Rugby league - comedy tournament

[Simster]

Seriously, what is the POINT of the RL world cup?

They already have the 4 nations, where the only 3 teams that play the game (plus one other team to make up the numbers) get to play on an annual basis. Then every four years they introduce a laughable world cup competition, with a different format every time - presumably because the format from 4 years previous highlighted what a complete joke it is.

BBC Sport - 2013 World Cup: Can England match Australia New Zealand?

The only good thing about the RL World Cup is that NZ somehow beat Australia in their own back yard last time out. Apart from that, it's a rubbish event.

 

[happypig]

I went to a RL game in Australia a few years back (they call it "footie" for some reason) and was somewhat underwhelmed. In the pub later I was nearly lynched for saying I thought it was a bit one-dimensional and a bit shit.
As far as I can see, it's pick up, run into the opposition and repeat.

 

[Simster]

I went to a RL game in Australia a few years back (they call it "footie" for some reason) and was somewhat underwhelmed. In the pub later I was nearly lynched for saying I thought it was a bit one-dimensional and a bit shit.
As far as I can see, it's pick up, run into the opposition and repeat.

As for the merits of the game, well I like bits of it. I like the fact that the ball handling has to be pretty amazing in order to score and the players have to be incredibly fit. However, there don't appear to be many nuances to it, which is a bit dull.

But really, it's such a noddy sport followed by hardly anyone apart from being the second sport in the M62 corridor and only slightly more popular in the 2 Australian states that play it. The 4 nations should act as a WC, as the world simply doesn't play it. Perhaps Russia, France, Wales and Ireland should have their own 4 nations equivalent, because a WC is clearly just going to be embarrassing whenever anyone plays the big 2 or 3 nations.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

The last European spot, went to Italy, who qualified by virtue of a HEROIC 19-19 draw in their final group game v LEBANON.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

There were a massive THREE teams in 'Pacific' qualifying. It was hard fought between the historic rugby league GIANTS of the USA, Jamaica and South Africa. The USA scraped through after narrow 40-4 victories against both.

 

[seagullondon]

The last European spot, went to Italy, who qualified by virtue of a HEROIC 19-19 draw in their final group game v LEBANON.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Indeed

It's actually not QUITE as daft as it sounds. 20 of the 30-man Lebananon squad are Aussies of Lebanese descent, who play for minor clubs in Australia. There is a huge Lebanese population out there.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Basically whatever happens is a variant of Greater Manchester and parts of Yorkshire, versus bits of Queensland.




And Queensland invariably win.

 

[Barnham Seagull]

I watch a few Super League games each season in London a Wembley International or a Magic weekend.

It's great live and close up, these guys are so fast and tough it's unreal.

I totaly agree the WC format isn'nt great.

Rugby League is fairly strong in South West France and was once the favoured choice of rugby with our French cousins, that all changed when the Vichy French converscated there grounds and assets over to Rugby Union during the second world war.

Strangely it's also the national sport of Papua New Guinea.

 

[Vicar!]

As far as I can see, it's pick up, run into the opposition and repeat.[/QUOTE]

Yes that's Rugby I believe.

 

[wakeytom]

Basically whatever happens is a variant of Greater Manchester and parts of Yorkshire, versus bits of Queensland.




And Queensland invariably win.

What about NSW where the majority of NRL teams are based?

 

[Brovion]

The world cup is a complete joke, not only because it contains cannon-fodder nations like Lebanon (or whoever else where they can find a bunch of Australians with a shared ancestry) but because the TINY pool of British talent is split down into the home nations. I'm sure in the old days we used to play as Britain, and even then we'd invariably lose to Australia. I support England in everything, but I have zero interest in the English rugby league side (which should just be a State of Origin side) and therefore zero interest in the world cup.

And I quite like rugby league, certainly I prefer it to premier league soccer.

 

[wehatepalace]

I played rugby league for the Crawley Jets in the national summer conference during the Union close season, by f*** its tough, very tough makes union look like a day playing croquet.
You need to be a lot fitter for starters and its virtually non stop.
I prefer union as its a lot more skilful and you need to use your brain a bit more.
From what I hear the Sussex Merlins are a good side, they play at Hove rfc during the summer if anyone fancies watching a live game at a reasonable standard.

 

[vegster]

As far as I can see, it's pick up, run into the opposition and repeat.

You forgot the important bit about doing that silly wiggle while on the floor with the ball before wearily getting to your feet and rolling the ball backwards.

 

[Crackpot]

I used to play for Peckham a good few years ago. A lot of union lads played too,but under false identities as they would be banned for life if found out by the union clubs. Happily all that has long since been corrected.

Good honest game,rugby league. Hard,fast,and very dirty.

 

[Storer 68]

Seriously, what is the POINT of the RL world cup?

They already have the 4 nations, where the only 3 teams that play the game (plus one other team to make up the numbers) get to play on an annual basis. Then every four years they introduce a laughable world cup competition, with a different format every time - presumably because the format from 4 years previous highlighted what a complete joke it is.

BBC Sport - 2013 World Cup: Can England match Australia New Zealand?

The only good thing about the RL World Cup is that NZ somehow beat Australia in their own back yard last time out. Apart from that, it's a rubbish event.

But I can say I have seen us lose a World Cup Final at Wembley Stadium (in 1995)

 

[Storer 68]

You forgot the important bit about doing that silly wiggle while on the floor with the ball before wearily getting to your feet and rolling the ball backwards.

Satisfies quite a lot of men in Brighton I believe

 

[Guinness Boy]

Probably the dullest spectator sport ever invented. I'd rather watch dressage. Or rugby league players doing ballet. Or horses charging in to each other for 80 solid minutes. Or croquet.

 

[Hillian1]

I love watching Union, especially Internationals, League as far as I can make out is 13 meatheads beating the f*** out of eachother for 80 minutes.

 

[brakespear]

Probably the dullest spectator sport ever invented. I'd rather watch dressage. Or rugby league players doing ballet. Or horses charging in to each other for 80 solid minutes. Or croquet.

This. I was once pressganged into watching a League match in Yorkshire (Featherstone v Leeds iirc, at Featherstone's ground) and it was freezing cold and so, so boring. Slightly more preferable than Union but only by the tiniest amount.