By Steve Jancetic
November 15th 2009 @ 7:29am
View The Roar's top rugby league writers.
NRL Tipping now live on The Roar. Join now.
Love new art, fashion, music? Check out Aussie site which unearths all things cool and creative.
Related coverage
Kangaroos thump England in Four Nations final
Billy Slater atoned for his moment of madness in last year’s World Cup final with a piece of brilliance to secure Australia the Four Nations trophy with a 46-16 win over a gallant England in Leeds on Saturday night.
Slater scored a second half hat-trick but it was the fullback’s effort to set up Melbourne teammate [...]
This article is over 2000 days old and has been trimmed.
Get Australia's best NRL opinion emailed daily.
Like this content? Buzz it up!
Free Email updates:
Our daily emails are only sent if there is content for the sport or that author. You can subscribe to multiple daily emails; or get the daily Roar email with all our content in it. We value privacy. More...
(57)
The Link said | November 15th 2009 @ 10:52am | Report comment
A Rugby Football masterclass from the Aussies, very impressive 2nd half.
Geez Burgess looks the goods, the footwork for the first try was outstanding.
Pete said | November 15th 2009 @ 3:07pm | Report comment
Slater is an absolute freak. Such a good finisher.
I liked Burgess for England. Wonder if the English/French Union is looking at him
Corey said | December 6th 2009 @ 12:13pm | Report comment
Union doesn’t usually buy our forwards cause they won’t stack up in the scrum, but he would be a great second rower (his height is ok) but may be as a flanker to give him more running time (or number 8). In saying all that I am really glad he is coming over here- he will learn how to be a more fit forward (due to our league having only 10 interchange in comparison to 12).
Johnny said | November 15th 2009 @ 4:16pm | Report comment
Was an alright tournament, nothing spectacular, play was at times ordinary, french were absolutely useless, toyota cup teams would give them thrashing. Results very predictable but thought it would be kiwi v Kangaroos final.
A mate of mine pointed out something during the tournament that i agree with him, Slater is awesome on attack, but one of the worst defenders around, he cannot tackle to save his life.
Spiro Zavos said | November 15th 2009 @ 5:09pm | Report comment
I think Jarryd Hayne can forget about an AFL contract after his pathetic jumping effort to defuse a bomb. Billy slater might not be able to tackle but he is a great attacking and finishing fullback. The occasional tackle he misses is more than compensated fror with his brilliance on the ball.
MyGeneration said | November 15th 2009 @ 8:31pm | Report comment
Apart from the miscue on the bomb, which wasn’t great, but hardly pathetic as Fox always had the drop on him, I thought Hayne had a pretty good game. He was more dangerous than Slater early on when England’s bustling defence was still giving Australia problems. Slater took over as soon as England started dropping off. Still not convinced who’s better value personally, but I think if forced to choose I’d take Hayne as I have seen him shine in teams that were getting beaten all over the park.
Dan said | November 15th 2009 @ 8:35pm | Report comment
Spiro,
To be fair to Hayne, he’s been playing out of position the entire tournament and he’s only just starting out. Slater had his fair share of shockers early on in his career, so I think it may be a bit early to start writing off Hayne’s chances for improvement given his otherwise incredible form throughout most of this year.
Mick from Giralang said | November 16th 2009 @ 6:53am | Report comment
Pete: Sam Burgess has been signed to play for South Sydney in the NRL next season. I thought he was the best forward on the field (though Hannant takes the courage award).
Rabbitohs pack for next season is full of big boppers: Roy Asotasi, Sam Burgess, Dave Taylor, Eddy Pettybourne, Michael Crocker and Ben Ross If John Lang can realise the potential of this squad, they could go all the way.
Corey said | December 6th 2009 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
John Lang is the worst buy in the whole NRL this year- worst decision, should have kept Jason Taylor (even with the ingression).
