A lot of people are quick to declare that the 2013 Rugby League World Cup isn’t a ‘real’ World Cup, despite it obviously taking place on a world and the winners getting a dirty great big cup.
Solar systems and silverware aside, the first week of rugby league’s showpiece has ticked a number of boxes to give it the legitimacy it craves.
Here’s an update on some of the key performance indicators the tournament has managed to reach so far:
Upsets
A World Cup without upsets isn’t really a World Cup at all, but rather an extremely expensive simulation with excellent graphics.
International rugby league is not really known for its upsets, however so far we’ve had the unlikely Scots and USA squeeze past NRL-laden Island opposition in cracking fixtures.
Are more still to come? Buggered if I know, I’m too scared to make any more predictions!
Suspect judiciary decisions
Gee whiz, you give blokes a jersey to represent their country and all they want to do is fire up and belt someone else.
Which is great, but doesn’t that lead to annoying things like fines and suspensions?
Not in a World Cup it doesn’t, and the RLWC 2013 has already had a humdinger of a dodgy decision, with Sam ‘Psycho’ Burgess getting a one match ban for a game he wasn’t going to play anyway for decapitating Sam Thaiday.
Refereeing controversy
A cornerstone of international sport, refereeing controversy is the broken wood and old shopping trolleys that fuels the bonfire of a cup.
With the ‘square in the air’ getting more time in the Tonga versus Scotland match than some of the blokes on the Tongan bench, there were bound to be some questionable calls.
Actually scratch that, there was about half a dozen, but at least the viewers got to listen to what Ashley Klein was thinking when he made them, which is pretty good.
Right?
Bloopers
World Cups showcase the best, the brilliant, the amazing skills, blah blah.
What is really needed to fill the montages are some wacky, unforgettable moments of ineptitude.
Sonny Spill Williams is a natural fit here, but you can also chuck in David Mead’s goal kicking and the bloke at Channel Seven who thought we’d like to see 30 seconds of a match, then have it restart again delayed a few minutes later.
Idiots in fancy dress
The moment I knew the 2013 Rugby League World Cup had made it was when the camera panned around a soggy Bristol at the USA versus Cook Islands game to show some goose dressed up as Captain America.
It was… perfect.
It demonstrated how people, who are a world away from either competing country, can get into the swing of things just because, well, it’s a World Cup and that’s what you do.
As far as I’m concerned all the tournament needs now is for a player to have a bust up with his coach, crack the sads and then fly home to snipe about his former manager in the papers and the RLWC will have removed beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is, indeed, a real World Cup
AZ_RBB
Guest
you're kidding right? you're calling Germany and Spain outsiders? Germany has half of the world's 20 or so top players. Spain have been nearly untouchable for the past 6 years. Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay are all real chances. The outsiders are Italy, France and Netherlands. On top of that you have Belgium, England, Japan, Columbia and any number of African nations who can realistically beat any of the first 8 nations I mentioned. Then you have teams with superstar individuals like Portugal, Mexico and Sweden who might not even qualify. Regardless, it is ridiculous to compare the two tournaments. The League world cup isn't about competing with the Union, Football or Basketball equivalents. This is the sport's chance to go to the next level and march towards a greater international presence. A opportunity it has grabbed with both hands.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Can hardly think of any valid criticisms for this tournament. if it was poorly run with a bad business model and obvious lack of effort then you could have a go at it. but from everything i've seen the tournament has been very popular in the UK, the media and fans have been engaged as much as possible and the players (aside from Sam Burgess :P) have promoted the game excellently. a lack of ambition has held League back for far too long, this is probably the biggest step forward the game has taken in recent memory. hope the NRL are similarly ambitious and daring in the next few years. Union is still a long way ahead in every country except Australia (even then only in QLD and NSW) but the next 10-15 years will be very telling in that regard.
Pineapple
Guest
a great tournament that has produced some great games. So glad that I'm not one of the miserable gimps out there trying to death-ride the thing. Bring on Tonga vs Cook Islands tomorrow.
