Souths & Brisbane set to be apart of WCC

[Nice Beaver]

I wouldn't say so. Stewart is probably in better form than Barba yes, but the rest I would say are pretty even. I've lost count how many times Hodges has made mince meat out of Matai.

:lol::lol::lol:

You wouldn't say so? Well you are very clearly deluded.

Anyone who thinks the Bronco's backline is even in the best half dozen is high let alone the standard of Manly's.

Seriously, you are embarrassing yourself.

Put DCE in the Broncos team and they are just as big a chance as Manly of winning a grand final.

Wrong. The Bronco's team lacks more than just DCE.


Anyway, if those two clubs want to bugger off to England for a trial then good luck. It has very clearly taken its toll on teams going over for the WCC so if they want to impeded their season prep then have fun.

The comment earlier about that trip being a selling point for DCE to go to the Bronco's was THE funniest thing I have read on here for along time. How far can you desperate pricks draw a bow???

 

[joshreading]

The WCC has very little true significance or tradition. It has been entirely ignored by the RL loving population in Australia. If it were to be truly significant, one would need to ensure it was at the end of the year and with full squads that just played in the GF. At present it is seen as a distraction from preparation for the NRL season or rather treated as a pre-season trial.

I think it could be great but it certainly is not as it is now. That said, it should not just be the premiers plus two others in general invited to such a series. Rather a true reflection of the game OR countries.

ie. England (Premiers) / Australia (Premiers) / France (Catalans) / New Zealand (Warriors)

 

[Joker's Wild]

The WCC has very little true significance or tradition. It has been entirely ignored by the RL loving population in Australia. If it were to be truly significant, one would need to ensure it was at the end of the year and with full squads that just played in the GF. At present it is seen as a distraction from preparation for the NRL season or rather treated as a pre-season trial.

I think it could be great but it certainly is not as it is now. That said, it should not just be the premiers plus two others in general invited to such a series. Rather a true reflection of the game OR countries.

ie. England (Premiers) / Australia (Premiers) / France (Catalans) / New Zealand (Warriors)

Say what?

Plenty of punters watch the WCC every year. Best to steer clear of such sweeping generalisations champ

 

[Bronco Rob]

I'm sure the opportunity is open to every other club. Souths and Brisbane are the two that have shown interest.

You all are missing the point. The world club challenge will remain as is, Souths and Brisbane will just travel over at around the same time and play a trial match with two ESL sides.

I don't understand why this gets everyone's panties in a bunch?

You're absolutely spot on. I think some on here just go into the bagging mode without actually reading the initial post or article in detail and some probably just don't understand it because they're just basically too simple!

So South and Brisbane have shown interest in NOT participating in the WCC but participating in an expanded club game weekend SO they are then slated for showing an interest in something THAT HELPS THE GAME OF RUGBY LEAGUE!!!!

IMHO It reeks of arrogance wanting it to be included under the WCC banner. Not surprised at all.

Who does it reek of arrogance from? What Brisbane or Souths for showing an interest in participating? The whole premise of expanding this to a few teams is to gain much-needed publicity for the ESL which gets a very raw deal from the English media.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

If NRL clubs want to play trial games in England every year good luck to them.

The big problem as I see it is the more trials played there the less will be played in places in Australia or nz that rarely get games.

But then again, Brisbane and lol@etc don't take games to the bush anyway so might as well let them go.

 

[Version 6]

So now the World Club Challenge will have two exhibition matches before the main game.

Why are people so cranky about that?

No one has said that the Brisbane/Souths games would be for silverware.

 

[saint pebba]

If Brisbane and Souths want to go over for cheap publicity and a few trial games let them...

We all know that teams that travel to England for the WCC come back fatigued and run out of gas towards the end of the season...

 

[StormHi]

Farcical Idea for it to be part of the WCC great Idea for it to be something else.

 

[duylm]

south sydney rabbitohs and brisbane broncos to be included in expanded world club-challenge

By BRAD WALTER AND ADRIAN PROSZENKO
Russell Crowe's vision of an expanded World Club Challenge will move a step closer to reality when South Sydney, Brisbane and a third NRL team play the top three Super League clubs in England in February.

The Rabbitohs and Broncos will join this season's premiers in a historic six-team tournament, or the NRL will invite a third club if Souths or Brisbane win the grand final.

The teams will fly to England after the NRL All Stars match at Suncorp Stadium and are scheduled to play against the top three Super League clubs on February 20, 21 and 22 in what are almost certain to be three sellout matches.

