RLWC 2025

[The Great Dane]

Why play games in NZ and the PI's during the 2026 RLWC if the tentative plan is for NZ/Pacific to host the 2029/30 world cup?

All you'd be doing is stealing the 2029 RLWC's thunder and undermining it's importance as an event, whilst also robbing yourself of the opportunity to use matches in the 2025 RLWC to spread RL to new markets and use them to attract investment into the sport and rectangular infrastructure in Australia.

Australia being expected to share everything with NZ has negative ramifications for both countries, and isn't reciprocated more often than not these days either.

It's just a stupid idea on the face of it.

 

[Perth Red]

The concern with the two groups of 5 is the total amount of matches that the IRL would have to convince a government to pay for.

2 groups of 5 in a round robin, plus 2 semis and a final is 43 matches.

If they use the 2008 format for 10 teams (the Super Pool) its 18 matches. Plus, they don't have to try and sell the dead rubber match of PNG vs Lebanon, for example.

What they should do is seriously lobby the Australian and New Zealand federal governments to pay for the costs of playing matches in PNG, Fiji Samoa and Tonga. Those nations should absolutely host international matches even if its at a financial loss.

2 groups of 5 is 20 pool games, not 40?

 

[Perth Red]

Why play games in NZ and the PI's during the 2026 RLWC if the tentative plan is for NZ/Pacific to host the 2029/30 world cup?

All you'd be doing is stealing the 2029 RLWC's thunder and undermining it's importance as an event, whilst also robbing yourself of the opportunity to use matches in the 2025 RLWC to spread RL to new markets and use them to attract investment into the sport and rectangular infrastructure in Australia.

Australia being expected to share everything with NZ has negative ramifications for both countries, and isn't reciprocated more often than not these days either.

It's just a stupid idea on the face of it.

Nz yes, PI no. i presume the idea of dropping to ten teams is to try and make money. Taking games to the PI isn’t going to do that Unless aus g8vt pays big to cover it. I doubt australia alone can host 23 inter national rugby league games sadly and make it a success.

 

[Perth Red]

Can a mod create a RLWC 2026 section please?

 

[The Great Dane]

Nz yes, PI no. i presume the idea of dropping to ten teams is to try and make money. Taking games to the PI isn’t going to do that Unless aus g8vt pays big to cover it. I doubt australia alone can host 23 inter national rugby league games sadly and make it a success.

Australia could easily do so if you went about it the right way, especially a smaller tournament like this where at least four teams (AUS, NZ, SAM, TON), debatably five (ENG), should be solid draws if you put a little thought and effort into the scheduling and marketing.

The main thing they need is a good build up and strong passive marketing campaign, and that should start now with the commentary teams at Nine and Fox being effectively ordered to talk the WC up in their broadcasts, and reference international selections and results regularly, under threat of loss of access. You have to treat it like a big deal if you want others to treat it like a big deal.

The NRL can't use NZ as a crutch forever, and neither should NZ and the NZRL be allowed to leech off Australia and NRL forever. It's bad for everyone and we need to start working to change it.

 

[Last Week]

Ah yes. My mistake.

 

[Perth Red]

Australia could easily do so if you went about it the right way, especially a smaller tournament like this where at least four teams (AUS, NZ, SAM, TON), debatably five (ENG), should be solid draws if you put a little thought and effort into the scheduling and marketing.

The main thing they need is a good build up and strong passive marketing campaign, and that should start now with the commentary teams at Nine and Fox being effectively ordered to talk the WC up in their broadcasts, and reference international selections and results regularly, under threat of loss of access. You have to treat it like a big deal if you want others to treat it like a big deal.

The NRL can't use NZ as a crutch forever, and neither should NZ and the NZRL be allowed to leech off Australia and NRL forever. It's bad for everyone and we need to start working to change it.

True but from a ticket sales point of view tonga, samoa and NZ are going to sell much better in NZ than in Australia. Australians are not really into Int RL remember. With a totally non plussed media ignoring the Int game and a NSW govt with a history of not being interested in backing it, its a hard sell here.
If it would impact on the anticipation of a NZ&PI 2030 RLWC is debatable, if it happens.

