Because I don’t support an NRL club, my favourite days at the rugby league tend to be the games in which the sport seems to have taken a step forward.
After the Kiwis won the 2005 Tri-Nations, ending a 27-year run of Australia winning everything on offer in 13-a-side matches, I partied long into the night and even tried kava for the first time.
The 2008 World Cup final seemed to prove that win had not been a fluke and I regard being there as a great honour, as it was to witness that amazing Tonga-England RLWC semi last year and be at Toronto Wolfpack’s first ever home game.
(Photo: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)
And seeing rugby league goalposts standing tall on a famous NFL stadium in June was something to behold for a trainspotter like me.
And I got the same vibe on Saturday, sitting in the stands as a spectator at Wembley as Catalans lifted the Challenge Cup with a very tense 20-14 win over Warrington.
The crowd was the smallest for a Cup final since the war; but interestingly, an Aussie friend who knows little about the English game said to be afterwards: “Wow, they got 50,000!”
Objectively, how many would you expect a rugby league game between a team from Greater Manchester and another from the south of France to attract in London?
Be that as it may, the game needs to do better and I’m reasonably sure it will, as discussed in last week’s column.
The point I want to make is that things are moving forward in rugby league – and in a direction which which we ‘league lefties’ should find agreeable. The more upset the traditionalists get, often the better things are.
While Catalans’ victory will be good for the game in its southern France strongholds, it was still a fair way down the front page of national sports paper L’Equipe on Saturday night. It’s not going to make a huge difference nationally.
Catalans lift the Challenge Cup (Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images)
But what it is, is a blow to the like of former Salford owner Marwan Koukash who claimed on Twitter before the match that Catalans “bring nothing to “our rugby league”.
Your rugby league is now their rugby league Marwan. The Challenge Cup has left Yorkshire and Lancashire for only the second time since 1895.
With every couple of steps forward, there will be a step back – especially for a sport that still struggles to engage “the big end of town”.
Denver Test promoter Jason Moore seems to be having trouble paying his bills – and this must call into question his involvement in the 2025 World Cup in North America.
That, in turn, must cast doubt over the tournament being held there at all – although a World Cup for US$10 million when you get to keep all the TV money is bargain basement in anyone’s language and there’s a lot of rich people in North America.
Likewise, the sluggishness around organising this Tonga-Australia Test is frustrating.
Remember the NRL’s big complain about Denver was that it was supposedly “last minute”? Ha!
In the next couple of years we can expect to see Toronto in Super League, Catalans become more of a force, Tonga continue its rise and the NRL have their own shot at the North American market.
Rugby league is still a pimple on the bum of world sport. But the sport spent decades shrinking. It’s only when the heartlands began to feel the squeeze that it began to scan the horizon once more.
Necessity is the mother of invention. Invention is always a good thing.
Gerry
Guest
Saw the rl final on bbc. I was glued to my seat until the last 10 mins when i was seen leaping about like a mad thing shouting at the tv. My wife thought i had lost it. First game of league seen i am totally won over. Shame there is little or no league here in ireland.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Has Andrew broken the record for the most deleted comments here?
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Agreed. Well said Fred!
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
I like the fact he mentioned me before I even read the article. Andrew as he is now known is a sick little puppy!
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
do you still fly to England every fortnight to watch 4th division soccer? That was one of your best!
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Did you say something Andrew?
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Our little friend is back under a new nickname? How sweet?
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Ahh dumbo the flagy thing to the right is the new report button and by the looks of all your deleted rants, it is still working!
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Crosscoder the hypocrisy of this person is outstanding as much as the level of disturbance in this person's mental drive. He has even used my partner's name as an alias on this site & now claims to live in the exact area I live in!
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Nice story if it were true & how ironic you live near me hey? Got that from my facebook too?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
You've been caught out Andrew with your changing monikers on many occasions.There is zero need to have different names,unless of course you have been banned because of your record. "Comments for breaching the Roar code of conduct" is hardly helping your C.V.Snide comments about 40 people at the Catalans arrival, and rl in France doesn't exist". We understand rugby league is small in France,but this victory is something to be celebrated, not bagged because of your dislike for the code.And by all reports you have been likewise on Twitter,under another moniker. You have just stated you have interest in 3 sports ,obviously not rugby league. No they bag rl on occasions, no one does what you do ,on this site full stop. So why the hell are you bothering to spend time here, trying to dismantle viewpoints of people who are interested in the code.And yes people who do criticise the code (rl)when warranted. Not one rl poster here ,goes on to other codes' threads and spends such an inordinate amount of time making passing shots to achieve point scoring.as you do.Perhaps you could learn a thing or two.It sticks out like a beacon.
Andrew Taylor
Roar Rookie
They dont bag League and other sports on those threads articles like this do enough damage and comedic value for the outsider. I dont start profiles to seem more than one moniker has my opinion. Cathar and his mate Justin liked the Report button on the old format hence not letting freedom of speech. Thank god for the new format
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
You''re certainly not a rugby league fan Andrew Taylor,and it is plainly obvious with your only contributions(and I use the description lightly) to bait other contributors and pour scorn at every opportunity on any development ,that happens within rugby league overseas. Hence the need for you to change your moniker on a monotonous basis, to give the impression you just lobbed in.Many rl posters here are aware of your antics. Of course it's not illegal to like more than one sport, but for someone to spend so much time bagging a sport they abhor, in the sport's own threads, suggests a rather shallow existence.Bag rugby league in ru or AFL or Soccer threads,as they are the sports you claim you follow. It's not a case of freedom of speech or expression, it's freedom from stupidity via meaningless and vitriolic comments.Valid criticisms are not the problem.
Andrew Taylor
Roar Rookie
Im a soccer fan Cathar aka association football.. Swansea City, Boca Juniors and Brisbane Roar are my fav teams. Even living in the hills of Nimbin i get to most Brisbane Roar games. I also get to Union and AFL games and can get Titans tickets whenever i like because its not like they are hard to get freebies. You do know its not illegal to like more than one sport.. You should try it
Andrew Taylor
Roar Rookie
This comment has been removed for breaching The Roar's comments policy.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
yeah read your history, other sports were banned and they were allowed to start up with state backing almost immediately. Were these sports also banned from schools, institutions after the war? Were they denied using their own name? Were their assets handed over to a rival/similar sport? You really no nothing.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Your truth = nothing & stop going on about being a soccer fan, just changing your ammo are we?
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
What are you even remotely going on about?
Andrew Taylor
Roar Rookie
Freedom of speech Cathar. You really hate hearing the truth dont you mate. Sunshine..
Andrew Taylor
Roar Rookie
This comment has been removed for breaching The Roar's comments policy.