Paul J said | November 16th 2009 @ 7:09am | Report comment
I genuinely feel sorry for English league fans. After 50 odd minutes they had the lead and you could see the crowd getting excited, after all it has been 30 years since they beat Australia in a series.
They finally have a forward pack that is at least the equal of Australia but then have to run into arguably Australas best ever backline : Lockyer, Thurston, Inglis, slater, Hodges.
I can not believe anyone is bagging Slaters defence. If you watch an NRL season he holds up much bigger men over the line ever game. A great defender.
Tom said | November 16th 2009 @ 3:18pm | Report comment
Slater is good at holding people up over the line, but he is a terrible cover defender. They are two different skills.
jus de couchon said | November 16th 2009 @ 8:50am | Report comment
Unfortunately the finnal should have been a Kangaroo/Kiwi finnal.Instead a result was manufactured to ensure a 2nd rate G.B team would , in the name of P.R and media hype , through fear of a ratings disaster , make it thru. Its not surprising why people dont take International rugby League seriously when Tournaments are manipulated by administrators who synicaly manipulate games in the fantastical beleif that viewers are stupid enough to swallow anything .
Paul J said | November 16th 2009 @ 10:50am | Report comment
Jus
Thank you for your obligatory anti league ranting.
“Instead a result was manufactured”. I didn’t think current RL administrations would be capable enough to achieve such a thing.
Matt S said | November 16th 2009 @ 11:04am | Report comment
Jus, thank you, now goodnight.
King of the Gorganites said | November 16th 2009 @ 12:54pm | Report comment
top effort from the roos. played all over them in the 2nd half.
does anyone know the crowd? i was a bit surprised it wasnt a sell out.
big Kev said | November 16th 2009 @ 3:45pm | Report comment
31,000. I have to ask, what is the deal with crowds in this 4N? Why so pathetic? Some poster’s on here would have us believe League is massive in the UK but let’s be honest, if a 4N decider between the Poms and the Kangaroos at Elland Rd only gets 31,000 clearly there is a problem??
Let’s look at the Union crowds?
England v Argentina (6 v 8 in the world?) = 78,000
Aus v Ireland (3 v 4) – 74,000
Italy v NZ (12 v 2) – 81,000
Scotland v Fiji (v 10) – 60,000
France v SA (1 v 5)- 34,000 (capacity)
Wales v Samoa (7 v 11) – 59,000
Not even in the same stratosphere….. why does it rate so badly? Even in Aus you would have got max 40,000 for Aus v England. What’s the story?
MyGeneration said | November 16th 2009 @ 3:57pm | Report comment
I expect the crowd’s a reflection of England getting regularly thumped for 30-odd years. You could see that feeling of “here we go again” on the faces in the crowd in the last 15 minutes. Who’s been leading you to believe that League is “massive” in the UK?
big Kev said | November 16th 2009 @ 4:02pm | Report comment
One of the guys here keeps on going on how it’s the ‘fastest growing sport in the UK” etc. Cant remember who…
MyGeneration said | November 16th 2009 @ 4:05pm | Report comment
you’re probably thinking of oikee. One of a kind.
MyGeneration said | November 16th 2009 @ 4:04pm | Report comment
Oh, according to other thread, stand was closed for safety reasons, so it was a sell-out. Still, I expect they might have booked another ground if they expected to fill it, but were probably expecting a Roos-Kiwis final (another nail in the coffin for jus’ conspiracy theory, anyway)
big Kev said | November 17th 2009 @ 8:38am | Report comment
no way mate, Leeds Utd get bigger crowds than that week in week out in the 3rd tier of English football!
MyGeneration said | November 18th 2009 @ 2:54pm | Report comment
They only got a bigger crowd this year when Liverpool visited for the League Cup. The crowd was about 7,000 greater, which is the size of the upper tier of the stand that was closed. So, yes way. I don’t know the reasons for the closure of the tier in the stand other than what was reported in the other thread. As I said above, for whatever reason, they didn’t anticipate needing a ground with bigger capacity. I’m not speaking for whether or not they should have.
