WCC staying int he UK

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Would there be any merit in moving it a week or two further forward, so the NRL teams can also claim to be 'match fit'?

Currently our clubs place more importance on the NRL season the the WCC.

To be honest, in the WCC's current format, I agree.

 

[JasonE]

Have you not heard the term "match-fit" Jason?

No mate, never heard of it but Fielden and Gleeson said playing that game against Bradford was ideal for their match fitness.

 

[RedVee]

Lewis makes it perfectly clear that the Aussies aren't interested in hosting this game. He even says they thought someone like Brisbane might be up for it but they said no.

What more do you want him to do? He can't force the Aussies to host it.

Also, if you move it to the end of the season it screws up the international season, and that is far more important to the future of our game than the WCC.

Here's a direct quote from Richard Lewis.

"We agreed with the NRL a few years ago that we would have the next few years here and I think the NRL's position is that, unless there is a club in Australia which really thinks they can hold it and make a success of it, then they believe it works better over here," he said.

"Over the years, we thought if a team like Brisbane Broncos got to the final, they might host it but when they got through they didn't think they could host it as successful as we could. So I think it's set to stay in this country.

Thats interesting as Peter Doust has been quoted as saying he wanted (and offered) to host the game. Don't Saints qualify as a NRL club?

 

[deluded pom?]

Thats interesting as Peter Doust has been quoted as saying he wanted (and offered) to host the game. Don't Saints qualify as a NRL club?

Is there a link to that quote?

 

[RedVee]

Is there a link to that quote?

Heres a direct quote from Doust, and a quote from Bennett. There have been others but I'm going to bed.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...harity-shield-under-cloud-20101115-17ueh.html

Doust said there were financial issues involved after the Dragons' proposal to stage the WCC in Australia for the first time since 1994 was rejected as Super League starts on February 12, and Wigan did not want to travel in between matches.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...h-even-before-the-kickoff-20110221-1b2ju.html

Dragons chief executive Peter Doust - anxious not to interfere with annual pre-season games against South Sydney and Canterbury - briefly toyed with the idea of playing the match in Sydney and did not confirm the premiers' involvement for weeks.
"I knew it would happen - I wasn't sure if it would be in Australia or the UK," coach Wayne Bennett said after the Dragons arrived in London, where they will spend a week preparing before relocating to the outskirts of Manchester.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...ernate-each-year/story-e6frg7mf-1226006588598

Doust was keen for the match to be staged in Australia this year and even initiated talks with Wigan about the prospect of playing at ANZ Stadium after the Dragons won the grand final in October.

 

[Goldfields_Titans]

http://stevemascord.com/2011/03/08/comment-the-world-club-challenge/

 

[Starkers]

i agree with wilson. it needs to be held 3 weeks after the GF in the country hosting the international tournament that year. and if you purchase a ticket to the grand final you get the option to purchase a ticket to the WCC if your team wins.

if they'd held it in australia in late october they'd fill the sfs or get 50k at least at homebush. it would be a great way to lead into the 4 nations and the country touring would have extra depth away from home just in case they needed it.