Phil Rothfield, I have a question for you

the great sport of rugby league is perfectly entitled to have a world cup. what's good for football and rugby union is good enough for rugby league. the rugby league world cup predates the rugby union world cup by 33 years. 1954 the former, and 1987 the latter. i assume old bluey is a rugby union person who's absolutely terrified about the growth of rugby league. mark my words, rugby league will not be stopped from growing. a lot of folk are going to be attracted to the game through watching that classic match at wembley. i'm full of confidence in the future growth of international rugby league. but this great game deserves strong leadership at the top and it's absolutely essential that the international game is at the top of the pyramid. in other words, test matches. an under-20 world cup would be a good way to further develop young rugby league talent. the best players in our game fully deserve the chance to play in a world cup and also test matches against other countries. i'll be cheering on new zealand, as i suspect will most other english folk. i'd love to see new zealand give australia a damn good thrashing. a real hiding.

In all honesty I think Rothfield has a point. Other sports for example like AFL, American NFL and Gaelic Football all survive with strong domestic competitions. They don't need a World Cup to strengthen their code and "spread the word" and Rugby League doesn't need a "World Cup" either.

I think the more telling thing is that Rothfield does not like it when his opinion is challenged. I looked at his Twitter account and he blocked a guy who said that Rothfield should not be blaming Slater for the 'punchup' and to make things worse, Rothfield called the guy a grub. How can Phil Rothfield be considered a serious journalist if he doesn't accept the fact that people will challenge his opinion? He is so narrow-minded and is such a sook. He is just interested in rumours and stirring the pot and not genuine RL stories. He should write for a gossip magazine- seems about his speed and he will get to make up stuff based solely on rumour. And no, I don't think he is RL fan even though he says he is. If he has an issue with the RLMC, he should offer a feasible and sensible solution and not just through everything into the ring.

Don't know why anyone takes any notice of that Rothfield tosser always whinging about something a complete hack - should be banished to write about fertilisers as his articles are full of BS.

He's a bitter & jealous one. From the EU's mouth :) http://ec.europa.eu/sport/news/20131029-eu-supports-14-projects_en.htm Area 1. "Strengthening of good governance and dual careers in sport through support for the mobility of volunteers, coaches, managers and staff of non-profit sport organisations": 5 projects Project EAC/S03/2013/015: Beneficiary: Rugby League European Federation, based in the UK Title: European leadership devolution project. Partners from 15 Member States represented in the network: BE, CZ, DE, DK, EL, FR, HU, IE, IT, MT, LV, NL, PL, SE, UK. Hyperbole pays!

But Malcolm, you must agree the English media drive the 6 nations like nothing before whereas the RLWC has to earn what crumbs the conservative media throw at it. If it had half the 6 nations media coverage we would see more than double the ratings. League is no way near being the media darling of rugby union. I am reading a lot from people in the UK who are saying the BBC's & media's initial surge in coverage has all but disappeared 2 days out from attracting 70,000 plus at Wembley & 70,000 plus at Old Trafford. Perhaps the agenda driven media have been given a scare and have circled the wagons. "What the RLWC 2 million shows to me is that the tournament is popular with its heartland and regions, but has failed to capture the wider audience. That’s my opinion, based on the facts." So can you show me the facts of where this 2 million audience come from? Sky's Super League audience has shown 50 percent come from the Southern regions of England and more than a fair share are what advertisers term an audience worth advertising to with great demographics. Yet the southern media continue to ignore this. Added, if England RU had such a losing streak as England RL, then I wouldn't expect large TV ratings. Let's see if England RL win the RLWC??

To be honest I've not been enthused by this World Cup, but that may change this weekend with the semis, and then the final thereafter.

Absolutely agree with you clearly_concussed. While there's been some aspects of this RLWC that have raised my eyebrows, and concerned me from a purists point of view, you have to start somewhere, and Rugby League needs to think outside the square on issues like eligibility and world cup draws / seedings etc. All in all, it's been a success in the sense it's raised the profile of RL, for the meantime, but whether it will sustain growth of the game outside of its hearltand areas is questionable, simply because there's so much prejudice out there against the sport.

I think you've got to put those tv ratings into context Renegade, The long running soap Coronation Street gets about 8 to 12 million viewers per episode each week, and the Six Nations, especially games involving Wales and England will top 10 million viewers - see: http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/ratings/wales-six-nations-win-peaks-with-95m/5053023.article, while the RWC 2007 final peaked at 16 million viewers in the UK - see http://www.rwc2011.irb.com/destinationnewzealand/news/newsid=2036054.html. What the RLWC 2 million shows to me is that the tournament is popular with its heartland and regions, but has failed to capture the wider audience. That's my opinion, based on the facts.

ahmad Well Hayne is not playing for Fiji,so your point is invalid. The European Commission Sport's Unit has a different view to you re European growth,not a result of standing still,but do go on. http://www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/716/rlef-wins-record-european-union Yep funny hyperbole.

TRex I don't believe any figures quoted that involved nearly 3/4 of the world's population in accumulated audiences.I don't care if it is the RLIF,the IRB,the NBA whatever.It is blatantly obviously BS. Stu Wilson agreed with the view, the figures were over exaggerated.

And even the accumulated figures were BS.

Supereel Evidence of this remarkable RL European growth or is more RL hyperbole which I think is the fastest growing hyperbole in the world...... And in case you missed this shambles http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/jarryd-hayne-all-set-to-play-for-fiji-in-rugby-league-world-cup-then-tim-sheens-called-20131120-2xvw2.html Hasn't he played for Australia since he played for Fiji at 2008 RLWC

Yes those US residents need some help...

Apologies if I got it wrong on the Washington post but it was confusing because someone (maybe you) called it the Washington Times (the Posts small competitor) and the outbursts were going right and left. But again you now admit there was no washington Post hardcopy article. If you had said UK times I could have pointed out its a Murdoch paper but don't recall that comment so I feel like someone has made an error which I suggest is you... If you cant accept commentary on your game then perhaps you should desist. I follow all footy codes but when there is hyperbole I feel the need to point it out - you resort to abuse instead of answering real points about eligibility rules - there are few people in the world who would compare the Americas Cup with a football world cup of any brand.. The boats are owned by countrys residents and that's where the comparison ends.... Meanwhile this sums up the whole shambles and its not even in the TELEGRAPH http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/jarryd-hayne-all-set-to-play-for-fiji-in-rugby-league-world-cup-then-tim-sheens-called-20131120-2xvw2.html

Well Nadera18 over 2 million watched Six Nations games not involve England on BBC. Yes games like Ireland and Italy get the same ratings on BBC.

Do you guys believe the IRB or some football journos with a chip on his shoulder? Its stated here as global cumulative TV audience reached not the actual tv ratings. http://www.rwc2011.irb.com/destinationnewzealand/news/newsid=2036054.html

You do know the different between accumulative audience and actual tv ratings Nadera?

England games of the RLWC on BBC a free to air broadcaster up against premier league on Sky PAY TV? Well done CQ

Playing the blaming game again? I have no idea rugby league was ban in over 200 countries from 1895 to say 1935 when rugby union was also played in a handful of countries. Yes blame rugby but not the professional RL clubs Northern England and NSW/QLD who control the sport, money and payments of players and ignore expansion and developments. You don't have to look any further than Australia and UK to see who (clubs) and which regions in those countries controls rugby league in the past and still is now.