 

[Last Week]

Nz yes, PI no. i presume the idea of dropping to ten teams is to try and make money. Taking games to the PI isn’t going to do that Unless aus g8vt pays big to cover it. I doubt australia alone can host 23 inter national rugby league games sadly and make it a success.

I agree with this. It won't happen unless Albo funds matches there.

PNG, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga all deserve to host a major game (against Australia, NZ or England).

Which would be appealing for the IRL aswell as its less games to sell locally and it exposes major brands to the local market. Win/win.

 

[England87]

I agree with this. It won't happen unless Albo funds matches there.

PNG, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga all deserve to host a major game (against Australia, NZ or England).

Which would be appealing for the IRL aswell as its less games to sell locally and it exposes major brands to the local market. Win/win.

They do not deserve anything mate. So many people on these forums have zero understanding or broadcast needs, insurance costs and the stadiums required for staging a tournament of this magnitude.

 

[Perth Red]

They do not deserve anything mate. So many people on these forums have zero understanding or broadcast needs, insurance costs and the stadiums required for staging a tournament of this magnitude.

There is only PNG with a suitable stadium in reality, and even that is pretty small capacity. Be interesting to see how they go hosting the whole 'Pacifc bowl' at end of year.

 

[Last Week]

They do not deserve anything mate. So many people on these forums have zero understanding or broadcast needs, insurance costs and the stadiums required for staging a tournament of this magnitude.

That's why I said Albo needs to fund it...

 

[England87]

I hope he doesn't.

 

[Last Week]

I hope he doesn't.

This will will be good.

Why?

 

[taste2taste]

Now that the mens WC is going to condensed to fewer teams and played on its own, is it worth going back to France to see if they'll host it in 2026 ?

The main reason the French government pulled the pin was because WC organisers couldn't guarantee it would be profitable, but the men's side of the WC has been profitable in the past few world cups.

Voila ??

 

[Last Week]

Now that the mens WC is going to condensed to fewer teams and played on its own, is it worth going back to France to see if they'll host it in 2026 ?

The main reason the French government pulled the pin was because WC organisers couldn't guarantee it would be profitable, but the men's side of the WC has been profitable in the past few world cups.

Voila ??

I think the IRL aren't exactly on good terms with the French government at the moment.

It'll be in Australia, maybe shared with NZ and PNG.

 

[Brian potter]

Now that the mens WC is going to condensed to fewer teams and played on its own, is it worth going back to France to see if they'll host it in 2026 ?

The main reason the French government pulled the pin was because WC organisers couldn't guarantee it would be profitable, but the men's side of the WC has been profitable in the past few world cups.

Voila ??

I very much doubt it seen as though the IRL meeting in singapore a few months back stated it would be held in the southern hemisphere.

 

[Brian potter]

I think the IRL aren't exactly on good terms with the French government at the moment.

It'll be in Australia, maybe shared with NZ and PNG.

I wonder if the bulk of the tournament could be held in New Zealand with one groups set of games held in PNG and maybe another held in Australia.

personally I’d love to see New Zealand host the tournament.

 

[Perth Red]

As sht a sport as it is you can only marvel at the following the RUWC has had, oh for half that much interest in a RLWC! Union fans travel the world for it, we can’t even get our own fans in the same city to go!

 

[taste2taste]

As sht a sport as it is you can only marvel at the following the RUWC has had, oh for half that much interest in a RLWC! Union fans travel the world for it, we can’t even get our own fans in the same city to go!

Its been incredible , sold out crowds even at the tier 2 nations. All league fans should be green with envy, hopefully we'll get close to a WC like thiers in the next few decades.

Although I had to laugh, watching the official match highlights of Wallabies V Fiji, 2.minutes of the 3 minute package was penalty goals

 

[Jim from Oz]

Its been incredible , sold out crowds even at the tier 2 nations. All league fans should be green with envy, hopefully we'll get close to a WC like thiers in the next few decades.

Although I had to laugh, watching the official match highlights of Wallabies V Fiji, 2.minutes of the 3 minute package was penalty goals

Most RUWC "highlights" are like that: mostly penalty goals !!

It should be called the PGWC: Penalty Goal World Cup ! LOL