Shahsan
Guest
Yes, it's the same with every World Cup in every sport. A handful of favourites, a few possibles, and lots of also-rans. No truly open World Cup exists in TEAM SPORTS
Seb Vettel
Guest
RLWC who can win - NZ, and then outside chance for England and the geriatrics from Australia. RUWC - All Blacks... South Africa... big daylight and then you got England, Wales, Australia... Outside faves are France, Argentina FIfa WC - Brazil with home advantage are huge followed by Argentina, Uruguay, Columbia (It's played in SA, forget about European dominance in SA) outside shots are Germany, Spain... and wild cards are Italy, France and Belgium Baseball - Cuba............... USA..... some other teams like Japan and even Aus
Seb Vettel
Guest
One of the good guys of the NRL playing for the underdog... What's not to like, I cheered his team against Wales.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
PhillnZ The author never mentioned rugby union ,yet you guys want to rock your jollies bragging about big crowds at your internationls . That's fine but it has nothing to do with a tournament that has exceeded expections from crowd/profitability and exposure ,by comparison to prior ones. I have to laugh you mentioned more articles appear on the Roar on the A league and Wobblies than the RLWC.Reality,this is primarily a ru site with a big A league and AFL following.Rest assured I know more than a handful of rl fans ,who steer clear of rl threads,because trolling has a habit of taking over and hijacking threads. The very moment the first RLWC thread was instituted,they came out of the woodwork.It was predicted and came to fruition.The insecurity is mind boggling.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Took ages to get that one out,no doubt Dan.Congratulations.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
"none of the domestic players comes from Italy". Your quotes not mine.You are wrong,admit it,inseatd of the usual union deflection.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Capacity or thereabouts.That is keeping it real.Must try harder in class.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Obviously Michael you have no idea Bristol is not a rl city.Keep trying, the crowd there was far better than expected.The code has only really been played there seriously for a couple of years. I am sure the 15-20m pounds the tournament is expected to make is alsopathetic in your eyes. One point.
Jz
Guest
i have no issue with a Nz born guy playing for Aus, BUT !!! when James Tamou said its a better move financially.... thats what has pissed every one off, The same a Willie Mason saying his an Ozzy and then say's his always dreamed of playing for the All blacks
Jz
Guest
Not true their are two home grown Italians playing in the team..
Jz
Guest
Please how many ex Aus & kiwis play for other country's in the IRB world cup its the same yet for some reason people cant or just don't want to acknowledge this FACT
Jz
Guest
Please how many ex Aus & kiwis play for other country's in the IRB world cup its the same yet for some reason people cant or just don't want to acknowledge this FACT
jimbo
Guest
And if you listen closely to hes speech, hes got more of an australian accent.
jimbo
Guest
So, Hoffman can play for Nzl even though he wasnt born there or didnt grow up there, and Tamou cant play for a country where he spent 11 years and played all of hes schoolboys footy ???
Warrior 3
Guest
Odd refereeing decisions (square in the air?) Shame penalising Tonga for an alleged runaround that happens 20 times a game (no interference to the defence) when they were in their own half , in possession and just in front - of course Scotland scored after the penalty and won as a result. Or better still Video shame denying a NZ try to Tuavasa-sheck because of an alleged knock on against france this am - the NZ players were in genuine disbelief...the video showed it went backwards unless hame has determined that a knock on is when a player propels it towards his own ingoal rather than his opponents. As Foran said when he left the field at 1/2 time- " we knew we werent going to get the 50-50 decisions" As his club coach would have said about the same ref after a game at Brooky 3 months ago "there should be an enquiry"
eagleJack
Guest
"Again this is a joke article". Oh good so you noticed the "HA!" in the top right corner! Geez some people are so serious. I would love for those insecure people out there to point out where any League fan/article/media outlet has ever claimed that the Rugby League World Cup is bigger than Rugby or Football internationally.
Keeping it real
Guest
Really? That is your rebuttal?