The powerhouse of this World Cup has been the Pacific Nations.
All the drama of players switching allegiances saw more feeling in many of their games. The players have shown us how to do a rivalry – hard, but with respect – and the crowds have loved it.
Speaking of crowds, it’s clear that league has a strong foothold in Papua New Guinea and to maintain the momentum, we need more of these blokes playing in the NRL – the nation’s talent needs a pathway to the top level.
It’s also been great to see the full grounds in New Zealand. From an Aussie perspective, it was nice to see that the home team didn’t have the most support in the crowd. For many years the All Blacks have effectively been playing home games in Australia, as all the Kiwis in the crowd seeming to outnumber Aussie fans.
The casual chat of the video ref has been great too. Perhaps the robotic Bunker could learn to chill and have a chat to the viewers to explain what they are looking at and why they make their decisions.
Channel Seven’s coverage has also been refreshingly professional, without drama and very few rants during the commentary.
My personal highlight so far though was the singing of the Tongan crowd – simply joyous and beautiful.
However, there have been some less-than-inspiring aspects of the World Cup thus far, headlined by the lack of crowds in Australia.
The thrashings are also a bad look. Perhaps there needs to be a towel on the sideline that any coach can throw in when all hope is gone? I am not a fan of run-away scores.
Then there’s the one-referee system, which was supposed to be wonderful but, the reality hasn’t quite been so great.
The ruck has been getting more and more out of control as teams realise that the one referee cannot police everything – ditto the ten metres, which is just too much for one person to police.
Meanwhile, has anyone seen a northern hemisphere player actually touch the football with their foot in the play the ball? I haven’t.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
All marketing is deceptive. That's why it is marketing.
Maestro
Guest
From Gordon archives - a guest AB due to injury in a warm up game Among his prized possessions was an All Black jersey, given to him after he played for New Zealand in a match against Queensland at the Sydney Sports Ground in 1960. The All Blacks were en route to South Africa for a long tour, and wanted some warm-up matches in Australia to get their game oiled up. Two of the players in their 30-man squad were unavailable for a double–header at the Sports Ground in which they played Queensland first of all, and then NSW. They needed a winger and a fullback. Must try harder next time
Maestro
Guest
Ding - you found one player (incorrectly) in the files at NRL Central - thanks for the flawed research. Maurie played for Gordon for a decade and his brother played for St George RL (both played rugby at Newington fro memory) Maurie played for NSW (they must have been short) in the very amateur days as a sinecure - he was a solid grade custodian of the old NZ rugby tradition but wouldn't have got a game for North Harbour let alone Australia. Anything else?
Johnno
Guest
You prefer 9's coverage Albo in rugby league, turn it up. 7 have been good, you'd rather than to Gus and Rabs than Jim Wilson or Renae Gartner, c'mon Albo turn it up, Gus and Rabs are useless and dinosaurs..
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
The only negative for this World Cup is the poor camera angles chosen during the pregame dances of the Pacific nations. There is a tendency in television these days to try and edit emotion into the viewer rather than trusting to the actual product. Set up the damned camera in front and to the left or right of the dances and leave the thing there so we can see the whole group performing. The current closeups and below chin shots of individual players completely negates the power and emotive force of a group performance which is what these dances are. End rant.
Fred
Guest
Wales has two teams in League1. Should even one of them get promoted to the Championship, or dare I say it Super League, Wales could improve very quickly.
DMac
Guest
You mean NSW tax payers gave it.
Maestro
Guest
The forward pass was called by the touchie and not the ref and it was forward - sometimes they are let go - depending on the score of course. It was the earlier pas that was forward not the last one as the touchie stopped on the 10 metre line. That's a problem with the rules
Maestro
Guest
See Masters article on refs orchestrting games for TV close result
Maestro
Guest
But they are counting it as one game so again deceptive as per usual RL marketing
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
Yeah I don't watch my clubs away games on tv, because I don't like the venues. It's ridiculous that they can't play all their games at home. How are we expected to watch a game in Cairns on our tv's. Just crazy scheduling...
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Why would you ask about International ratings if league only exists in Sydney and Brisbane? Outstanding logic guvna...
Up the Wahs
Roar Guru
I can imagine nz and png were good. England apparently had good ratings considering its been on in the morning. Don't know about other places. But I guess that doesn't matter to someone like you who feels the need to make consistent negative comments on a sport you hate. I hope it's fulfilling.
Godragonsgo
Guest
You know what................................ Look at all this passion for an International league game between New Zealand and Tonga. Never seen the likes of this before.......... :-)
Cedric
Guest
Fact. 6 wrong calls against the kiwis in 30 mins of footy resulting in 30%possession. Fact. Kiwis lost, it's a no brainer.
Cedric
Guest
Fact. 6 wrong calls against the kiwis in 30 mins of footy resulting in 30%possession. Fact. Kiwis lost, it's a no brainer.
Concerned Observer
Guest
Think you've had your fill here cedric. While I totally agree with you that the ref RUINED that game in the second half there's just a few things I worry about. DWZ... gee whiz they may as well have put a wheelie bin out instead of him in that second half. Never seen a worse display of defense by a NZ winger and that penalty he gave away by skilfully tackling someone in the air in the one kick he actually leapt for was not needed. It gets worse when I think that the bloke sitting on the pine because of him was Nightingale. The running joke that was the left edge defense... a few quick silky passes and good running will turn any edge defense inside out but watching a bench forward run through the line virtually uncontested makes me think there's a couple of problems, as does the fact that all of Tonga's points came down tht side. Also, how great was Lolohea's intercept? I mean, sure sutton was probably pointing it out to him as everyone's favourite violent criminal threw a pass that is best described as 'slow', 'glacial' or 'begging to be intercepted' but you can't fault him for seizing those opportunities.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I've countered all of your points Maestro. Thanks for playing.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
To be fair though, a lot of their Super League players weren't available to play.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
lol