Oh dear, poor little rugby league really upset the apple cart by deciding to revive its own World Cup. Like most rugby league fans, I’m looking forward to the event. It makes it much easier to fill in the weekend when you know there’s more action on the field to balance the blow-by-blow account of the Broncos off season.
And what better way to spend the next weekend than entrenched in a festival of rugby league.
Now, you show me a rugby league fan that doesn’t feel warm all over with the mere mention of the word “Kumuls” and I’ll show you a fraud.
Plenty of league fans had their turn cheering on their ‘second teams’ this season with the Raiders and then the Warriors getting a turn, as blokes rummaged through their wardrobe for anything green before heading to pub or rattled off lines from Once Were Warriors to try and worm their way into the team’s supporter base.
But that was all a dress rehearsal, because the Kumuls are back in town and Papua New Guinea are officially everyone’s, and I mean everyone’s, second team.
If England normally fulfill the role of pantomime villain, then they better get ready for the crowd at their opening at match to all be bellowing “He’s behind you!,” because there will be few locals putting their support on the St George’s cross.
There would be more romance in a Kumuls opening match victory than the entire collected works of Barbara Cartland. Or, indeed, the back catalogue of PNG coach Adrian Lam’s efforts in the adult entertainment industry.
But the mood before this tournament is far from any blue light disco.
It may not be carnival in Rio, but it’s certainly enough to raise the spirits.
What has stunned me is the reaction of so many union and football fans about rugby league having the brazen temerity to host a World Cup.
Now, I don’t think there would be a single league fan who would argue that this World Cup is bigger than the football or union equivalent (in the same way that no union fan would argue that theirs holds a flame to football’s).
But does that mean we aren’t allowed to hold one?
It seems that the kill-joys seem to feel that by league looking to find a place on the international stage, it is chipping away at their deemed order of things.
The union fans who seem most upset about the league World Cup are the ones who use union’s international superiority as a security blanket when they see league towering over them in the heartlands of NSW and Queensland.
Don’t worry fellas, we’ll keep the music down after eleven and make sure there aren’t any bottle tops left lying around afterwards.
You can even come along if you want.
But you have to promise to enjoy the game for what it is and not continue to make snide remarks about a game only played in New South Wales, Queensland and Wigan.
This World Cup is all about consolidation.
The organisers are honest enough to know that putting some sides up against Australia is only going to result in triple figure deficits, which never look good (like a certain other World Cup I could mention).
But the tournament has been structured so as to be financially viable and also offer a chance for the game to grow in targeted areas.
Garth Hamilton yesterday offered two examples in an attempt to ridicule league’s efforts: Lebanon and France.
It is true that in the previous incarnation of the Cedars at the last World Cup was made up of players who plied their trade in Australia. Although, it’s not like they wouldn’t be classed as Lebanese.
Hazem El Masri was born in Tripoli, so surely he would tick the right boxes.
But after that tournament, the International Rugby League Federation instructed the team’s management that in order for them to participate at the next tournament, they would need to set up a competition in Lebanon.
They did just that. And the game is now played throughout university’s in the country.
A number of players from that competition also took part in the qualification for this World Cup, which saw them miss out at the last hurdle after being beaten by Samoa, a country whose rugby league community is also looking to re-establish itself.
Since then the Lebanese side have played a Tri-Nations tournament against Russia and Serbia.
The French were also dismissed for only fielding one side “worthy of first class competition.”
That one side is certainly a vast improvement from a few years back and also neglects to acknowledge Toulouse’s attempt to gain entry into the Super League and their participation in England’s National League One competition.
But like the maidens that Mr Hamilton referred to, some people will simply never be happy with what is on offer.
As Catalan Dragons talisman Thomas Bosc may say, “cest la vie.”
We might be on the road to nationalising all the banks, but we don’t yet have the secret police listening through the keyhole (although to be fair we do have Oztam and Viacom). So if you don’t want to watch, the simple solution is not to.
However, the prospect of seeing Tonga and Samoa battling it out at the foot of the mountains certainly gets my pulse racing. The Pacific Islander is pretty much the prototype for both rugby codes, so seeing Tonga and Samoa is akin to watching the two versions of the Terminator battle it out in T2.
The same can be said for the Aboriginal side selected to play ahead of the Australia versus New Zealand match.
It’s a tremendous idea, probably ten years overdue, but something which properly acknowledges the contribution of indigenous Australians to the game of rugby league.
So my advice is that if you want to talk about a decline, look at the sharemarket or the prospects of the value of your home.
But if it’s a bit more rugby league that you’re after, then get yourself a second, third and fourth team, fire up the barbie, and enjoy your footy.
Nick
Guest
How good would it be if instead of fighting, at the junior level both rugby codes worked together. It's regularly conceded that the NRL is the strongest/toughest rugby competition in the world - whether union or league. Full stop. So instead of battling it out lets put the systems in place so that the Kanga's and the Wallabies are the best two teams in the world, all the time.
