One Year Ago: The 2017 World Cup

[Jim from Oz]

Great story. If you can afford to send the kids to private school you could always bring them over to the U.K. in 2021 . Going to a WC in a foreign land is a fantastic experience.

I and some mates from Oz/NZ are VERY keen to attend RLWC 2021 … BUT only if the UK RL can organise it properly!

Very worried about the state of the game in the UK ATM under present UK RL administrators … they are the WORST so far in my 28 years of very closely following UK RL.

And considering how bad UK RL administrators have been in the 28 years of me very closely following UK RL, that's really saying something!

very fearful for the game in general ATM … Oz/NZ RL administrators generally very poor as well ATM.

Sorry for drifting off topic !!!

 

[latingringo101]

It was a very underwhelming WC from an Australian side of things. Matches in NZ and PNG lived up to their expectations.

I went to two Lebanese games and the final. Lebanese know how to create a atmosphere. Final was kinda boring to be honest.

They really could have done a lot more to get more people to go to matches. Hopefully 2021 WC shows the 2017 version how it should be done.

 

[Springs09]

It was a very underwhelming WC from an Australian side of things. Matches in NZ and PNG lived up to their expectations.

I went to two Lebanese games and the final. Lebanese know how to create a atmosphere. Final was kinda boring to be honest.

They really could have done a lot more to get more people to go to matches. Hopefully 2021 WC shows the 2017 version how it should be done.

The Tongan games maybe. Kiwi games were very average.

 

[Perth Red]

It was a very underwhelming WC from an Australian side of things. Matches in NZ and PNG lived up to their expectations.

I went to two Lebanese games and the final. Lebanese know how to create a atmosphere. Final was kinda boring to be honest.

They really could have done a lot more to get more people to go to matches. Hopefully 2021 WC shows the 2017 version how it should be done.

RFL hosted a far better one in 2013 so shpuld be good. 2017 wasn't a disaster but certainly wasn't the best ever that the NRL claimed it would be when they set their strat plan! Its interesting they havent released the financial performance of it!

 

[Disinterested third party]

Oh wow ive got so many memories..

Went to TSV, Cairns, AKL, BNE (live in BNE). My boy absolutely loved it, for 4 weeks we went from games to games, and lived and breathed the rest on TV. Taught him so much about the game and being young after that tournament he now has NO entrenched negativity about international RL. For him part of the charm was simply the exotic and far flung places in the world on show. It was a lightbulb moment- wow they play my game there???

My boy (who is spoilt) got to meet so many players from Tonga, Fiji, Australia, USA, Scotland sides, hundreds of photos, Cam Smiths boot, followed Fiji around to 3 games.. basically became Fijian. We streamed the fijian selection trials, and followed them through to the end. Huge poster he made, and stuck all the photos from all the players on it (from game 1 in TSV) so by game 2 we had the poster made with all players photos on it, and then he got signatures from all of them.. interviewed by Fiji TV..

I met some of the RLWC senior execs on all my flights... hilarious. They oveheard my boy telling the hostie where we were going, so got talking, and soon wished they hadnt after realising that far from being just a fan going to a game - they were talking to one of the worlds leading uber nerds of internaitonal RL.

The best thing that will live with me forever is the feeling of excitement, and the absolute joy in my young boys lives they experienced. I treasured the trips, experiences with my 2 young boys the shared love of the game and the global backyard.

They both came away from it telling me they couldnt wait until next years world cup!!!! What?????!!!!!! i have to wait 4 years????

By the time of the next WC my eldes will be 12 and possibly no longer wants to hang out with dad or maybe not even a RL fan (hell be playing that horrible union next year at school as brisbane private schools forbod RL - dont get me started)

but whatever happens the memories, and the sheer shared delight of that tournament will always have a special place in my heart. Brought me closer to my kids and also to my first love - international RL

One of the best posts this year on this forum.

 

[deluded pom?]

Its interesting they havent released the financial performance of it!

And probably never will.

 

[expansionist]

Great story. If you can afford to send the kids to private school you could always bring them over to the U.K. in 2021 . Going to a WC in a foreign land is a fantastic experience.

Yep for sure thats the plan! 2021 in UK