The depth of international rugby league will again come under scrutiny in this upcoming World Cup, and you can take that however you like.
You can let it upset you. You can nod along. You can eat a packet of Doritos.
For mine, better to just enjoy the footy.
And acknowledge that international rugby league is better than it was. Maybe better than it’s ever been.
Twenty years ago, in the middle of the internecine Super League War, Australia had two national rugby league competitions, two ‘Origin’ series and one international match.
And they were vexed times at Ridgemont High.
With the ‘establishment’ Australian rugby league laying claim to dinkum State of Origin (Super League came up with a tri-series with New Zealand, which was bad), the rebel Super League opened the purse strings to sign not only many of Australia’s best players but also entire leagues from Britain, New Zealand and the Pacific islands.
They had no money. Then News Ltd gave the millions. No argument.
So while the ARL played ‘official’ State of Origin fixtures, it was Super League that laid claim to internationals, such that they were.
But as Fairfax’s Danny Weidler wrote: “International rugby league has as much credibility as some of Mal Colston’s travel claims. And at this point, so does the ‘Vision’.”
The ‘Vision’ was rugby league played around the world, run by News Ltd. It was a bold vision indeed, and somewhat fanciful.
“I’d like to see it like rugby union and played in as many countries,” said Laurie Daley. “I know that won’t happen when I’m a player, but when I retire I’d like to help make that happen.”
The whole thing sucked.
No matter that it was the official Australian international jumper, the Super League version of the Kangaroos’ kit did not look right. A splash of Federation Blue clanged against the wattle gold and eucalypt green.
And the single fat ‘V’ stripe that ran down the front and back of the jersey and outwards onto the sleeves, was a poor imitation of the traditional golden twin-Vs and crest of Australia.
Throw a big fat Super League logo on the chest, and it never felt like Australia’s jumper.
Today that first Anzac Test is not listed in the records of the ARL. It is by the NZRL, however, and Kiwis who played in this fixture earned a cap, Australians did not. But the match did happen.
And you can check it out on the YouTube now. And see this:
After a less-than-emphatic haka led by Kiwis captain Stephen Kearney, English referee Stuart Cummins whistled time-on and the two tribes went to war.
And it was scrappy early. Big hits caused turnovers. Ordinary bombs rained.
A big thumper called Grant Young of New Zealand took a power of stopping. The Kiwis’ fine back-row – Kearney, Tony Iro, Tawera Nikau – ran the edges hard.
Allan Langer was typically excellent for Australia and debutant Craig Gower kicked well.
And after 20 minutes it was 0-0.
And then it was all Australia.
David Furner went on a dummying, bullocking run to plunge over on debut.
Within minutes he had a double.
Matt Adamson then steamed through weak defence and found Wendell Sailor who ran an angle and under the posts, beaming.
Ryan Girdler missed the conversion, and then kicked off, it was a rule.
Further strong work by Adamson and Sailor had a double. And at half-time it was 20-0.
The Kiwis did not give up and came back with tries to Stacey Jones, Robbie Paul, Daryl Halligan and Sean Hoppe. But Darren Smith and Gower crossed for Australia and the Test match never reached anything much above anti-climax.
Afterwards Glenn Lazarus said: “It was just the same feeling as pulling on the old green and gold jumper. No different.” Rodney Howe declared: “This was the best day of my life.”
Weidler reported that “there was spirit in the crowd’s support, which said they were either hired or had paid for a ticket. One source told The Sun-Herald that only 3,800 tickets had been sold and a gate attendant reported that he did not have a single genuine ticket come through his gate.
“Nonetheless, any crowd of 20,000 for a league Test is a good result.
“One thing was clear, the players were genuine and Australia played very well, especially in the first half.
“The team that Ken Arthurson labelled a ‘joke’ in last week’s Sun-Herald proved once again that we could send our third or even fourth best sides into an international league event and still come away winners.”
After Super League’s ‘Test’ and the ARL’s City-Country match, veteran league scribe Ian Heads put together a merit team of players from both camps. There were ten ARL men and seven Super Leaguers.