Full details of the expanded tournament are expected to be announced on Friday but it is understood the two third-ranked teams will meet on the Friday night, followed by the two second-ranked teams on Saturday, with the NRL and Super League premiers to play on Sunday.

The idea of the NRL clubs each playing a warm-up match against other Super League clubs, including Catalan in Perpignan, has been scrapped but the decision to expand the World Club Challenge to six teams may be the first move towards a Champions League-type tournament floated by Crowe four years ago.

Britain considers the development so significant that the Super League will be suspended for the weekend.

The Rabbitohs will play the Charity Shield match against St George Illawarra two weeks earlier to ensure it fits into an NRL pre-season packed with big events, including:

* Jan 31-Feb 2: NRL Nines in Auckland

* Feb 7: Charity Shield and trial matches

* Feb 14: NRL All Stars v Indigenous All Stars

* Feb 20-22: World Club Challenge

NRL clubs not involved in the World Club Challenge will play their second trial match that weekend before the start of the 2015 season two weeks later, on either March 5 or 6.

The expanded World Club Challenge matches are expected to be broadcast but the fact the cricket World Cup is on may mean it is shown on GEM, if Nine provides coverage.

It was revealed in July the Rabbitohs and Broncos were keen to be involved and it is understand there is now no shortage of other clubs wanting to play in the tournament if either Souths or Brisbane win the premiership.

St Helens, Castleford and Wigan are currently the top three teams on the Super League ladder but just two points separate the second-placed Tigers and sixth-placed Leeds, with Warrington and Huddersfield equal third with the Warriors. French club Catalan and Widnes are likely to be the other teams in the finals.

NRL league integration and game development manager Andrew Hill confirmed an announcement on the World Club Challenge format was close.

"We're in the final stages of discussing opportunities with Super League, and the Super League clubs, about the World Club Challenge next year," Hill said.

"That may include the expanded concept of more clubs participating in the competition."

With the NRL clubs guaranteed to have their costs covered, it is likely the next tournament will feature either the three highest finishing teams or the top team from NSW, Queensland and either the New Zealand Warriors or Melbourne Storm.

There is also the possibility of playing the World Club Challenge in neutral territory, such as Dubai.

Crowe suggested Las Vegas as a venue in an email in 2010, in which he outlined his concept of an eight-team tournament featuring the top four teams from the NRL and Super League.

"With effort it may well become a financial boon for the clubs involved, as Europe represents for English soccer clubs," Crowe said.

As discussed, way to cheapen the concept. You send your best teams, we'll send our most commercially appealing teams. If they don't think they can sell the best vs the best then they shouldn't bother.

 

[kbw]

I think its great that Australian teams play UK team in exhibition matches or trials.
Just don't call it the WCC.

While it may be a journalist's take on it all, calling it the WCC, it would not surprise me that its the clubs pushing it, no other clubs would assume they deserve something like this

 

[Bulldog Force]

How will they decide the 3rd team?

 

[Valheru]

The article says a “six team tournament” so am I to understand that souffs and the broncos can effectively win the WCC no matter where they finish.

That is the most ridiculous thing I have heard this year.

 

[grouch]

Brilliant work by Souths and Brisbane really. They are clubs who see the bigger picture. This will grow the game, and importantly for those clubs, grow their own brand in a big way.

 

[Perth Red]

Much rather see a world nines

 

[LatK7]

I think an expanded WCC should be top 3 NRL vs top 3 ESL, or something like it.

Makes more sense than bringing random clubs along for exhibition fun.

 

[insert.pause]

The article says a ?six team tournament? so am I to understand that souffs and the broncos can effectively win the WCC no matter where they finish.

That is the most ridiculous thing I have heard this year.

it also says it's only three games, which means two of them are just exhibition.

 

[God-King Dean]

Just imagine Souff$ fans if they win this.

 

[insert.pause]

Just imagine Souff$ fans if they win this.

Unless they're the premiers it's not really any different to playing in Jacksonville.

 

[Galeforce]

We are an ambitious club that wants to expand its brand globally. In which other part of the year do you suggest we do this?

I do not like the thought of Souths having to fly to England , should they win 2014 premiership for the real Club Champions game. I like this concept even worse.

There are enough games already without increasing the number of games that have NO bearing on the NRL Minor premiership or Premiership.We may get more Global exposure , however the offset is increased injury , early season HYPE, player burnout , diminishing focus.

I even argue for the scrapping of the annual Souths vs Dragons Charity game for the same reasons. I wish for a settled simple preseason build up to the the main game.

 

[broncos2010]

Its only fair that the broncos the biggest club in the NRL is representing.