On Saturday night the tournament very few people seem interested in, much less asked for, kicks off in Brisbane.
In a double header, the world’s best players will play the world’s greatest game at the world’s best rugby league stadium.
After an epic season full of record ratings for both State of Origin and the grand final, the Kangaroos’ World Cup victory lap will be as successful as Jamie Whincup’s 161st of Mount Panorama.
For each of the four competing nations, even winning the trophy won’t really be considered a ‘win’ – whoever walks away champions will be considered unworthy.
Let’s start with the World Champions. Bereft of their normal galaxy of stars, this is the weakest Australian side fielded in many years.
But are they still better than New Zealand? Tick!
Got England covered? You betcha!
Even with the two best rugby league players in the world missing in Johnathan Thurston and Jarryd Hayne, the bookmakers have rated the Kangaroos a 71 per cent chance of winning the tournament. Let that sink in while you ponder that there will be five debutants lining up this weekend in the green and gold, while two haven’t even played State of Origin.
If the Kangaroos come away as tournament winners as expected, the critics will be out in force, howling down international rugby league as a joke. How could Australia win with so many players out? Is the depth of other nations really that bad?
A win for Australia is a loss for the international game, but it’s no better for the other three teams.
Like the Kangaroos, the Kiwis are down on a few troops through injury but are looking decidedly stronger than the 17 which took the fight to Australia in the Anzac Test. With a home final in Wellington the Kiwis will rate themselves a genuine chance of upsetting the favourites, but again, would they really ‘win’?
Does beating an almost second-string Australian team really bring any glory? Yes probably the greatest hooker of all time is in the team, and there are Dally M and Churchill medal winners, along with a host of club captains, but can you really claim a victory when the team is so stretched for depth that David Klemmer is on the team sheet?
Ditto if they beat England. Does a victory over a side without the best Burgess really count?
The same of course applies for England. If they beat Australia it will be because of injuries, if they beat New Zealand it will be because they are without Sonny Bill. And does a Four Nations victory really mean anything after the crushing loss of a home World Cup?
Last and least is Samoa. In the last Four Nations tournament held in Australia, Papua New Guinea stepped up to face the three rugby league giants. In their three matches the Kumals conceded 154 points and only scored 22 for a 0-3 record.
Will the Samoans fair any better? With a squad that the 2014 Cronulla Sharks would give a serious shake, no they won’t. And lets face it, at no stage will they have to come up against the strongest 17 of Australia, New Zealand or England.
But say they do pull off a miracle and jag a win – or even four and win the tournament? It will be because of injuries, no Sonny Bill Williams and no Sam Burgess.
While I admire the push for the growth of rugby league around the world, the game is on a hiding to nothing with this year’s Four Nations.
If Australia win the final against New Zealand it will be an almighty fizzer in the Shaky Isles. If the Kiwis or England can somehow win, the Australian media will simply criticise the tournament as not being worth the effort if the best players are injured from over-playing.
After a great World Cup year, 2014 should have been a time for rest and relaxation for our game’s best, with a view to international rugby league returning in 2015.
Because the reality is, apart from the hardcore fans, everyone will be watching the soccer on Saturday anyway.
Muzz
Guest
It feels like i haven't had any water in weeks and i can see a fresh spring within reach. BTW - It's not the same without the V.O.R Slater banter.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Over 46,000 tickets sold for tonight's double header, great sales for games in NZ, both games on FTA tonight, record merchandise sales for Samoan jerseys and this article is about no one cares? Imagine if people apparently cared? Daniel, you've got your Daily Telegraph job, it's in the bag. You will fit in nicely. But be prepared for people to laugh when you say you're a journalist at the DT
Renegade
Guest
Lol ok will do mate... 2 hours til it all kicks off with the poms and Samoa. And then the big one... Getting pumped!
Muzz
Guest
Renegade - The "would you prefer" thing is very effective but dampens my enthusiasm. Please stop it : )
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Mal Meninga also made that famous statement at the height of the SL war"What has rugby league done for me" Great players ,don't automatically become great thinkers.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Please explain to me Clipper ,how you get away with regular trolling on rl threads,only when it come to international games and crowds?.Yet ignore any other thread on rugby league. Why would you believe what someone who starts a thread,according to you "you take things with a grain of salt.' It has been your modus operandi ,since you first came on board.You made no criticism of the crowd at Suncorp last week.. Despite your joy in having a snipe,you night be interested in knowing also venues in NZ are selling exceptionally well for the tournament.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Actually 47,000 tickets Steve might just overshadow both at the ground and ratings on TV, of a certain test a week ago. Tickets also selling well in NZ>The Forsyth Barr stadium has sold as many tickets this far out as an AB test.
ranga
Guest
I can't understand why people seem to think England are so weak, last year they were very unlucky against the kiwis and the game before against the roos, that too could have gone either way, the only time I see the poms choke is either when they play a one off test or when they make the final of something, the other games are usually of a pretty good standard, I suggest if anyone thinks it's not as good as SOO, go and watch the 2001-03 ashes series, some absolutely belting games in that lot.