Crosscoder
Guest
The Eng v PNG game got 10,700 odd at Townsville.It appears many may have thought a forgone conclusion.How wrong they were.A great exhibition of rugnning rugby league. PNG based on that performance alone,have the personell plus a support base of 6-7million to have a NRL team in the future,and you can put your house on it (in these troubled times) ,it will happen down the line. A great start to the RLWC. As stated qualifying tournaments in Europe and USA,involved with players from local competitions.Yet we get the usual suspects coming out of the woodwork bagging the concept,saying my world cup is far bigger than yours(insert code.....). So what,its called growing the game financially and participation wise internationally.127 nations with access to a Tv have at least the opportunity to sneak a look. The tournament is already a financial success.
Westy
Guest
Look it is not the rugby or FIFA World Cup but God love them any sporting competition that can inspire national pride in a somewhat disparate country such as Papua New Guinea cannot be all bad. From Adrian Lam the Papua New Guinean coach " No one cares about us and I did everything I could to change the draw. I argued with them for hours but got nowhere . ....We will be stronger , we won't be broken and we will give it to the British. Now I am asking from the bottom of my heart for the Kumils to understand that special things come to special people and we will stay positive and play hard for the country. We will give it to them , the British".............if the Wallabies play with half this passion I will be proud. These Kumils cannot be half bad as they really want to give it to the British. Go the Kumils.
Ian Noble
Guest
Oikee Is Eng v PNG sold out, my brother read in the Rugby League Express that the mayor of Townsville was urging Townsvillians to buy tickets?
oikee
Guest
Also seen a piece Andrew Johns wrote about the Fiji half-back, he said he is the best player he has ever seen, (dont tell french union :) ) so looking forward now to seeing Fiji in action. Getting goosebumps already.
oikee
Guest
One thing that does not reslly worry me is competing with union, i really are not interested in ever being a bigger international sport than rugby union. Just as long as the games rugby league play internationally are good. And the way they have set up this group pools is fantastic and i hope they continue to use this set-up. Nobody enjoys a 50 point flogging but i do enjoy close matches between any country. Not to mention that these weaker teams can compete at mass gathering level. Come next mass gathering we could look at having teams who missed out playing in a simalar pool set-up. Its inavative and new. Something that has come out of this Mass Gathering is the new found interest from the smaller nations. I read a article this morning about clive palmer putting his weight behind a new guinea team, and there persident is going all out to get stadium built by mining investors who will have interest in that country. Also i see the Tonga king is in Sydney ruffling feathers about MoiMoi and tunarki playing for Tonga, There court case is being paid by a sponser. Considering we are in a global downturn the game looks like its not taking any backwood steps.
Matt S
Guest
The Royal Family of Tonga getting involved with the legal challenge to the RLIF. The Irish Times reporting on their team's poor treatment on economy class travel. The Scotsman doing a feature on the Edinburgh Eagles player in the Scottish team, The Fijian President telling its team to watch the evils/temptations of Australian society. This world cup may be small, but atleast there is growing interest with all participating nations from back home. If done right, the RLWC can only get bigger from here.
True Tah
Guest
Well said Westy, agree with everything you said.
Westy
Guest
Some of us are far to judgemental or I suspect agenda driven. International League's footprint is no where near Rugby let alone the true world game football.However I get concerned with either the intentional or accidental ignorance of the RLWC. I did a search of World rugby league. A series of quite intensive playoffs have taken place over the last 9 months.place . There were the following World Zones; Europe A consisting of Ireland/Russia/Lebanon/Wales/ and Scotland the winner of which would qualify for the World Cup. and Europe B consisting of Georgia/Russia/Latvia/Estonia/Germany/Malta/Italy/Greece/Serbia/and Holland the top 2 of which went through to Europe playoffs. The decision to play extended playoffs was a developmental one to make sure developing nations had exposure to a series of games whether they made the Europe A group or not. The same rationale existed for the extended playoff competition in Europe A. eg Russia played over 10 games but did not qualify. The losers of Europe A entered into a repercharge against the winners of the North Pacific Cup between USA and Japan to determine the another place in the World Cup. The next zone was Pacific Cup between Samoa/Tonga/Cook Islands/ Fiji/ there was a fifth I think the top 3 of which would qualify. Papua New Guinea/ Australia/ New Zealand and England were seeded as automatic qualifiers. What I feel uncomfortable about is their idea to play organised and extended playoffs amonst the lesser nations is an excellent development model . Russia and Lebanon moved on to a further better quality knockout. I note that the playoffs have resulted in the Czech Republic entering a permanent team in the annual Slavic Cup and will enter the playoffs for the next World Cup. The Czechs as part of their development will enter a team and host in 2009 the European Nations U/18s Cup an annual event including England/ Wales/ Ireland/Serbia/ rance and Russia.The playoffs have also seen a request from the Portuguese rugby national coach for a development tour and the prospects of playing a portuguese side especially given it is in the rugby off season. RLWC only has a small relative international footprint . However it has one defining element that gives it some substance these smaller nations are putting their teams forward to play the best we have. They should be commended for having a go. More importantly I will refrain from ripping into a sport that is finally having a go at brodening its international appeal albeit from a very small base but a little wider than is often given credit.
oikee
Guest
Agrre true tah, maybe he was on drugs, i seen a big guy the other day on t/v at a peewee game in the states who went after the ref because they lost. He king hit the ref and then got tackled by the other coach. Not a good look for the kids.
