That's my answer and criticism. The organisers should have seen this coming! I've got a hunch they did (organiser's sudden resignation a month b4 the series ). He basically avoided the heat from a poorly planned and marketed world cup. His baby but he wasn’t around to cop the flack! My point is that it would not be impossible to arrange such an outcome. It never happened. Pity for this greatly underrated and relatively hidden code!
I think the issue with the 2017 World Cup was entirely Rugby League's. Pathetic advertising/promotion anywhere and the inability/decision to secure grounds in heartland regions like Sydney and Brisbane for marquee matches were the biggest issues and had nothing to do with the cricket.
Here in Melbourne I think I saw maybe a dozen posters around the city (mostly at AAMI Park). There was nothing on local radio or in Newspapers. Channel 7 basically did most of the promotion.
It felt like the NRL had every intention of distancing itself from the WC. I saw better promotion for Melbourne Storm and Melbourne Rebels games down here.
That alone was a huge problem. I met with some RL Journo's and historians in Melbourne who had travelled from the UK and they were amazed at how little promotion there was for the game, and that's saying something given the profile of RL in the UK today.
One guy came to follow Wales and look at their schedule - Game 1 - Port Moresby, Game 2 - Townsville, Game 3 - Perth, then he had to cover a game in Melbourne for a UK magazine.
That amount of travel is absurd for 3 games.
Another was reporting on the England games, a marquee team and they played at Melbourne (twice), Sydney, Perth, Auckland and Brisbane.
Having the games spread out so far, across a number of countries makes it hard and very expensive for fans to travel to and support. These are facts which I think are very important yet often ignored. A lot of the problems Rugby League faces today stem from it's own poor management first. Be it planning, inaction or an unwillingness to fight.
That's not to say that there aren't other outside factors, but I think in a line of conversation like this, it is wise to look at the game's own failings first and foremost.
The game can never grow and expand if it is poorly run, regardless of the antics of other sports. A well run game can withstand the attacks of outside influences. A poorly run game will continue to be trod upon by them.
The game's governing body has long needed and appears to be heading in the direction of finally having some ticker.
It needs to stand up to both the RFL and NRL and tell them clearly "The RLIF runs Rugby League. Not the NRL. Not the RFL."
For too long the International body was dictated to by the major nations.