M1tch said | November 17th 2009 @ 8:45am | Report comment
okay lets go through this together..
Rugby Union – played in London where rah rah is big
ireland – rah rah is big
all blacks are like harlem globe trotters – they sell themselves – 81k is amazing
scotland – 21k i hear..but rah rah is a big sport
france -rah rah is a big sport
wales – rah rah is a big sport
31k at elland was a sell out of the available seats..
big Kev said | November 17th 2009 @ 10:33am | Report comment
Micth, you have not added anything to the conversation. Why does international league draw such poor crowds, even in it’s heartland? Don’t give me global financial crisis, or reduced stadium capacity or “expecting to lose” or any such thing. The top team in the world should draw a far bigger crowd in a decider against the home team.
M1tch said | November 17th 2009 @ 10:41am | Report comment
lol cheers for the shoutout..
its quite simple, the perception and sometime reality of Australia are always going to win and win by plenty – that is the total truth.
The quality of international teams is obviously not as strong as rugby union. Its taken until now to get more competitions going.
Nations will only get better with more games, Rugby has done well with italy by having them in 6 nations, talks of Argentina joining tri nations to make them better.
The standards of France with their lower competition and only 1 pro team.
Many factors, I didnt think the crowds were all too bad, of course comparing with rugby union, then yeh it doesnt look good.
My point in my other post, was rugby union is bigger than league!
Id expect them to get big crowds.
The man said | November 17th 2009 @ 12:45pm | Report comment
big Kev,
The dominance of Australia does have to have an impact.
More importantly the uncertainity of a cup format, where a Aus v NZ would have been the predicted final would have made it risky to go for a larger venue (even if one were available in the middle of the soccer season) Previous experience – in particular the 2000 RLWC between Aus & NZ that was played at Old Trafford – tells you that the smaller venue makes more sense from a financial perspective.
Corey said | December 6th 2009 @ 12:31pm | Report comment
Internationals will get there with more competitive games coming through. But I remember the commentators saying that it is full- the stadium was under some construction. But I reckon the next 4 nations in Australia will sell more than 40k in the final- especially if it is played at Suncorp I would be expecting a sell-out. I know my mates are more interested in internationals than probably 5 years ago (this is probably due to the world cup and the kiwis winning it).
M1tch said | December 6th 2009 @ 1:13pm | Report comment
Final at Suncorp with Aussies playing will be a near 50k, the issue is having 1 game in Sydney and thats against PNG. The Aus v Eng game in Melb should be a 30k at new stadium so that SFS game is the big problem. hence why i wrote a roar peice about bringing back the ashes
…
Agree about people more interested in international league too..Aussies losing is a good thing
Dogs Of War said | December 6th 2009 @ 1:48pm | Report comment
If PNG have a test like they normally do against the Australian PM XIII (made up of those not in the final series or exited round 1), it should allow them to hit the ground running in that first match, and if promoted right, should be able to sell out.
M1tch said | December 6th 2009 @ 1:50pm | Report comment
sell out at SFS?
Even if they are playing well, and its marketed and everything done well, it will get 20 000 at the most.
Dogs Of War said | December 6th 2009 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
With more club members being available each season. Things such as offering deals to those season ticket supporters (the most likely to attend these sorts of things), could see it being sold out. 30-50% OFF normal price tickets for those people is a good reward for supporting the game, while the game itself benefits from the likelyhood of a full house.
big Kev said | December 6th 2009 @ 3:48pm | Report comment
Stadium holds 37,000. There was no construction or any such thing. The interest was low so they blocked off one stand and said it was “closed for safety reasons” or some other porky pie. Simple fact is that in the league heartland, a final between Aus and England could not sell 30,000 tickets, however cheap they were.