The eye
Guest
Yep,can't argue there..I'm opposing the perception it's a weak side,not that it's better than last years which would be ridiculous..and as such absolutely no excuses if we don't win convincingly..fully believe that this side has a lot of points in them and won't be satisfied with anything short of carnage in every game they play..smile emoticon here..
duecer
Guest
This is another case where the home country has put the domestic competition before the international aspect. Sure, it was hard to resist the Murdoch riches and it may have slowed the decline in England, but by switching seasons it has only accelerated the decline in the international game by cutting off that window to tour.
Renegade
Guest
I'm probably with you on the Kiwis.... their front row is better purely because of Bromwich. I think their backrow is on par with ours and so is the centre pairing. Their spine won't touch ours but it's still decent with Foran, Johnson and Luke. The English wingers are better than ours in Hall and Charnley, I'd say our centre pairing is a nose ahead simply because Walker was in incredible form towards the back end of the year..... Their front row rotation is significantly better than ours and arguably the second row as well. We are far stronger in the spine which as I said is probably enough to get us home but it's certainly not a foregone conclusion. As for the 50, seriously... would you rather Hayne & Inglis as your centre pairing or Walker and Jennings. Would you prefer Matt Scott, Fifita and Tamou or Woods, Thaiday & Klemmer?? Would you prefer a back row of Gallen, Bird & Lewis or Hoffman, Scott and Bird? Would you prefer a combination of the Morris twins, Boyd & Tate on the wing or Tupou & Mansour?? Would you prefer a team that includes the best number 1 & 6 in the game in Billy Slater and JT or not?? Nothing against the guys that have been picked and i'll still be supporting them but the reality of the situation is - it's a weaker Kangaroos team than what we are used to.
Daniel
Guest
Another article from the parochial, backward-thinking viewpoint that has held back Rugby League for so many decades. Okay, some established Kangaroos are missing, but have you seen their replacements? These are damn good players of international class. NZ and England are missing influential players too. Everyone on the park will be there to represent their country with a lot more pride than those hacks who always strive for the most negative portrayal of everything Rugby League. I will be waking at 6;30am tomorrow morning (UK time) to watch the opening match with great excitement. Many others will be doing the same - many many more than there will be watching the A-League. If some people had their way, the Kangaroos would renege on their international fixtures every year, to the detriment of the sport as a whole. Thankfully, every other nation is keen and proud to play for their country, given the number of test matches played this year, often by teams who struggle to raise the cost of doing so.
nerval
Guest
Good for you, Cadfael. I hope you enjoy it. That's what being a sports fan is all about. I'll be watching the rugby league.
The eye
Guest
It's all opinion I guess,there were many who believed the Kiwi pack was stronger than us prior to that World Cup..and we saw how that ended up..I wonder where you think the kiwis are stronger in tomorrow nights game..personally,the only one who'd make my team would be Bromwich.. don't know enough about the poms to rate their backline...but if they can handle the guys we've got in speed,power and wilyness I'd be flabbergasted...just can't see them being a threat without Sam.. as for the 50,well...I'll let that go thru to the keeper
JayBob
Guest
I don't know about everyone else but I can't wait for some Rugby League, I'm having withdrawals already.
Renegade
Guest
Mate, I can't understand how anyone can say its not a weaker side compared to Aussie sides of the past..... I reckon the 2013 World Cup winning team would put 50 on the one playing tomorrow. Apart from the spine, we are arguably weaker than other teams in some of the positions.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
The Lions tours went when the ESL changed the game a summer one. Now the NRL and ESL play at the same time so tours, sadly, are a thing of the past. I loved going to the internationals at the SCG. In those days they would play the tourists on a Saturday and a full club round on Sunday.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
No, I'll be watching the cricket test.
Muzz
Guest
"Because the reality is, apart from the hardcore fans, everyone else will be watching the soccer on Saturday anyway" Lets see what the TV ratings have to say about that. There will be plenty of extra eyeballs curious to see how the debutants perform. Personally, i'm excited.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
TV ratings will suggest more people will be watching the 4nations this weekend more than A league, Wanderers, horseracing etc. 45,000 tickets sold according to news reports. The ' official' launch of the 4nations in Brisbane today was lead news on Ch. 10 as I watch.