The Guardian: "Rugby League's International Failure is Spectacular"

[RedVee]

Wallabies have won 4 out of the past 24 Bledisloe cup matches.
Kiwis have won 4 out of the past 24 Anzac/Australian matches.

BUT -- if the Kiwis weren't forced to play the Kangaroos mid-season with the Roos benefiting from the previous year's Origin combos and match fitness from the first few rounds of the NRL it'd be a closer result.

PNG, France & Wales ended up with anywhere from -110 to -136 in their 4 nations final tables standings. Samoa after one game are on -6, they're looking to be the best 4th nation so far.

Unless France & Ireland score massive upsets it looks like Scotland will be in the next 4 Nations.

And apparently that crowd last night was the largest non-world cup test match crowd since the 1994 Ashes series.

All that has happened under a rabble.

Money + Resources + Organisation + Time = A prosperous future for International Rugby League

And a PNG presence in Q Cup, and a coming Fiji presence in NSW Cup. Acorns maybe, but there is a saying about acorns.

 

[RedVee]

....

 

[deluded pom?]

The international game is supposed to be run by the RLIF, not the NRL, and they are only now getting their first CEO and dedicated staff, thanks to the direction of Grant and Smith, who have been on the RLIF board only two years, so to blame them for decades of inadequate governance is ignorant, but not surprising coming from Tedeschi.

Moreover, complaining about the 4 nations ending in a predictable "parade of Australia?s dominance" ignores the fact that in the last 10 years NZ has won 3 tournaments, including the 2005 tri-nations, the 2010 4 nations and the 2008 world cup, that equates to NZ winning 3 out of the 7 tournaments played in the last 10 years.

But why let facts get in the way of a good death ride?

 

[taste2taste]

In Australia there is growing support for a shortened nrl season with stand alone rep\origin weeks during the season.

Smith has hidden behind the excuse they have already negotiated a TV deal and cant disrupt or shorten the season , despite the fact CH9 head of sport Steve Crawley has said ch 9 would support rep weekends during the season.

When the next tv deal is negotiated we'll find out exactly how serious Smith and the IC is about Internationals and growing the game.

 

[franklin2323]

In Australia there is growing support for a shortened nrl season with stand alone rep\origin weeks during the season.

Look at the Samoa v England ratings. Even the Fiji v Samoa ratings. I can't see the season being shortened for tests. A rep window though maybe. 4 weeks tests while SOO is on takes players getting released and etc. Maybe a ban if a player is 'rested'

 

[TheDMC]

Boom! Get that man a beer!

What, for being a complete munter?

 

[ek999]

It would be easier for some of the smaller nations if they weren't losing players to Australia.

They don't. Other nations keep taking Australian (and NZ) players under heritage rules. Those players hearts will always be with where they were born and bred (i.e. Australia and NZ). How many born and bred Samoans played on the weekend?

 

[franklin2323]

They don't. Other nations keep taking Australian (and NZ) players under heritage rules. Those players hearts will always be with where they were born and bred (i.e. Australia and NZ). How many born and bred Samoans played on the weekend?

Exactly. Milford is always the poster boy for this myth yet he is Australian born. Even 1 game he plays for Samoa was a bonus

 

[Burns]

They don't. Other nations keep taking Australian (and NZ) players under heritage rules. Those players hearts will always be with where they were born and bred (i.e. Australia and NZ). How many born and bred Samoans played on the weekend?

Amazing. Poor Australia, robbed of it players!

 

[roughyedspud]

does brad walters read this forum?? just read his article in the SMH...sure hes lifted stuff from my posts about the kangaroos lol

 

[ek999]

Amazing. Poor Australia, robbed of it players!

f**kwit where did I say Australia was being robbed of players? I was simply pointing out the fact that all of those players that played for Samoa on the weekend would be playing for another country if they got selected by them

 

[franklin2323]

does brad walters read this forum?? just read his article in the SMH...sure hes lifted stuff from my posts about the kangaroos lol

The all do. So many flaws in his story it's not funny

 

[franklin2323]

f**kwit where did I say Australia was being robbed of players? I was simply pointing out the fact that all of those players that played for Samoa on the weekend would be playing for another country if they got selected by them

Yep. Nothing wrong with that we want the best playing test footy. Just need to limit the switching while keeping the lesser teams strong

 

[DC_fan]

Yep. Nothing wrong with that we want the best playing test footy. Just need to limit the switching while keeping the lesser teams strong

I am against players being allowed to switch countries. You are either Australian, New Zealander or from one of the Pacific Islands. You play for one and that is who you only ever play for.

Being able to represent different countries is what makes internTional league look such a joke.