True Tah
Guest
oikee, in Argentina, a coach of a side threatened to kill his players if they lost the game - thats taking it a bit too seriously!
oikee
Guest
Love the way you put that piece M.C you won me once you mentioned Violence, not that i condone this, but its better to keep it on the field than off it. Yes also in rugby league we have it good here in oz, if we make a rule change then the other countries adapt to it, which is good for Aussie football because you get to teach the countries who are taking up the sport the best way to play the game. This is good because they play the game how it should be played. Being the country that finds all the flaws helps the other countries get off the ground quicker. Just a point i have realised..
Michael C
Guest
oikee - the Irish, in their game don't take too kindly to bumping, and tackling - - and don't always adapt/prepare that well for the legal tackling etc in the IR games. The Irish though, in Gaelic have more leeway on the ankle tap perspective where as the Aussie players deem that as pretty dodgey - - - in most cases, it's the clashing of too diverse cultures of acceptable on field violence!!!! It's funny, yesterday I heard on SEN Ross ALoisi talking about how often with the South Americans, they have to be educated that soccer in Australia isn't played the way they do it (i.e. the Trinidad effort the other day) - - and ALoisi kept coming back to being concerned about what a nation brought up on NRL and AFL think of such efforts. THe clash of sporting cultures...................happens everywhere. I think I'd rather deal with a weak kneed South American than a brawling Irishman.......
oikee
Guest
I was outback for a meeting this arvo, mowing the lawn. I was reading the article about the international game being played at perth. The irish reckon you lot are a bunch of bullies M.C but are willing to give it to you this time. I see the game on free to air at 11.45 so will tape it and probably watch it monday. Try to keep my week-ends free or the wife goes into a coma. She is getting all the Mass Gathering Games this week-end so dont want to push me luck. :)
Michael C
Guest
For cricket - the 1 billion or so Indians just keep migrating, populating and providing a cricket base to 'non-core' countries.......Canada, US etc can suddenly become competitive largely on the back of such a 'base'. China has a govt department aimed at 'other sports', including cricket and a desire to become a world power - - after all, no point everyone playing just the one sport. Oikee - you mentioned 'Aussie Rules'..........remember, I'm an advocate of 'Australian Football'...........(I was in town for a meeting this morning) In FLorida, there's a you beaut 3 or so oval facility which was made, originally hoping for ICC WC matches - but that didn't happen. It'd be great for US footy nationals, but, alas, prices itself out of their market. This year, they used the air force base in Colorado, playing footy at 'altitude'. (no, NOT in a plane!!!). (actually, the Canadians walked away with a lot of silverware)
True Tah
Guest
Millster, I didn't argue that the Commonwealth was a representative of subset nations - but it certainly spanned the globe like no other empire before or after, hence my statement it was worldwide, far more than the French (Indochina, Western and Northern Africa), Portugal (parts of southern Africa and India and Timor) and the Dutch (Suriname and Indonesia).
Millster
Guest
True Tah - hmm... not convinced. How many major British colonies were there in continental Europe (eastern and western)? Central Asia? South America? North-East Asia? Northern Africa? Yes I can point to a few, and yes the British Empire's spread was impressive, but it was/is not a uniform global footprint and therefore at no time did its membership form a representative grouping of world nations. And even in areas of relative strength, fo example Africa and SE-Asia, they certainly had peer competition from other colonial powers such as Portugal, Holland and France meaning you could never argue the Commonwealth to be a representative subset of world nations... Alan - genuinely curious as to who you see coming into the current cricket power-structure and disturbing it. I see a shift from the Aust-England axis to the subcontinent, but that is within the existing power base not an alternative to it.
oikee
Guest
Has anyone seen the news coming out of townsville over the last couple of days, its incredible, you cant buy publicity like that, heres a rundown, 1;-- Killer Croc on the loose, its growing bigger by the day, Started at 3 metres and is now 4 metres long. 2;-- Wild dogs killl wallaby, (hehehe) residents fear child will be next. 3;-- Blue whale found beached, scientists recover skelton for research. 4;--Record marlin caught at townsville weighing 490 kg's 5;--Flamin idiots start bushfire burning down 8 houses. 6;-- men in court over roadrage drama. 7;- Millatery out in force during manuvours poms arriveing soon. Certainly has put townsville on the map, now there talk of the place becoming its own north queensland city. Struth. Bloody Nora. At least the poms who have travelled over are getting there moneys worth. :)
oikee
Guest
I also read something about the brazillian rugby union team making it through their group for the world cup, Yes Brazil is where union and league would do well, not to mention great athelietes. Fast,(olimpics) strong and tough.
oikee
Guest
I mentioned aussie rules, see if i can wake up M.C. :)