With superstar five-eighth Johnathan Thurston withdrawn from the upcoming Four Nations, the door has well and truly been thrown open for New Zealand and England.
Thurston joins the likes of Matt Scott, Paul Gallen, Billy Slater, James Tamou, Nate Myles, Brett and Josh Morris, Andrew Fifita, and Darius Boyd as unavailable.
The Kangaroos will be without a majority of their World Cup winning squad.
Although the Kangaroos are able to call on quality replacements such as Daly Cherry-Evans and Greg Inglis, the fact remains they will be severely under-strength.
It’s a good chance to blood younger players such as Dylan Walker and Josh Jackson, but in terms of winning the tournament you’d rather have Gallen, Myles, Scott and co. there to again do the job.
The reason the door is wide open for the other two major nations is not purely due to injuries within the Aussie squad, but also both nations have players in form, especially in the forwards where the Roos are weakened.
England have George and Tom Burgess, as well as the best prop in the world right now in James Graham. The New Zealanders have Jesse Bromwich and Sam Moa fit and firing, and Simon Mannering is coming off one of his best years to date.
With all due respect to Samoa, who have named a squad including the likes of Frank Pritchard and Tim Lafai, this is going to be a tournament made up of three established nations and an emerging nation.
The gap between the Kangaroos and New Zealand/England looked as though it had been closing in recent years, until the Roos absolutely hammered their neighbours 34-2 in last year’s World Cup final.
The fact the Aussies didn’t allow a red-hot Kiwi side to cross the chalk, while they poured on five tries, sent a message that there was much work to do for the two sides most likely to test the new World Champions.
Whether New Zealand or England will be able to walk through the proverbial open door remains to be seen, as despite being under-strength, the Kangaroos still enter the tourney as favourites.
For the sake of international league, the gap between Australia and the following pack needs to close, and soon. The fact the best from England seem to be chancing their arm at the NRL while in their prime will quicken this process. But as good as Graham and the Burgess clan have been, the English side need more players taking part in the NRL to genuinely threaten.
The New Zealanders will again likely pose the biggest threat. Their squad is full of talent, and they will enjoy home ground advantage in the final, should they qualify.
It’s through green and gold glasses that I see the Kangaroos winning the tournament, despite the injuries, however it’s far from the foregone conclusion it may have otherwise been.
cedric
Guest
NZ is the only country with rugby as its national sport, English coach said 2% of their population follow rugby, football is South Africas game like everyone else except Oz, and that's is ofcourse split with league/rules, I'd say 35/35% (leaving room for rugby/football). Rugby world wide has been about a 3 horse race since the 60s', that includes NZ/SA and which ever other country has a good team at the time. Yes rugby does have a bigger world wide comp. but it is flakey, just like league. Having lived in Oz for 20 years, years ago, and going to Sydney for this years GF, there is no doubt NSW & QLD live and breath league. But ofcourse we still enjoy the game from which league came from!
nerval
Guest
Australia is not the "only" place that cares about rugby league. That's nonsense. After all, not too long ago, there was a 75000 sell-out at Old Trafford in Manchester to witness teams other than England in the World Cup Final.
Jordan
Guest
Yep League is played seriously by what 3 nations? Union upwards of 10 with more emerging every year. I say this as a league fan, Union is played on the worldwide stage where as only Australia really care about League.
Jordan
Guest
Agreed! Pearce chokes time and time again, Great club player but not the guy you want in charge/calling the shots when the pressure starts. Also it pains me to admit it but Maloney makes him look a lot better than he is.
Bear
Guest
Are you for real. Even as a dead rubber, the Bledisloe will be a sell-out. The four nations? Wow. On the news this morning it said the kangaroos have now had 24 players pull out. The game obviously means a lot to them.
Nzmate
Guest
Must have been the same reason why the opening game of the RLWC was a double header (in front of a half full stadium) and the semi finals at wembley which after England and the kiwis played had abt 25k left in the 90 thousand seat venue to watch Fiji take on the kangaroos.
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
This is a tough ask for players that were in the finals and SOO. Some will even be in the club challenge thing. There is going to be some very tired players at the start of next year
Tom of Brisbane
Guest
"The only thing clear is that league is one of the few sports that require ‘double headers’ to pull a crowd" The only reason there is a double header is because Suncorp wasn't available for the final (G20 weekend) - "pulling a crowd" had nothing to do with it
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
nzmate, talk about being bitter. You forgot Melbourne where TV ratings for Bledisloe have plummeted while league has risen :)
nzmate
Guest
The only thing clear is that league is one of the few sports that require 'double headers' to pull a crowd. the other certainty is that outside of Sydney, Brisbane and PNG the Bledisloe test (albeit a dead rubber) will garner far more interest than the league.
Damo
Guest
I got my tix. Should be interesting to see who lines up. I think it's an open contest as the Aussies will have some untested combos. The poms have a great forward pack and the kiwis a good halves combo.
Cecil
Guest
No Pearce please, Adam Reynolds over him any day. Maloney is 10 times the better half than Pearce. Really you just need a half with a can get repeat sets with his short kicking game and can get the ball to the Hayne and Inglis to unleash on the opposition. Pearce was unable to do any of this in origin, NSW won when the series after finally dropping him.
Bluebag
Guest
I, too, can't wait for some international footy. THE 2013 RLWC was sensational and the fact that this tournament appears more open just makes it more attractive. I can understand some of those who aren't available as they made need some surgery or rest for bumps and bruises on the back of along year after the World Cup. And with the All Stars, an expanded WCC, the Auckland Nines all to be held before the premiership starts there is a lot of footy ahead!
Hi There
Guest
Add TV where the union will be non-existent and the picture is clearer... Memo to newbies - a crowd isn't the only measure of interest.
godfrey
Guest
My money's on the Kiwis.
Channa Knuckey
Roar Rookie
I'm really looking forward to this comp. The Burgess brothers will be committed, they'll be showcasing NRL tough to their homies. JT will be missed as will Gallen, Billy Slater and the Morris's. I reckon it's gonna be a wikkid chance for Rugby League to shine through in some different combinations. ;} It'll help to ease us in to summer sport..... till march....
Craigo
Guest
The 4 nations tickets are selling very well at Suncorp and being a double header I'd say they will go close to a sell out. As for entertainment value and the TV interest the union wont even be in the same ballpark as Rugby League. Even if the Union gets a bigger crowd it wont be by very much and who would have foreseen that 10 years ago.
Scott Pryde
Expert
If Pearce plays im supporting the poms.
Tom of Brisbane
Guest
More than 40,000 tickets sold already apparently. Wish I could remember where I saw that so I could provide confirmation
Ash
Guest
I wouldn't be too sure Craigo...... Bledisole Cup 50,000 at Suncorp while the 4 nations will struggle to draw a crowd of 30,000.