Very sad and I don’t share you views that “internationals will get there” how many false dawns have there been? World Cup in Aus was hailed as a success with crowds averaging about 12,000. You can say what you like about Union but a much bigger World Cup in Aus got over 40,000 average. I have grave fears for International league. The next world cup will be a disaster….
M1tch said | December 6th 2009 @ 3:52pm | Report comment
why do league supporters who want international to grow, get slammed so much?
its strange really?
perhaps its the only thing rugby union has over league…
Bay35Pablo said | December 6th 2009 @ 3:56pm | Report comment
Mitch, I have been surprised by the low crowds for league internationals. It seems to have reached a limit even for big games. I suspect it is less able to call on that mass of cross code supporters, who will pay for a “big game” ticket. They’ll go to a Bledisloe, or big league club game, but not necessarily to a league iternational. Interesting issue to think about. Perhaps it is because Australia is seen as too dominant, and thus less spectacle? A bit like cricket at times over the last decade.
big Kev said | December 6th 2009 @ 4:02pm | Report comment
Dude it shows clearly the level of interest in the sport.
League is a domestic, tribal sport played in a few (3?) corners of the world. That is what it’s good at. It must not get ideas above it’s station. It cannot compete with Union at any level except domestically in Aus.
You live in cookoo land if you think any differently.
Clearly internationals are the pinnacle of any err International sport! When Scotland v Argentina in Union can outsell the top 2 in the world in league by a very considerable margin, there is a problem.
big Kev said | December 6th 2009 @ 4:06pm | Report comment
And sorry Mitch but your comment ” perhaps its the only thing rugby union has over league…” has got to be the dumbest thing I have ever read on here….
“the only thing” meaning the small matter of having literally millions more people interested in the game around the world? trivial really!
King of the Gorganites said | December 6th 2009 @ 4:14pm | Report comment
the crowds for the RL internetaions were poor. there is no other way to say it. the RU autum internationals had record crowds. these crowds will onyl get bigger now that coaches are realising that to win u need to keep ball in hand.
sell outs in milan, dublin, london, toulouse, marseille, cardiff.
hue crowds in edinburgy, italy, paris
crowds in RL were poor. 6K in paris says it all!
these crowds are not going to improve so stop deluding yourself that they will. the 4 natinos was a financial disaster for the IRFL. the dream for internation RL is over
Springs said | December 6th 2009 @ 8:18pm | Report comment
The crowd average for the World Cup was just under 17,000. I see the next WC will be a disaster, just because big kev says so. The capacity for the Final was 31,000, notice that one stand was empty and the other stands were packed? It was closed, the stadium would not let them open it. And did the RL world cup last year have to average 40,000 to be a success?
And according to King International RL has again gotten worse in the time between now and his last post. 6K in Paris says it all? Yeah, it even covers the 50K in Brisbane last year, a record for a League Test in Brisbane. Crowds aren’t going to improve, the dream is over etc etc. King has obviously been around the world to see all the new League playing nations that have just been introduced in the last 5 years and has been to every League test ever. Union has been in hundreds of countries for more than a hundred years, longer than soccer, but isn’t the number one sport. League has been in about 5 countries for a hundred years, banned in some, discriminated against, not allowed to expand etc. And whose fault? Rugby Unions.
You still haven’t shown the proof that the 4 Nations was a financial disaster.
Norm said | December 6th 2009 @ 9:00pm | Report comment
If I thought dud Kev and King of the clowns had anything remotely intelligent to contribute I might seek their views. However as it stands I can continue to rate them behind Scientology members.
Greg Russell said | November 17th 2009 @ 3:14pm | Report comment
Some belated comments:
1. How good is Sam Burgess going to be running onto John Sutton’s passes at Souths next year? (And let’s not forget that Souths will have another young wrecking ball in Dave Taylor.)