“The team was picked with a myth in mind: that Australia next week were facing the challenge of top-class British or New Zealand opponents in a true Test – the way international matches used to be played,” wrote Heads.
“There’s no doubt that the talent is almost equally shared, and that the fans will continue to be robbed of the best of the best until the opposing camps get together.”
Vexed days indeed.
Bring on the Cup.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Then dont watch it maestro. Simples.
Maestro
Guest
There are 100 counties that play Union of varying standards. They enter teams in RUWC qualifiers and the majority of players live or were bought up in their country. Eg Russia in 2011 RUWC had 29 Russian domiciled players? and one Aussie of Russian heritage. That's a World Cup. AFL could have World Cup of a couple of locals and heritage players from Croatia, Serbia, Greece, Lebanon Ireland, England, Scotland, USA, the Pacific Islands etc but doesn't because that would be laughable. As is the RLWC...
Maestro
Guest
Fred said "League already has 5 year residency" So James tedesco can play for Italy because of heritage and walk back into Aussie side in the same year because of residency and citizenship but can swap between the two at will. Flag of convenience
republican
Guest
.......sport at this tier fosters a mercenary culture no matter how individual athletes like to manipulate this as something more virtuous............
republican
Guest
........so our League GR have a bleak future as some are purporting? I certainly feel that when I do watch the NRL it could be the product of a Pacific nation these days.......
Rob9
Roar Guru
‘Do you have a link to back up that 30% stat?’ So the answer to that question is no? You can’t make these sorts of judgements from just ‘looking’ at a team and taking note of the racial make-up of the players. The reality is, a good chunk (I’d dare say the majority) of this 30% of Maori/PI ‘looking players’ were actually born and raised in Australia- at levels from U7’s to the NRL. And really, what would you expect from one of the most multicultural countries on the planet. Contact sport is feeling the pinch in participation not just in Australia but in New Zealand and the States too. Yes there are now other popular options for physical activity that have gained traction in the heartland markets of the rugby codes, but nothing has hurt them more than parents wanting to take every precaution to protect their children. That issue is going nowhere and as I said, it’s not one unique to Australia. Casting the net wider isn’t evidence of stagnant participation or lack of talent coming through. It’s not exactly a new phenomenon either. It’s simply a result of the game becoming more professional and exploring places beyond our shores where rugby code(s) dominate the landscape. Again, don’t fall into the trap of believing that a muscular kid with a darker complexion wasn’t born in Australia and didn’t develop through our system (which has never been stronger than it is now). More often than not, they did just that.
Jeff Morris
Guest
I agree, to be "the world sport" it would have to be the only sport played (at least the only team sport).
republican
Guest
.....when I watch League, which is not often I have to admit and usually when I'm visiting my in laws in FNQ, the number of Kiwis represented at the highest tier of our domestic comp, whether they be Maoris or otherwise, is clearly more dominant with the passing seasons. I dont believe Im imagining this while mates in Sydney who have supported and played League most of their lives, tell me the GR is in trouble in Sydney, which is evidenced by those NRL clubs 'casting the net further', to NZ and PI nations, more and more. Many of our young people prefer Soccer and the Australian code to the Rugby codes which is partially due to the diversity and ever changing immigration diaspora today. This will only increase the pressure on these two codes especially, to remain relevant here, in my opinion.
Dan
Guest
Terrance, With respect, the argument that people liked to kick a ball around in other countries is no more evidence that those countries had a form of soccer as is the notion that Rugby can be described as having a basis in Roman history given the physical nature of Cacio Storico, or is arguable to have existed in some form in Japanese culture because sumo shares some principles with scrummaging. The sport of soccer is a very specific and very specifically British sport codified in their schools in much the same way that Rugby and Cricket were. The fact that other countries may have had games involving balls doesn't have much to do with the British Empire's success in spreading it (otherwise we ought to play it here in light of the existence of the Aboriginal ball game of Marngrook), nor does not change the fact that it remains a game rooted in British culture and thought.
