Coastbloke
Bench
- Messages
- 4,099
To Whom it may Concern,
I have written to the ARL previously and usually with the same concern in regard to an aspect to rugby league which is very dear to me. The International Game.
This letter is no different.
Since the announcement of the World Cup in May of this year, there has been no further news of the tournament that so many are looking forward to. There has been no information on the opening ceremony and the associated match. Which Sydney venue will hold the event? No information has been forthcoming on venues, apart from the final in Brisbane, or even when tickets to the opening, closing and pool games will become available for general purchase.
The weakest link to our game is the International Game. Even some of our most influential personalities involved in the game have such a negative view of the International Game, they either make light of it or completely ignore it. The 2008 Rugby League World Cup is the perfect opportunity to showcase our game and to prove to those who criticize our game of the quality of players who come from countries such as France, PNG, Fiji and even the US.
But it is most important that the ARL and the RLIF waste no time on the promotion of this exciting event. Id like the ARL to use their influence to encourage the media outlets such as The Footy Show, The Roast, News Ltd and Fairfax to mention the World cup at every opportunity. I despair at the waste of valuable column space dedicated to the abuse of opposing columnists in the Sunday sports pages. This space could be much better utilized in promoting this tournament.
It would be fantastic for the game if the weekly magazines Rugby League Week and Big League had some coverage of the remaining qualifiers and/or country or player profiles once a month.
Local media need to be alerted that the World Cup will be holding games in their neck of the woods. I live on the NSW Central Coast and a match like France vs Wales under lights will see me their first to buy tickets. Its important that local radio and print be in on the promotion.
There is only 15 precious months to the kick off the tournament. The opening ceremony and match must be sold out as an event as well as a rugby league match whether it will be at Telstra Stadium or the renamed Sydney Football Stadium. I am in no doubt that Suncorp Stadium will be full for the Final and the closing ceremony, but Sydney appears to have lost its enthusiasm for International rugby league and needs convincing that this tournament is worth the wait.
Ricky Stuart once said that he wanted to bring pride back to the Kangaroo jumper. In a age where players are convinced that to wear their State jumper is more important or desirable than to wear the jersey of their National team, the 2008 Rugby League World Cup is the perfect opportunity to turn the game around, and bring the Kangaroos back to their rightful place at the pinnacle of the Greatest Game of All.
I have written to the ARL previously and usually with the same concern in regard to an aspect to rugby league which is very dear to me. The International Game.
This letter is no different.
Since the announcement of the World Cup in May of this year, there has been no further news of the tournament that so many are looking forward to. There has been no information on the opening ceremony and the associated match. Which Sydney venue will hold the event? No information has been forthcoming on venues, apart from the final in Brisbane, or even when tickets to the opening, closing and pool games will become available for general purchase.
The weakest link to our game is the International Game. Even some of our most influential personalities involved in the game have such a negative view of the International Game, they either make light of it or completely ignore it. The 2008 Rugby League World Cup is the perfect opportunity to showcase our game and to prove to those who criticize our game of the quality of players who come from countries such as France, PNG, Fiji and even the US.
But it is most important that the ARL and the RLIF waste no time on the promotion of this exciting event. Id like the ARL to use their influence to encourage the media outlets such as The Footy Show, The Roast, News Ltd and Fairfax to mention the World cup at every opportunity. I despair at the waste of valuable column space dedicated to the abuse of opposing columnists in the Sunday sports pages. This space could be much better utilized in promoting this tournament.
It would be fantastic for the game if the weekly magazines Rugby League Week and Big League had some coverage of the remaining qualifiers and/or country or player profiles once a month.
Local media need to be alerted that the World Cup will be holding games in their neck of the woods. I live on the NSW Central Coast and a match like France vs Wales under lights will see me their first to buy tickets. Its important that local radio and print be in on the promotion.
There is only 15 precious months to the kick off the tournament. The opening ceremony and match must be sold out as an event as well as a rugby league match whether it will be at Telstra Stadium or the renamed Sydney Football Stadium. I am in no doubt that Suncorp Stadium will be full for the Final and the closing ceremony, but Sydney appears to have lost its enthusiasm for International rugby league and needs convincing that this tournament is worth the wait.
Ricky Stuart once said that he wanted to bring pride back to the Kangaroo jumper. In a age where players are convinced that to wear their State jumper is more important or desirable than to wear the jersey of their National team, the 2008 Rugby League World Cup is the perfect opportunity to turn the game around, and bring the Kangaroos back to their rightful place at the pinnacle of the Greatest Game of All.