I’ve done it. I’ve solved the greatest international conundrum to ponder humanity’s existential mind.
We will see an end to the hostilities, no more confusion, and no more fighting.
I’ll come onto Syria later, but for now, I need to share my idea for international rugby league, not because I believe that it may be implemented, but just to give you something to disagree over an eight o’clock pint and something to be bitter about with your heroin.
I won’t be discussing how to push the international game with the limited resources, although it could easily be done – make Croats play union, Serbs play league, yet more rivalry, we’re quids in. I’ll be tweaking the schedule to give the game more high profile exposure and greater quality of international match.
Over a four-year period, the following would happen. Year 1 would be the World Cup, up to 16 teams – so fairly basic.
Years 2 and 3 however, is when we go retro (this has nothing to do with my insistence that vinyl is the best form of music).
Older readers may remember the old format for the World Cup, in which it took place over a three-year period. Well, I want to see a similar system reintroduced.
Imagine if, over two years, the eight World Cup quarter finalists from Year 1 competed in a league, playing 14 games, seven home and seven away.
These eight teams would be divided into two clusters, the ‘North’ and the ‘South’. Using 2013 as an example, it would be: Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa and England, France, Scotland and USA.
There would be three mid-season fixtures between the sides within the same cluster – so Australia versus New Zealand, France versus Scotland and so on, to accommodate travel. Over two years, all sides from the same cluster would’ve played home and away.
At the end of the season, a tour would take place. In one year, the southern sides would play four games in the north, and in the other, the northern sides travel south. This results in every team having played against each other side twice, and a league table is formed.
In addition, tours are resurrected, and rugby league is bathing in the green.
Differing from the Four Nations, do not play a final to see who wins. The chances are that the top three spaces will be taken up by Ingolstadt, Ozzieland and the land of the rising Kiwi, so a final would only extend the period out too long, and devalue the league.
After 14 games, a champion is crowned. However, to make sure that the silly sides aren’t just pissing around, give them something to play for. Make it that the top four sides at the end of 14 games qualify for the next World Cup.
The top three have qualification ensured, plus the smaller sides have a realistic chance of qualification.
For the fourth year, each continent carries out its own qualification, with details that, if I were to provide, would result in my arrest for murder by boredom. Enjoy your anger at this comment, I’m off to find a vein.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Australians are among the sportiest people on Earth. Much as we like to play code wars with each other, the fact that we can…
Over the years 47 players have represented Australia in rugby league and union - so who is the best of the dual code internationals?
Proposed rule changes to Origin eligibility might be that rarest of things: a solution that works for everyone.
The shortlist for the International Rugby League (IRL) Golden Boot Award has been announced, with a host of hard-runners listed for the top prizes.…
After Australia's 30-nil thumping in the Pacific Championship final, there could be a vastly different Kangaroos team in the next international competition.
A famous day for New Zealand as the Kiwis thrash Australia to take the Pacific Championships title.