2. I have written before of my total admiration for Civo, including that it was disgraceful that he was not included in the 100 Australian players of the century last year, and it was even more disgraceful that no journos picked up on this. While his go-forward was still excellent in the final, it stood out that it was at his point in the defensive line that Burgess broke through for both his tries. Yes, Burgess is a hard man to tackle, but …
And now wearing my rugby hat:
3. What a contrast between the 4N final, with it’s 11 tries, and the two major rugby internationals on the same day, viz. Italy vs NZ and Eng vs Argentina, both of which featured a solitary try (and neither try at all spectacular). Probably about half of the tries in the 4N final, including the first one by Sam Burgess, would be candidates for try of the season in international rugby. Rugby needs to admit it has a problem. No wonder the Sydney league fraternity has become totally dismissive of any threat from rugby.
4. The nature of half of Australia’s tries was remarkable to me: either breaking the line by short kicks (as Lockyer for Hayne to score, and JT for Morris to score) or kicking ahead on the end of a break rather than passing (as Hayne for Inglis and Gidley for Slater). These were all very deliberate decisions and the skill involved was exquisite in all cases (not to mention the skill involved in bombs for tries, as in Cam Smith’s and Peter Fox’s).
Of course the use of aerial kicking to score in league is by no means a new trend, but it seems to me that the use of kicking reached a new level in this 4N final, i.e., the tremendous variety of the kicks – bombs, grubbers and chips – and the preference to kick ahead rather than pass when a long break is made. No doubt the latter is tied to Australia’s advantage in athleticism (both speed and ball handling), but it’s also a reflection that space has become difficult to find by the old fashioned method of passing the ball.
The relevance of this to rugby, including my point 3, is that it is a code desperately seeking ways to find space. Space must exist on a rugby field in the same ways that the Kangaroos, with their kicking, found it to exist on the league field last weekend, because while 15 is more than 13, it is not that many more. So I’d suggest that the progressive rugby coaches (Robbie Deans?) should be looking to import these rugby league tactics and skills into rugby union. And by skills I do not just mean the ability to execute kicks as can Lockyer, JT, Hayne and others, but also the vision to know when to kick and what style.
To put it simply, rugby urgently needs a bit of what the Kangaroos put on display last weekend.
ScottWoodward.me said | November 17th 2009 @ 3:29pm | Report comment
Great post Greg.
To answer your Sam Burgess question at Souths is what everyone is wondering. I think the kid is full of potential and i would like to see him play lock and not front row. My burning question is how young Sam will handle the NRL pressure every week? I am not 100% convinced that he is not a concern in defence and Souths already have Dave Taylor, who has little idea laterally in defence and a half back who couldnt tackle a weet Bix.
This is how I see Souths in 2010.
Scott’s Likely Team – South Sydney
1 Rhys Wesser
2 Jaimie Simpson
3 Junior Vaivai/Beau Champion
4 Colin Best
5 Nathan Merrit
6 John Sutton
7 Chris Sandow
8 Dave Taylor
9 Isaac Luke
10 Roy Asotasi
11 Michael Croker
12 Eddy Pettyborn
13 Sam Burgess
Interchange
14 – Luke Stuart
15 – Scott Geddes
16 – Dave Tyrrell
17 – Ben Ross
Scott Says: Lack a talking general as both 6 and 7 are quiet on the field, but boast arguably the best pack of forwards. Sandow is the NRL’s worst defender and coach has to re-invent himself after retirement as head coach.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Ins: David Taylor (Broncos), Ben Ross (Sharks), coach John Lang, Sam Burgess (Bradford, UK Super League)
Outs: David Fa’alogo (UK Super League), Craig Wing (Japanese rugby), Eddie Paea (Sharks NSW Cup), Michael Greenfield (Dragons), coach Jason Taylor (sacked)
Mick from Giralang said | November 19th 2009 @ 7:49am | Report comment
Scott: Champion England players in the past (Morley, Ellis for example) seem to have handled the weekly grind of the NRL okay — I think Burgess’ youth will make the transition even smoother for him. The big question mark over Souths, in my view, is John Lang. Has he taken on one coaching contract too far? Or has the break freshened him up. He certainly has the cattle to be a real premiership force next season, so no excused for him.
