Is it time to scrap the World Club Challenge?

"But even the original, stand-alone game, which kicked off in 1987, seems a little worn at the seams." Another Ocker who's knowledge of rugby league leaves a lot to be desired. The original WCC was in 1976.

I think we should ditch it but if it is to stay then they should atleast rotate the host country. It is too muchof a hinderance to a team that close to the start of the Season

I would just suggest that if it were shifted from pre-season to final times that it would not only rise in prestige but it would also become an event that could rate around the 2.5-3.0 million mark nationally. I don't think it takes anything away from the Grand Final. It would actually help Rugby League dominate the sporting news agenda.

"For the game of rugby league to grow you need to grow international comps like this." Isnt that the job of the stagnent do nothing organisation of the RLIF? I can see how it can benefit the NRL, but i cant see the NRL change there ways seeing they have had so much success and have claimed a massive billion $$$ payday worrying about its own backyard

Well Wriiten bjt ... I agree 100%

well said Renegade.

Oikee, Just out of interest ,how many kids under the age of 15 in australia or known regions would know where R L originated from ?, 2 out of ten. Thats why I think its important for an international presence not the only thing but just one.

Noone invites mates over to watch either the WCC or City-Country. Let both of them drop off the twig. Hell, Im not even sure if the All Stars game is a good idea! You just need 3 x SOO and an ANZAC day test. I dont even care for the World Cup...its not that interesting.

Yeah and what's your point....i can do the same except i'll also name the WCC winners and losers. It's a terrific contest that brings an international feel to a club match, i suggest you get up and watch this years game.

Pro WCC story tomorrow folks!

I think the World Club Challenge is a great concept but maybe the venue should be rotated each year between England and Australia to promote the game more here. You would probably see close to a sell out if the Storm hosted the match at AAMI Park.

You cant shift any games to grand final time. People build towards a climax, after that is only room for a smoke. :) I wrote about the all-stars above, we cant tamper with this concept. The club challenge is not hurting anyone, it is not costing money. We keep it going until one day it can be used as a growth game for maybe other countires who take our code by storm. :) Excuse the pun. Our game has 3 climaxes, start of season where we all need as much league as we can get, its like a feeding frensy. Then we have the middle, where Origin comsumes us like a toxic drug, you could drop the bomb and nobody would notice, or care really. Then after that you have a bit of a lull after being totally spent, and we hit the run to finals and then grand final. After that we normally have 4 nations or this year World Cup. Our calender is full, and the club challenge is not hurting anyone, no need to tinker. We have a perfect calender. The only thing that needs to build is overseas competitions, as in internationals for countires now coming through, like USA, Lebanon, Jamaica and Hawaii France Italy Etc. As they grow , we will grow with them, slowly. Our code might be small, but it is growing.

Nicely said, but lets not forget that rugby league is the youngest code amounst these other codes, so after just over 100 odd years we have done pretty well. England is a little down at the moment, they will rebound soon enough. The London Broncos need to start becoming a force, this will help the game grow overall. The TV veiwers are pretty good, plus we have a World Cup which will help the growth as well. I think you are a little hard on league, and a little impatient. Rome was not built in a day. The NRL will always be the best run comp in the world, we have the players as well being mass produced in the pacific as we speak. Also now have own production line in oz, islanders in every city. A little while ago, maybe a month ago i wrote a post, it said this is rugby league's time, not toomoorow, but right now. We have the cash to make it happen right now, we have the best businessmen in Australia to make it happen now, and we have a banker about to run our finances. Our time is now. Yesterday is gone, toomoorow may be too late, Now is our time, we dont need a 20 year plan.

I cant see them ever getting rid of the all-stars game. It is about the only concept in the world that works well. Both teams are close to equal, they raise close to 2 million this year to go back into the indigenous communities. The indigenous community has a pride in this game, and Aurther Beetson now has his name on the trophy. You go tell the indigenous community and players we are scrapping the contest. I love it, i think it is one of the best things the game has ever done. Off the back of this game we also picked up a award in London for our work in local and indigenous communities. The world club challenge is not hurting anyone, or costing us money, so why worry about it, we dont promote the game at all, so you cant expect it to be a huge event. One day it copuld be, if they want it to be, and at least if we keep playing the game, it can grow some history, like origin has over the last 30 odd years. We dont take the pacific islands seriously either, yet i see that the commission wants to grow there involvement in the game, long overdue. I normally watch the game and enjoy watching, not that we win many. I love the atmosphere and the conditions sometimes. Plus the poms get a chance to see our best players as well and they gather some attention which is what they want. I am sure Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater and Cam Smith will get some airtime in England.

Unfortunately, no matter how much we want it to be, Rugby League is a minor sport in the international sporting landscape. We can look at it 2 ways, 1) as a developing sport with potential for growth or 2) a sport that has reached it potential as sport and we should be satisfied with the little, yet successful niche we've carved. Maybe I’m a dreamer, or that it just irks me that league’s inferior father holds a greater international standing, but I honestly believe league to be an excellent product with massive potential for growth. When I read articles such as these, which I accept are written more so to instigate posts than really discuss league’s future, I am continually reminded of the negative, anti-growth attitude so familiar with the poor administration running league's power-base, that has kept league down for so long. Instead of calling for the scrapping of a league concept that actually attempts to grow the game, how about we call for a re-work and make it all the better? It is already a genuine product of rugby league, how about we just make it a better product of rugby league? NRL as the world leader of the Rugby League, must distance itself from insulated Sydney thinking, and continually be looking to grow the game. It’s their responsibility to rugby league as sport. They must stand up and let all the minor leagues being played across globe know that they care. Instead they don’t go to Perth, they keep it to 13 games in Brisbane and spend time fixing the no-brainier such as “Benefit of the doubt" and fix things that aren't broken like the shoulder charge, and expect a pat on the back for all their troubles. The future of Rugby League does not lie with the Rugby League International Federation, it lies with the NRL. They just have to start acting like it, and stop appeasing their Sydney overlords. If they don't we'll eventually be overrun by the other codes.

How much meaning does the WCC have for aussie fans? I can name every player in my clubside, both SOO sides and australian side, every captain and coach of every nrl team, know the names of each ground, can name the premiers in order from 1983 but have never even watched a WCC game and really don't care who is even playing. Oh but I think the rabbits can get the choccy in the charity shield this year.

You can still have both concepts, why cant this be brought out here to illustrate to sydney or brisbane crowds that the game exists still in England these our or brothers in combat in the sporting arena and informing the public that this is our tribal creation our origin as a sport and connecting the communion of both countries to the sport of rugby league.

Harry, you have to remember that league, although only played in a few areas in England, was very strong in those areas. Over the last 40-50 years Football has continued it's rise in popularity at the expense of league in those areas. Back in 1963 there was even a film 'This Sporting Life', a gritty working class drama that had league as its focus. But 40-50 years is a long time and the sporting scene has changed, with even teams like the Bradford Bulls and Salford City Reds facing administration.

Totally agree with all of the above except the All Stars game being moved......Grand Final weekend should be reserved for just the Grand Final....the all stars game works fine as is i reckon. The rest of what you've said above makes too much sense for the administrators i guess.

You can't be serious....anyone that says the charity shield has more meaning than the WCC is just plain ignorant.