Dan
Guest
All the big international sports are British exports - the fact that soccer has managed to break free of the "old colonies" to a greater degree is largely an accident of history, but it doesn't show that it can be done. Although it must be said that rather ironically, soccer - arguably Britain's most successful ever export - is least popular in its old colonial territories. On the international League front, I agree with this article that we should all just get over the fact that our sport is small when compared with behemoth's like soccer or even Rugby (although it bares mentioning that the NRL is worth more than pretty well any of the individual Union club competitions around the globe). We all know the World Cup in League isn't a tense battle for genuine global prestige, but it does work as a great showcase of the game to audiences that might otherwise not know about the game, and it tends to be a pretty joyous event. I for one loved the last 2 world cups - both of which were very well attended, rated and thoroughly enjoyable to watch.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I enjoyed reading this comment. Thanks.
Brainstrust
Guest
No they don't they give 15 million pounds to 10 rugby nations over 4 years , 6 nations, 4 nation, and the PAcific Islands get that amount split across the whole region for that 4 year period . Where that is incredibly unfair is that those top 10 nations get a lot of revenue per year anyway, England I think earn 200 million pounds a year and the Pacific where the 15 million pounds over 4 would be a game changer doesn;t get it. Then because of the lack of funding their best players avoid playing for the national team. At least rugby league loose eligibility laws mean they can play for their national team without fear of the consequences. The Pacific islands know they are treated as second class and will switch to rugby league in a moments notice if the offer is made, however I don't see rugby league as wanting to take them over because they aren't a big market. NZ have played one test match in Western Samoa and cost the nation a million dollars, they avoid the PAcific islands because they are the financial grubs of world rugby. Super rugby where they will travel halfway across the world anfd avoid having super rugby teams in the PAcific islands.
TingoTango
Guest
but we need to start somewhere. The RLWC is progressing with each event. For example the USA team which did not have many local players last time this time the majority are from the domestic competition. The Italian side has many locals including one player who played 89 test for the RU side. Jarryd Hayne said that when he went to Fiji before the 2008 RLWC no one knew them, this time they were mobbed in the street. PNG will be hosting matches for the first time and they are improving especially since coming into the Intrust cup in Qld. Lebanon has 5 domestic players up from none in 2000. There are other good stories however my point is that we need to keep building the international game. Just because it is not as good as the FIFA World Cup or the RU world cup that does not matter. In the end not so many sports have a great world cup set up outside of these 2 sports so we should be looking to the future to make sure it builds from there
Mack
Guest
No they wouldn't. The "irb" now world rugby pump tens of millions of dollars into the islands every year. The islands get to see their teams perform in both 7s and 15s regularly throughout the year in real world tournaments in front of big crowds. It is also entrenched in schools and churches. The NRL investing some $ will not mean the islands swap from union to league
Mack
Guest
Haha Fred... you can't be comparing international teams in union and league?! Joke
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Fair call. To solve the problem as you see it, the IRLF has to up its game in terms of marketing and promotion, not only of the World Cup which is its main source of income, but of the next level of regional tournaments. There are swathes of nations competing in rugby league who would do well to have direct access and pathways into higher and higher leagues. That requires a meaningful cooperation between the IRLF, the RFL and the NRL. There are a lot of options available to any serious administrator of the code in this respect. Anyway, I think you can appreciate that it is all quite possible.
Andrew
Guest
Justin you said 2 days ago you've given up on Rugby? I'd love to be in the trenches with you mate
Mitcher
Guest
Lifelong Aussie rules fan. My whole family from Adelaide. But your comment is utter rubbish. All over the world. Gold.
Mitcher
Guest
Tezza. Your positions on PNG and Samoa seem in direct contradiction.
Mitcher
Guest
There is no actual reality whereby 90% of international players play in 'a select few European leagues'. So far off the mark. If you'd said 90% of the genuine elite international reps have been funnelled into these 'select few leagues'. Maybe. Otherwise. Just off the mark.