Let's have a Proper World Clup Championship

[JamesRustle]

They lost all 3 last year, so your proposal should only be implemented for seasons where the SL teams are likely to be competitive.

 

[POPEYE]

Let's not.

Here is my idea of how the season should run.
January 1 - 31. Nines tournaments in Auckland, Brisbane, Hong f**king Kong, Ouagadougou culminating in a final at trump towers. Winner gets a $50000 cheque.

February 1 - 28. World Club Challenge. All the teams in the NRL, ESL, PNG, NZ, Fiji, France, Canada and China gather in Widnes for 28 days of non stop rugby league. Winner is named world club champion and receives a gift voucher at harvey norman.

March 1. Indigenous all stars v blue eyes. Same weekend Maori v vegetarians.

March 2 - onwards. Season proper playing for the Shield. Thirty teams including 4 teams in perth play each other home and away in 15 divisions of 2. Top 5 then play for the cup. Bottom 5 are relagated to group 6. Top 2 clubs from the qld cup and nsw cup are promoted to the super premiership as is the top side from the women's afl.

Mid season we have a 12 week break for origin. We also have a nines comp between this period. And internationals. And a nrl olympics. And take games to the bush including a 7 game city v country series.

October: finals series.

November to December 30: a 17 nations tournament.

December 31: off season.

What bait are you using?

 

[siv]

I prefer the super bowl style WCC

But play it on Fri 3rd weekend in October in the UK or lined up with 2017 RLWC then in Australia

Ie 2 weeks after the GF

Then roll into a 6 week international period

Let pre season be pre season

 

[Evil Homer]

My concern is that the gulf between the competitions is probably greater than its ever been.

And any attempt to make this a serious exercise would only result in lopsided results ala 1997.

Agreed, we should wait until the NRL gets up to standard IMO.

 

[adamkungl]

There's no point to exhibition matches...And the 2nd & 3rd games wouldn't happen at all if our clubs don't pay to fly the NRL teams over..

That's why Wigan,Leeds,hull FC,Warrington & st Helens will be the only English teams to ever play in the series...Cos they are the only clubs that can afford the £300,000 it costs..

It's that model we need to get away from..The world club challenge,series,championship,whatever...Needs to be a joint venture,50/50,between the NRL & ESL and it needs to be self financed through the sale of hosting rights, TV rights,sponsorship and ticket sales...Much like how the RFL,ARLC &NZRL owned and ran the 4 nations..

Also I see no problem whatsoever in a world club championship final being a grand final replay..Infact it'll help sell it imo

Agree with the bolded. Would have no problem with the NRL forcing clubs to participate, as long as it was here every 2nd year.

But I have no interest in a tournament where the very likely outcome is a watered-down repeat of the NRL finals, and I think public opinion would be against it.

The point of exhibition matches is to make money and international exposure for the teams involved. Let the Grand Final winners play for a trophy.

 

[Captain Apollo]

You guys are forgetting that the award governing NRL players provides that they must get a mandatory 7 weeks leave (and the NRL Players Association is pushing for 8 weeks leave in the next collective bargaining agreement). As such, this does effect when you can schedule events, especially with current commitments (e.g. test football, the Nines) already on the calendar.

Whilst playing it in October may be considered ideal by some, a sizeable portion of the players don't think that. You only have to listen to the stories told by the retired players who played in the WCC when it was held the week/fortnight after the Grand Final and how they either didn't treat it seriously or tried to get out of going to the UK altogether. It may be imperfect, but I doubt it will be moved from where it currently falls in the rugby league calendar unless that calendar is substantially changed.

 

[carcharias]

just get rid of it.
I was not excited about it one bit
Didnt even know when it was on until the day almost.

The time slot for us is rubbish

The teams are never the same as the ones that won their comps.

It sounded like a good idea but in reality is a bit shit.

 

[adamkungl]

You guys are forgetting that the award governing NRL players provides that they must get a mandatory 7 weeks leave (and the NRL Players Association is pushing for 8 weeks leave in the next collective bargaining agreement). As such, this does effect when you can schedule events, especially with current commitments (e.g. test football, the Nines) already on the calendar.

Whilst playing it in October may be considered ideal by some, a sizeable portion of the players don't think that. You only have to listen to the stories told by the retired players who played in the WCC when it was held the week/fortnight after the Grand Final and how they either didn't treat it seriously or tried to get out of going to the UK altogether. It may be imperfect, but I doubt it will be moved from where it currently falls in the rugby league calendar unless that calendar is substantially changed.

Suck it up, they're paid to play football ffs

 

[Bobby DIGital]

The other memorable thing was that the Hunter Mariners made the final. If the Broncos had had a speck of decency they'd have let them win.

Unfortunately we all know they don't.

 

[Lambretta]

What bait are you using?

Jail bait seeing as you responded

 

[Hawkins]

They lost all 3 last year, so your proposal should only be implemented for seasons where the SL teams are likely to be competitive.

And when the main players on the team are NRL has beens. We're looking at you Gidley.

First win he has had in a while..

 

[Hutty1986]

Yeah...and risk more injuries...how about no.

You're a few french fries short of a happy meal m8.

 

[LineBall]

just get rid of it.
I was not excited about it one bit
Didnt even know when it was on until the day almost.

The time slot for us is rubbish

The teams are never the same as the ones that won their comps.

It sounded like a good idea but in reality is a bit shit.

Having it in October, and alternating it between Australia/New Zealand and the UK/France would address some of your points.

 

[BestHookerFarrah]

Clup

 

[Captain Apollo]

Suck it up, they're paid to play football ffs

Mate, it is what they are legally entitled to. They players don't have to "suck it up" at all. I bet if your boss told you "sorry no annual leave for you, I'm gonna make you work" when you were expecting to take a few weeks off you would be up in arms. If your boss replied "suck it up, your paid to work" despite what you are legally entitled to, you would not take it lieing down now would you?

 

[Hawkins]

Mate, it is what they are legally entitled to. They players don't have to "suck it up" at all. I bet if your boss told you "sorry no annual leave for you, I'm gonna make you work" when you were expecting to take a few weeks off you would be up in arms. If your boss replied "suck it up, your paid to work" despite what you are legally entitled to, you would not take it lieing down now would you?

No they're meat puppets, end of discussion!

 

[adamkungl]

Mate, it is what they are legally entitled to. They players don't have to "suck it up" at all. I bet if your boss told you "sorry no annual leave for you, I'm gonna make you work" when you were expecting to take a few weeks off you would be up in arms. If your boss replied "suck it up, your paid to work" despite what you are legally entitled to, you would not take it lieing down now would you?

They're legally entitled to 4 weeks off like everyone else.

They're contractually entitled to 7 or 8 weeks off due to the players union, and that too is fair enough.

That leaves 44 weeks. If they "don't feel like" playing in October then maybe they should find something else to do, more than enough players would jump at the opportunity.

If I complained about having to show up to work every day aside from those 4 weeks, yes I would be told to suck it up and do my job.

 

[POPEYE]

Jail bait seeing as you responded

Crikey, I'm too old for gaol bait ol' mate . . . although there was a time long ago I wasn't fussy

 

[siv]

If the 8 weeks are slotted in Dec - Jan then everything is sorted out

GF's - Oct first weekend

Free - Oct 2nd weekend

WCC - Fri 3rd Oct weekend

6 international weekends - 3rd Weekend Oct to Final on last Sat in Nov

 

[PaulyTom]

16 team knockout run over 4 weeks.

Would love to see some form of 9s comp start up in the summer months to take on the big bash.