Greg: Take your point about the lack of tries in international rugby at the moment — yet the Sydney rugby club competition is a sparkling affair of attacking football. What’s going wrong between this level and the next?
MyGeneration said | November 19th 2009 @ 11:42am | Report comment
re John Lang, his teams in the past have always had a simple game plan (especially Penrith a few years back); forwards going forward and the backs can please themselves. In the last few years, Souths have seemed to suffer paralysis by analysis at different times, often releasing the shackles when games were already lost. It’ll be interesting to see whether Lang just let’s them play football. And will Martin Lang be providing specialised training for any designated hit-up merchant (“No, no, you’ve got to hold your head up higher! How are they gunna knock it off if you crouch like that?”)?
ScottWoodward.me said | December 6th 2009 @ 1:02pm | Report comment
Put it this way…whatever Lang’s contribution is it will be better than anything Jason Lang would have offered. One of the first things Lang did was to bring back the former Reserves coach mark Ellison who was highly regarded by everyone except Taylor.
Ello will be Football Manger, but Taylor sacked him for not having computer skills. Mmmm wonder with Wayne bennett can type?
M1tch said | December 6th 2009 @ 4:10pm | Report comment
“Dude it shows clearly the level of interest in the sport.
League is a domestic, tribal sport played in a few (3?) corners of the world. That is what it’s good at. It must not get ideas above it’s station. It cannot compete with Union at any level except domestically in Aus.
You live in cookoo land if you think any differently.
Clearly internationals are the pinnacle of any err International sport! When Scotland v Argentina in Union can outsell the top 2 in the world in league by a very considerable margin, there is a problem.”
Your point being?
So just because RL doesnt get the crowds like Rugby, it should have or try to play internationals?
M1tch said | December 6th 2009 @ 6:56pm | Report comment
ahuh..so you posting about the french rugby crowd in a non related thread..hmm..i missed the attack there
Springs said | December 6th 2009 @ 8:21pm | Report comment
Haha, Ha. The last 100+ years doesn’t count then? League always attacking Union, Haha.
M1tch said | December 6th 2009 @ 4:11pm | Report comment
“And sorry Mitch but your comment ” perhaps its the only thing rugby union has over league…” has got to be the dumbest thing I have ever read on here….
“the only thing” meaning the small matter of having literally millions more people interested in the game around the world? trivial really!”
I beg to differ..considering friday night domestic rugby league beat every single wallabies match..fta and combined with fox ratings
When League has more juniors, and rugby needs league players to make the game better..rules to make game faster and more ‘viewer’ friendly..hmm sounds like 1903 in England when Northern union said same thing
M1tch said | December 6th 2009 @ 4:14pm | Report comment
“Mitch, I have been surprised by the low crowds for league internationals. It seems to have reached a limit even for big games. I suspect it is less able to call on that mass of cross code supporters, who will pay for a “big game” ticket. They’ll go to a Bledisloe, or big league club game, but not necessarily to a league iternational. Interesting issue to think about. Perhaps it is because Australia is seen as too dominant, and thus less spectacle? A bit like cricket at times over the last decade.”
Its like cricket, aussie draw crap crowds against bad teams..and for a long time NZ and England have sucked!
NZ winning world cup was great and crowds and ratings have improved..
Like eariler in this thread..playing PNG at SFS is suicide..nobody will turn up..Im realistic about International RL, but I will stand up for its right
Dogs Of War said | December 6th 2009 @ 4:24pm | Report comment
I live in Australia and really don’t care. I can’t control what happens overseas, but am happy that we get to see the best Australian players in the NRL having a go against the English and Kiwi’s. The NRL is the bread and butter for League supporters in Australia, everything else ust being a bonus.
