This is absolutely criminal in my mind.

Even in the final game still no selection?

Its baffling, its rude, its counterproductive.

What the hell harm could it have done verse all the positive outcomes for the game in Italy itself?

If Im Mirco - maybe i feel like and outside (as the only one who speaks Italian) maybe I feel upset maybe i feel I didnt get a chance to show my worth.

Whats the attitude now when he goes back to Italy? Does he retire? Whatever i know one thing - he wont be quite so positive in future.

They now have nothing - no legacy - and no RLWC success either. I actually think now theyve made it harder for themselves.

Sorry rant over.

 

[Springs09]

You're right about not picking Bergamasco, but Italy didn't qualify with domestic players. They only had three in the squad. Most of the players who played the qualifiers were picked for this World Cup.

There's no reason why Bergamasco and Celerino should not have played against USA. Same with Dunne, McMahon and Kelly for Ireland against Wales. But if it's one thing I've learned from the NRL, it's that coaches do not have the game's best interests in mind.

 

[grouch]

Not to mention the nightclub fisticuffs between heritage teammates. It was an ignominious campaign all round for Italy.

Bergamasco would probably have done a better job at halfback than the Johns kid

 

[LineBall]

Campese was a waste of time. Could barely run.

 

[hutch]

Well said. Why wouldn’t they play Mirco? Surely he is better than Malone. Even is he wasn’t, wouldn’t he publicity in Italy and credibility he would bring to the tournament here in Australia be worth it alone? How will rugby League in Italy develop off the back of this? Were there any officials out here from Italy at all? Poor form all around.

 

[Jim from Oz]

I need to vent on my thoughts around the Italian team for this RLWC.

They qualified with mostly domestic players, and then for the RLWC selected a largely heritage team. With one notabel exception - Mirco Bergamesco.

He is the closest thing the Italians have to a famous player. He has a large profile in Italy AND he always talks up rugby league. He is profoundly proud of their qualifying and FIRL.

He gets selected to the squad with 22 heritage players - mostly lower graders - he travels to the RLWC and the doesnt get selected - at all - for any game.

This is absolutely criminal in my mind.

Even in the final game still no selection?

Its baffling, its rude, its counterproductive.

What the hell harm could it have done verse all the positive outcomes for the game in Italy itself?

If Im Mirco - maybe i feel like and outside (as the only one who speaks Italian) maybe I feel upset maybe i feel I didnt get a chance to show my worth.

Whats the attitude now when he goes back to Italy? Does he retire? Whatever i know one thing - he wont be quite so positive in future.

They now have nothing - no legacy - and no RLWC success either. I actually think now theyve made it harder for themselves.

Sorry rant over.

Don't apologise … it was an entirely justified rant !

 

[parrawentyfan]

Completely agree. Was so pissed when he didn't get a run! What chance of encouraging any other defections. It's not like he can go back to Italy and say what a great experience it was.

Even Australia and England gave all squad members game time and they have more at stake.

 

[siv]

Well they did much better than the Soccer WC Italians who missed out

 

[King hit]

They were the most disappointing team during the pool rounds no doubt