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On Saturday night the tournament very few people seem interested in, much less asked for, kicks off in Brisbane.
In a double header, the world’s best players will play the world’s greatest game at the world’s best rugby league stadium.
After an epic season full of record ratings for both State of Origin and the grand final, the Kangaroos’ World Cup victory lap will be as successful as Jamie Whincup’s 161st of Mount Panorama.
For each of the four competing nations, even winning the trophy won’t really be considered a ‘win’ – whoever walks away champions will be considered unworthy.
Let’s start with the World Champions. Bereft of their normal galaxy of stars, this is the weakest Australian side fielded in many years.
But are they still better than New Zealand? Tick!
Got England covered? You betcha!
Even with the two best rugby league players in the world missing in Johnathan Thurston and Jarryd Hayne, the bookmakers have rated the Kangaroos a 71 per cent chance of winning the tournament. Let that sink in while you ponder that there will be five debutants lining up this weekend in the green and gold, while two haven’t even played State of Origin.
If the Kangaroos come away as tournament winners as expected, the critics will be out in force, howling down international rugby league as a joke. How could Australia win with so many players out? Is the depth of other nations really that bad?
A win for Australia is a loss for the international game, but it’s no better for the other three teams.
Like the Kangaroos, the Kiwis are down on a few troops through injury but are looking decidedly stronger than the 17 which took the fight to Australia in the Anzac Test. With a home final in Wellington the Kiwis will rate themselves a genuine chance of upsetting the favourites, but again, would they really ‘win’?
Does beating an almost second-string Australian team really bring any glory? Yes probably the greatest hooker of all time is in the team, and there are Dally M and Churchill medal winners, along with a host of club captains, but can you really claim a victory when the team is so stretched for depth that David Klemmer is on the team sheet?
Ditto if they beat England. Does a victory over a side without the best Burgess really count?
The same of course applies for England. If they beat Australia it will be because of injuries, if they beat New Zealand it will be because they are without Sonny Bill. And does a Four Nations victory really mean anything after the crushing loss of a home World Cup?
Last and least is Samoa. In the last Four Nations tournament held in Australia, Papua New Guinea stepped up to face the three rugby league giants. In their three matches the Kumals conceded 154 points and only scored 22 for a 0-3 record.
Will the Samoans fair any better? With a squad that the 2014 Cronulla Sharks would give a serious shake, no they won’t. And lets face it, at no stage will they have to come up against the strongest 17 of Australia, New Zealand or England.
But say they do pull off a miracle and jag a win – or even four and win the tournament? It will be because of injuries, no Sonny Bill Williams and no Sam Burgess.
While I admire the push for the growth of rugby league around the world, the game is on a hiding to nothing with this year’s Four Nations.
If Australia win the final against New Zealand it will be an almighty fizzer in the Shaky Isles. If the Kiwis or England can somehow win, the Australian media will simply criticise the tournament as not being worth the effort if the best players are injured from over-playing.
After a great World Cup year, 2014 should have been a time for rest and relaxation for our game’s best, with a view to international rugby league returning in 2015.
Because the reality is, apart from the hardcore fans, everyone will be watching the soccer on Saturday anyway.
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