I have been thoroughly enjoying the Four Nations, and last year I loved every bit of the World Cup.
I hope the ratings have been good enough to suggest to league power brokers that international rugby league has an important place in the game.
The competitiveness of the Four Nations has been reflected in the closeness of the results, with the only scoreline that was close to a blow-out being the Australia vs New Zealand game.
The Samoans have been great. The Samoa vs New Zealand game was a classic and both sides did enough to win; unfortunately for the Samoans, a late error cost them dearly.
And what about those Poms? That is a quality team and beating them in a nail biter when the pressure was on was a fantastic effort by the Australians.
Who doesn’t love jumping out of the lounge chair and giving the TV the bird when Greg Inglis goes over? Who wasn’t yelling at the telly “get that up ya!” in the nicest possible way because the English are our guests and they are a very good football team. It’s never as good if the opposition isn’t as good as these blokes are.
Oh and what a beautiful finish – a little finger on the ball… No try! Makes it all that much sweeter.
I’m enjoying the Four Nations more than State Of Origin, and I am a New South Welshman who took a lot of pleasure from that long-awaited series win.
International footy is better to watch. It’s not quite as intense, but it has more variety and scoring opportunities, and it definitely has passion.
Everyone wants to beat Australia. The Samoans desperately wanted to beat the Kiwis. And I was desperate for us to beat the Poms (well done boys). Did I mention how great it was to yell at the telly?
I’m really looking forward to this weekend’s games, who knows who’ll be in the final. The Kiwis scraped home with the Samoans really giving it to their South Pacific bros – how good was that? The Kiwis will have to luck their wounds and lift for a big big game against the English, who have not been happy since they were informed that a fingernail of the little finger touching the ball is not enough to constitute a try, but it is enough to give us a tap on the 20-metre line. Really got to love that.
And then we have the Samoans against the Aussies. My advice to the Aussies is to pass the ball… to someone else. Those blokes are out to hurt.
I hope my interest is reflected in the ratings, as this is the main factor as to whether something in rugby league is considered a success and therefore likely to happen again.
Hopefully I’m not the only one having this much fun and we can see more of this sort of football.
peeeko
Roar Guru
the international aspect is much better, its a shame so many top players are missing
Dogforlife
Guest
LMFAO that's GOLD Sleiman!!!! Seriously best laugh all day thanks mate. Love it because its so true!!!!
Joel
Roar Rookie
How about at the end of the NRL season, Australia and NZ send teams to tour Samoa, Tonga, Fiji,The Cook Islands and PNG. That would help massively to develop rugby league in those countries and help bring more players to the NRL that would otherwise go and play rugby union.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
I'll second, third, fourth, and fifth that statement. Unfortunately though Tim What's-a-prop Sheens is the master coach with the master selections for the master team that can do no wrong. He'll probably end up leaving out Hunt altogether the way he's going.
Joel
Roar Rookie
Ben Hunt came in and did a really good job off the bench against England. I think him coming on turned the tide back in Australia's favour. If Cherry is injured enough to forget how to tackle or run, he shouldn't be playing.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
It's because his playing with injuries and no one has the guts to tell him to sit down. He's been terrible since origin (and wasn't very good during it either) Still there's a few if take before him at 6 just for QLD atm.
Joel
Roar Rookie
Seeing the way that Cherry-Evans has played for Australia has been good for me as a NSW fan. Lots of talk about him replacing JT for the Origin in the next few years. If Cherry keeps it up, NSW will win plenty of Origins in a row.
code 13
Roar Guru
The intensity Samoa are showing is definitely worthy of Origin. We really need to be locking in regular October & November for internationals every year so that rugby league fans maintain their interest. Give it 5-10 years of non-Australian dominance and more of teams ranked 4-10 playing like Samoa and yes it'll start to have real Origin like intensity/interest.
E-Meter
Guest
Totally agree. The last 2 years of Origin have been garbage. Wrestlemania. Boring. The test footy has been wonderful.
Matt
Guest
My fantasy rugby league 5-Way Tournament would be Great Britain, New Zealand, Queensland, New South Wales and the Combined Pacific Islands XIII. Of course this (awesome) tournament would never happen, however I'd like to see something materialise from my outlandish concept, and that is the Pacific XIII The strength of these teams (Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and The Cook Islands) at the last RLWC combined, would make for formidable opposition. They could be the permanent fourth team at the Four Nations. PS - Maybe it's time to bring back Great Britain for this series also?
Jordan
Guest
"The Four Nations is better than Origin" NO
Dene Griffin
Roar Rookie
Agree ferret. These games promise and deliver more attacking play.
mick h
Guest
don't you respect or like heritage I think the jumpers looked great and guess what they were selling very well at the game
mick h
Guest
the kiwis are touring the uk next year 3 test series no four nations next year
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
It's not a "Mash-Up" jersey. The Maroon and Blue jersey was the original jersey of the Kangaroos when they toured up until 1924. The jersey was worn on the weekend to commemorate the Rorke's Drift Test, played in 1914 between England and Australia. It's the only time the two sides will play each other in 2014. When else were they going to wear those jerseys?
Eden
Guest
Compared to game 2 and 3 of Origin this is much higher quality rugby league. What is missing is the promotion and media interest. Nine did a little bit, but it must be said that the NRL/ARL/RLIF (whoever is in charge) kept true to the Rugby League administration remit by being absolutely hopeless. As for ratings, I would say on par with mid season NRL games which is probably not as high as you would hope. Aus v NZ Nine 555k (Syd 315k Bri 240k) GEM 136k (Mel 103k Ade 12k Per 21k) Eng v Sam GEM 144k (Syd 51k Mel 26k Bri 55k Ade 5k Per 7k) Aus v Eng Nine 498k (Syd 306k Bri 192k) GEM 83k (Mel 45k Ade 12k Per 27k) NZ v SAM GEM 117k source @MediaWeekAUS
Johnnyball
Guest
Refeering
Johnnyball
Guest
I thought 4 nations better because of reding and commentary ( voss)
cedric
Guest
4 nations is outstanding for me! Being a kiwi I don't really care who wins SOO. Gotta say Epiquin 4 nations awesome!! Being a kiwi, I don't really care who wins SOO, I just normally support the underdog. Gotta say Epiquin, your right about that jersey, it does say, stuff the rest, to a degree. Had Chambers, who's from the NT, made the side, well you know what I mean and to wear that jersey in Vic. is just not thinking!!!!!!!!!
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Poor halves that can't direct the ball around the field is probably a good reason.