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Rugby League "World" Cup

Discussion in 'Everything Else' started by Pfitzy, Aug 30, 2008.

  1. Pfitzy Peter Johnson (47)

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    Well, I saw an article on Asotasi being out of the Kiwi side and remembered the Leaguies are putting on a World Cup this year. or basically a contest to see who is the second best league side in the World (pending upsets).

    The venues include the much-vaunted Browne Park at Rockhampton (capacity 8,000) and a few of the regular venues for the NRL (Bluetongue when they can be bothered, SFS, Penrith Park, Dairy Farmers etc) and even has Telstra Dome on the list (I don't know why either). The teams include the threatening Papua New Guinea who get the honour of facing Australia, New Zealand, AND England in their pool stages. I'm disappointed not to see Lebanon listed as yet, but all the home nations, France, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, and the Kiwis will be there. Yep - that's 10 teams at least officially. Maybe they'll drop Qatar in as a surprise or something.

    All the info can be found at

    http://rlwc.rugbyleague.org/
  2. Sully Mark Loane (55)

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    will any of the players actually play in these countries or be from there or is it like last time where youonly need a distant relative to qualify?
  3. Scarfman Knitter of the Scarf

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    You know, it occurs to me that the Pacific Nations could switch from union to league. The iRB is stuffing them royally, they're getting next to nothing, And they play rugby like it's league anyway - not as interested in scrums and lineouts as in running and tackling.

    If I were them I'd be putting pressure on SANZAR and the iRB in such a way.
  4. Pfitzy Peter Johnson (47)

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    And the iRB would pack their bags for them I suspect - they're a financial burden when European sources offer a lower ROI. Especially former Eastern Bloc countries - imagine if Euro clubs could slowly weed out their Islander and Kiwi talent for local chaps, pay them less, and have them form a strong European competition without those pesky international limits to consider!
  5. Thomond78 Colin Windon (37)

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    Didn't I tell you before about the first two rules of Gin Club.?

    You do not talk about Gin Club. :angryfire:
  6. Pfitzy Peter Johnson (47)

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    And just to prove what a joke the whole event is:

    It continues, if you can be bothered reading it. Australia takes poaching to new heights :lmao:
  7. the gambler

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    Its hardly poaching when you loan them out in the first place. He was just lucky Crocker pulled out when he did and not on the eve of the tournament. Otherwise he would have been stuck playing for Tonga.
  8. whocares

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    HAHAHA
    I just looked at the web site and there's a picture of Matt Rogers with platnium blonde hair.

    Its a bit of a joke of a world cup really. I mean there's no set time between each competition. The last time it was on was in 2000 and the one before that was 1995 and before that it was 1992. ???
  9. barbarian Paul McLean (56)

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    The NRL have been really smart with the way they have structured the comp. They have realised the only three teams that can win are Great Britain, New Zealand and Australia, and the rest are just there to have a laugh and make up the numbers. So they have split the comp into 3 pools:

    A: Aus, NZ, GB, Papua New Guinea (probably the 4th best side)
    B: Randoms x 4
    C: Randoms x 4

    This means you only really see good teams against other good teams, and bad teams against other bad teams. Like having an RWC made up of just blockbuster matches (ABs vs. England) and fun minnow games (Japan vs Tonga).

    The NRL have clearly gone- sure, we realise this is not a serious tournament, and it is going to be Aus vs Nz for the title, so lets structure it in a way where we see the highest possible number of good, even matches. The changing of the eligibility rules (basically anyone who has ever visited a nation other than Australia is eligible to play for that nation) shows there willingness to bend the rules for a good show.

    I am not a league fan, but I think that they have gone about this in a good way.
  10. Pfitzy Peter Johnson (47)

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    Absolutely barb - and it should be great for the blokes playing too. Gotta say though that looking at some of the blokes making up the Tongan team there will be a few sore people in their pool :)

    And I wouldn't discount the Brits just yet - they've been giving the Kangaroos a hell of a run lately.
  11. Virgil Larry Dwyer (12)

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    And have had the wood on us recently as well.
    Just a joke however with the player swapping, guys been named for the smaller nations only to be yanked out to replace someone injured in another squad.
    looks poor really
  12. Pfitzy Peter Johnson (47)

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    Especially when they might not even get a game except against PNG! I'd rather play for the little bloke and see some serious field time.
  13. Thomond78 Colin Windon (37)

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  14. Scarfman Knitter of the Scarf

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    God defend Kiwi comedy. Shit (shut) you blokes are funny.

    Back of the Y, Gormsby, Conchords, BroTown, it's all champagne.


    All week I've been saying "You're beached as" to people for no apparent reason.
  15. Thomond78 Colin Windon (37)

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    Buyn uyting chups, too, bru? Or just plunktun?
  16. Virgil Larry Dwyer (12)

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    Classic, some of those other vids are piss funny too.
    Very clever arent we
  17. RugbyReg Michael Lynagh (62)

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    Good idea Wal!

  18. Moses Simon Poidevin (60)

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    Have you seen Pulp Sport?

    Gotta be the funniest show on TV.
  19. Pfitzy Peter Johnson (47)

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    Wally just wants to see QLD beat NSW again :)
  20. Moses Simon Poidevin (60)

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    Probably some merit in having a NSW and QLD team in the comp, though you'd then struggle to call it a world cup

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