King of the Gorganites said | December 6th 2009 @ 4:33pm | Report comment
the NRL is our bread and butter, and that what im concerned about. im concerned that some ego’s in the IRFL are trying to grow the game unnecssarily to the detriment of the heartlands. we cant forget the heartlands.
Rod said | December 6th 2009 @ 4:40pm | Report comment
It amazes me that the Poms can get 30,000 to a roos vs Poms game in England seeing as they haven’t beat us over there on their home soil in a series for over 50 years now.
Of course if 1 team dominates all the time it’s going to have massive effects on the game, what type of idiots are posting in here if they can’t see that?
Blatant trolling, yet if I was to do that being a RL fan here, I’d be removed.
Fair dinkum.
I seem to remember the union mob not being able to sell out concorde oval back in 1987 during the Union WC, my my, it’s grown since then hasn’t it?
Maybe because they have stuck with the things they put in place, something RL could learn from them.
If RL sticks with the internationals, the crowds will come and so will the results for other nations outside Australia, we’ve already seen NZ win the Tri Nations, followed by a golden point loss the following season to World Cup Champions 2 years later on Australia’s home soil.
That’s what happens when you stick with something, it grows and gets better.
Of course if Australia wants to keep winning like they have for the last 30 years, play one off games and stack the deck in your favour, that’ll surely bring the crowds back, NOT.
We have France finally sticking the head out of their cocoon for the first time in 30 years and Wales are doing some amazing things at junior level, do we jump on them now and crush it all just because a few idiots (real rah rahs and Fumbleballers) think the crowds are shit, or do we do our own thing and grow the game knowing that the product we have can be compared favourably in regards to other codes if we only give it a chance?
M1tch said | December 6th 2009 @ 6:57pm | Report comment
ratings in aus and nz are up on previous years..nz winning the world cup..2 reasons why its still alive
M1tch said | December 6th 2009 @ 7:14pm | Report comment
the crowds for the RL internetaions were poor. there is no other way to say it. the RU autum internationals had record crowds. these crowds will onyl get bigger now that coaches are realising that to win u need to keep ball in hand.
sell outs in milan, dublin, london, toulouse, marseille, cardiff.
hue crowds in edinburgy, italy, paris
crowds in RL were poor. 6K in paris says it all!
these crowds are not going to improve so stop deluding yourself that they will. the 4 natinos was a financial disaster for the IRFL. the dream for internation RL is over”
For Rugby League standards they were good..compared for Rugby Union they arent! That aint a big deal to me.
Rugby Unionj is bigger than League in England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, France and Italy..no shocks there!!
IMO 6000 in Paris, when France were smashed by 50 the week before was alright for RUGBY LEAGUE IN FRANCE
England made the final and showed they have some good young players, so for me it was good…
Yep it lost money, boohoo
Springs said | December 6th 2009 @ 8:27pm | Report comment
Hmmm… Ten years back… 10-12 nations? 2009, 50 Nations playing League. France and Wales have pro teams. NZ winning Tri Nations plus World Cup, Australia not dominating NZ even with claims of the greatest backline ever. Pacific Cup, Euro Nations, other Euro tournaments, growing popularity in pacific islands, Wales, Europe… what else?
big Kev said | December 7th 2009 @ 7:56am | Report comment
Serious question: Please list these 50 nations playing league and what sort of organised league they have in those countries.
Don’t tell me Samoa or Lebanon with 3 teams please….
big Kev said | December 7th 2009 @ 7:59am | Report comment
Springs -”The capacity for the Final was 31,000, notice that one stand was empty and the other stands were packed? It was closed, the stadium would not let them open it.”
What a load of crap. Do you believe whatever you read? Leeds v Huddersfield in League 1 (that is 3rd division of English football) got 37,000 this weekend.
The stand was kept closed for the league because there was not enough demand.