kkingston
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Rugby league Immortal Wally Lewis has pushed for Queensland and NSW - not Australia - to contest the World Cup in order to make the tournament competitive.
But the former Kangaroos skipper reckons international teams would still find it hard to match the Maroons and Blues.
Great Britain have threatened world No.1 Australia in the past but they won't be contesting the upcoming World Cup after splitting into England, Scotland and Ireland for the tournament Down Under.
Lewis said that decision had "weakened" the tournament which starts with a PNG-England clash at Townsville on October 25.
"It's very difficult but if other international teams have been broken up into other bodies and the strength has been weakened it makes it very difficult for those teams to beat Australia which is at their best," Lewis said in Brisbane.
"If they are divided up it makes it a little bit tough for them.
"Really Australia is the only team that doesn't suffer."
Lewis believed the introduction of Queensland and NSW would make the tournament "a hell of a lot more even".
Lewis still doubted whether the Maroons and Blues would be threatened at a World Cup.
"Particularly when you look at the standard that's set in interstate football," the veteran of 33 Tests said.
"State of Origin level has probably been raised to a bar that you have to question even whether the international football is going to get there.
"(Then) ... you are combining both those teams and putting them in the one Australian team."
But Lewis admitted that playing for his country was his greatest honour and proudest moment of his glittering career that also included 31 Origins for his beloved Queensland.
Australia are runaway tournament favourites at $1.18 with bookmakers ahead of New Zealand ($6.50) and England ($7).
Lewis was also shaking his head over the eligibility controversy that has marred the build-up to the tournament.
Tonga are threatening to take the international federation to court after it ruled Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Tuiaki were ineligible.
And they are also reeling from the sudden withdrawal of squad member Anthony Tupou after he received a last minute call-up from Australia.
Lewis felt for Tonga which loomed as a major threat to Australia.
"If anything else he could have created a huge amount of confidence in their team if he played (for Tonga)," he said.
"It's very difficult to expect they are going to have a great deal of strength."
In other Cup news, Manly centre Steve Matai was cleared to join the New Zealand squad after seeing a medical specialist in Sydney.
Matai played through Manly's NRL championship title run with a shoulder injury.
But Matai was told his shoulder would not require immediate surgery.
And it seems the guessing game over Broncos centre Justin Hodges' availability will end on Tuesday.
ARL doctor Hugh Hazard said Hodges would visit a surgeon and discuss scan results on his injured shoulder.
http://news.smh.com.au/sport/qld-nsw-should-play-in-rl-world-cup-20081013-4zs7.html
But the former Kangaroos skipper reckons international teams would still find it hard to match the Maroons and Blues.
Great Britain have threatened world No.1 Australia in the past but they won't be contesting the upcoming World Cup after splitting into England, Scotland and Ireland for the tournament Down Under.
Lewis said that decision had "weakened" the tournament which starts with a PNG-England clash at Townsville on October 25.
"It's very difficult but if other international teams have been broken up into other bodies and the strength has been weakened it makes it very difficult for those teams to beat Australia which is at their best," Lewis said in Brisbane.
"If they are divided up it makes it a little bit tough for them.
"Really Australia is the only team that doesn't suffer."
Lewis believed the introduction of Queensland and NSW would make the tournament "a hell of a lot more even".
Lewis still doubted whether the Maroons and Blues would be threatened at a World Cup.
"Particularly when you look at the standard that's set in interstate football," the veteran of 33 Tests said.
"State of Origin level has probably been raised to a bar that you have to question even whether the international football is going to get there.
"(Then) ... you are combining both those teams and putting them in the one Australian team."
But Lewis admitted that playing for his country was his greatest honour and proudest moment of his glittering career that also included 31 Origins for his beloved Queensland.
Australia are runaway tournament favourites at $1.18 with bookmakers ahead of New Zealand ($6.50) and England ($7).
Lewis was also shaking his head over the eligibility controversy that has marred the build-up to the tournament.
Tonga are threatening to take the international federation to court after it ruled Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Tuiaki were ineligible.
And they are also reeling from the sudden withdrawal of squad member Anthony Tupou after he received a last minute call-up from Australia.
Lewis felt for Tonga which loomed as a major threat to Australia.
"If anything else he could have created a huge amount of confidence in their team if he played (for Tonga)," he said.
"It's very difficult to expect they are going to have a great deal of strength."
In other Cup news, Manly centre Steve Matai was cleared to join the New Zealand squad after seeing a medical specialist in Sydney.
Matai played through Manly's NRL championship title run with a shoulder injury.
But Matai was told his shoulder would not require immediate surgery.
And it seems the guessing game over Broncos centre Justin Hodges' availability will end on Tuesday.
ARL doctor Hugh Hazard said Hodges would visit a surgeon and discuss scan results on his injured shoulder.
http://news.smh.com.au/sport/qld-nsw-should-play-in-rl-world-cup-20081013-4zs7.html
:crazy:
