It was a rule brought in for this World Cup. It should not be a real surprise considering that is how they've been doing jersey numbering in the UK Super League for the last 10-20 years. Personally I don't like it, but it is what it is.
They tried it in Australia during SL in 1997 and everyone, including the players and clubs who went to SL, agreed to go stick to the traditional numbering when the NRL was formed.
Also its no "word on the street", the SMH had an article explaining it published earlier today -
Odd numbers: Why Munster will wear No.7 jersey for Roos instead of Cleary or DCE
Forget Nathan Cleary and Daly Cherry-Evans – Cameron Munster will wear the halfback’s number for Australia at the World Cup.www.smh.com.au
Soccer has personalised squad numbers,
Both shit. Why copy stupid peoplebeen doing jersey numbering in the UK Super League for the last 10-20 years.
Dumb as. I'm 99% sure they will have new jerseys for each game anyway...
Example lineup:
1. Tedesco
9. Addo-Carr
8. Mitchell
10. Wighton
4. Holmes
7. Munster
14. Cleary
6. Campbell-Gillard
3. Hunt
13. Carrigan
11. Murray
22. Nanai
24. Yeo
20. Grant
18. Fa'asuamaleaui
15. Collins
17. Crichton
Yeah, that's odd.
I'd imagine Cleary has been dreaming of wearing the Kangaroos Number 7 since he was a kid, following the greats like Mortimer, Sterling, Langer, Stuart and Johns. He finally gets there and they hand him Number 14.
Your point?However back in the day touring squads all had squad numbers
I said I hated it.Your point?
It's shit