The NRL may struggle to find a willing representative for the World Club Challenge runners-up match, with the top eight teams reluctant to take part in the February series.
While NRL premiers Cronulla are locked in to face Super League Champions Wigan in the UK, runners-up Melbourne are reportedly not keen to make the journey around a month from the season start.
The Storm, who would face Warrington, have cited unnecessary pressure on players for their unwillingness, despite a $400,000 purse.
“We do have some serious concerns about travelling across to the other side of the world two weeks out from our season starting for what is effectively a trial match,” Storm chief executive Dave Donaghy told News Corp Australia.
“We’ve had two trials matches locked in for a long time and that may be a better option for us as we look to build into next season.”
Fellow finalists Canberra, North Queensland, Brisbane, Penrith, Canterbury and Gold Coast are also not keen.
“It’s a long way to go for a game that doesn’t mean anything,” Cowboys football manager Peter Parr said.
Sydney Roosters’ participation in the 2016 series in February, where they beat St Helens 38-12, may back up the clubs’ concerns about player burn-out close to the season opener.
The 2015 minor premiers lost the first eight games of the season, although they had other contributing factors to their poor start following Mitchell Pearce’s Australia Day antics.
Fellow participants Brisbane and North Queensland fared considerably better, with the 2015 premiers winning three of their five first starts and the Broncos four.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I'd have no problems with State of Origin being cancelled. Players play too many games already. Actually, I'd have no problems with all the teams bar my own team being kicked out. After all, players play too many games already.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I agree. Not participating in such an event is massively shortsighted.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
"Fact of the matter is that no team that has travelled to England has won the NRL premiership that year." There are 14 teams that don't make the NRL grand final in any given year. Just sayin...
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
They now own Northies,plus the keys of the Shire. As far as I'm concerned let the Sharks play Wigan wherever,winner take all $1m sounds reasonable to me. There are too many games being played as it is, in one of the most physical and demanding team sports on this planet.It's a body contact sport,not dancing with the stars.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Baz - logical thinking says the WCC should immediately proceed the grand finals when teams have their current squads in place, are at their peak, and the fans are on the same page - and not the following year when they also may have lost key personnel, and interest has waned. I'd like to see the top 4 from each nation in a knockout comp with a large purse. Alternating Australian and UK venues, and make it possible that 2 English or 2 Aussie teams could meet and play each other in the WCC Grand Final. Follow it up with a Test Match series, and the Junior Kangaroos/Poms in the same country to save on air travel time and accommodation costs. Make a special allowance for the teams who participate to be exempt from trial games in the pre-season, enabling all players who participated in the WCC and Test Matches similar rest periods as the other players.
The Barry
Roar Guru
There's not bugger all difference between playing there and here. Having two long haul flights within a week with a game in between is not good for any clubs preseason preparation. I'm a big fan of the concept but the format needs some work. There's no incentive for the clubs other than the premiers to take part. Since going to three games the scoreboard is 6-0, with four of those games floggings. The only close ones have been 2v8 and 3v11. It's hard to come up with the right format but this isn't it.
sham
Guest
Clubs are largely funded by broadcast rights they do not therefore really pay the players. Sure they transfer the money but the money ultimately comes from advertising and Foxtel subscriptions. Given this why can the clubs just decide if they want to participate? You either do this properly or can it. The club's will act in their own interest but surely there is a broader interest to be considered.
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
I would have no problems with the whole concept being cancelled Players play too many games already
Celtic334
Guest
I can understand where the storm are coming from, however I can almost guarantee if this was the afl, they would be basically forced to go in order to spread the gospel of the game.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
There's bugger all difference between playing there or here - or whether it's just a trial game, or any week of the regular 26 round comp. Injuries happen - and that's no excuse for the Storm to pick and choose the games they want to play. If you feel so strongly about injuries then suggest to The Storm that they stop allowing any players to wear a representative jersey. The proposal for 8 teams to contest the WCC was suggested by the NRL in February - with games played in both countries. What happened to the previous provisions? Why is nothing in place even if the new proposal was rejected? It's pi$$ poor management. Why do The Melbourne Storm continually flout the rules, and why does The NRL let them?
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
I get the fustration and the general Storm hatred but personally I wouldn't want my team travelling over to England the month NRL2017 kicks off for absolutely zero zilch!!!!! We did it last year to become the best club team in the world and that was good, but screw it for no purpose. Also Raiders dont want to go either apparently so perhaps none of them should be allowed to play for rep teams. At least the Storm are being open about it. Thats just my 2 bob.
Brendon
Guest
So your quotef article says its been proposed, but its not in the rules? Nor is it a requirement? Look at it this way, why do half the clubs put second rate players in the 9s? Because in the end, it means nothing. These games mean even less. If the english are so concerned, send your players over here. For the sake of OUR game, OUR team and OUT fans, why should the Storm risk players for nothing? I know I'd be incredibly annoyed if Cronk went for nothing and got hurt?
Farmduck
Roar Rookie
They haven't been played in October since 1992 when the Brits still played in the northern winter.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
An eight team plan was reported in the press in February. What happened? Was it locked in place or not? It appears that the NRL have failed to do their job properly - yet again. The English are super keen to expand Rugby League but they're getting little to no help from the fat cats running the ARLC. http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/world-club-series-set-for-teams-and-australian-games-expansion-in-2017/news-story/a810c5959aaba9606be0ddd09d7244b5
eagleJack
Roar Guru
What obligation? Is there something in place to say the runner up must attend? (Serious question I actually don't know). Fact of the matter is that no team that has travelled to England has won the NRL premiership that year. I have no doubt it is a contributing factor by year's end. The WCC is just a passable reason to go. The rest of it is pointless. Who actually remembers the other games?
Squidward
Roar Rookie
The Sharks players were still at northies last night. More time to recover please
Renegade
Roar Guru
It should definitely be in Aus this year! Allianz would be rocking ?
Renegade
Roar Guru
I'm with you Dean. If this is true, it's really poor form from the storm... I don't want to ever hear another excuse from anyone associated to the Melbourne club about growing the game if they forego their obligation here.
Long Black
Roar Rookie
Maybe where the game is played needs to rotate each year.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
Maybe it should be held just before the 4 nations starts. It would still mean a lot to players and the game. But without causing those teams to struggle once the season starts. Or just a week or two after the Superleague GF. Be better if they could align both comps to finish on the same weekend.