The All Stars game between the Indigenous and Maori sides needs greater prominence on the rugby league calendar but adding them to the World Cup is not the way to go.
League legend Greg Inglis floated his support during the week for an Indigenous side to be part of the 2025 tournament in France which is a noble idea but it would not be the right move.
Rugby league’s representative eligibility rules are a rubbery beast and the World Cup has included teams like the New Zealand Maori in the past, they were in the 2000 event.
There will be 16 nations in the men’s competition, eight in the women’s and wheelchair tournaments at the the end of this year when the World Cup is held in England 12 months later than planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If the sport is ever going to expand beyond its limited global reach, the World Cup has to be for nations only.
Fellow Indigenous icon Johnathan Thurston said as much when also asked by the Sydney Morning Herald about Inglis’ idea by stating that he thinks one of the key parts of Australia’s complex reconciliation process is that the nation embraces everyone under the one umbrella.
That said, the All Stars game seems to be getting short shrift when it comes to the rugby league calendar and clubs releasing their players for the match.
There is no perfect time for the match to be played.
If it is on after the trials, the clubs would say it’s too close to the start of the season.
If it had its own weekend midway through the year like the NBA, then teams would also be reluctant to let players decamp mid-season due to the risk of injury.
And if it were switched to the end of the year then it would further encroach on the number of representative fixtures which was growing rapidly before the pandemic paused all internationals the past couple of years.
Like the World Club Challenge, which has been canned again this year due to travel restrictions, there is no date which ticks all the boxes for the governing bodies, players, broadcasters and worst of all, the club coaches and officials looking for the first excuse to keep their playing talent to themselves.
Irrespective of when the match is played, it should be used as a way to grow the game beyond its traditional heartlands.
Assuming international travel returns to relative normal, the All Stars game would be a great way to showcase rugby league to markets like Asia, the Middle East or the United States.
Expats alone from rugby league nations in those regions could help get decent crowds in stadiums at places like Dubai, Hong Kong or any number of American cities.
Rugby league took a step in the right direction pre-pandemic when England took on New Zealand in a Test at Denver in June, 2018.
A crowd of nearly 20,000 were in attendance at Mile High Stadium – it may have barely made a blip on the American sports radar but any overseas growth is worth chasing when your sport is only played at a decent level in a handful of countries.
Indigenous All Stars coach Laurie Daley agreed with Thurston that he would prefer to see just the Kangaroos in action on the World Cup stage but was in favour of his side spreading its wings overseas.
“I personally believe you only need one Australian team, not two, at a World Cup, but I definitely think there’s an opportunity for this team to play a lot more games, including against the Pacific nations,” Daley said at Friday’s media conference leading into Saturday night’s clash at Parramatta’s CommBank Stadium.
“You could even have Indigenous tours over to England and New Zealand.
“It would be great to play more games, and we’d compete, don’t worry about that – there would be no worries there.”
If a match or a series was played in the northern hemisphere, it could even be brought forward a couple of weeks in the calendar to appease nervous clubs because it would be held in the winter months.
Dane
Guest
This is one of the few Rugby League events that I'd like to not move around. Alternate between Auckland & Sydney so it can grow into one of the biggest events crowd wise on the calendar. An opportunity for supporters of both team to congregate in a location easy to travel to
Dave
Guest
It’s a real red flag that you seem to think you speak for people or can tell people what to do. Troubling behaviour
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
how big a success was NZRL vs England in the US of A not too long ago? was it even televised in America? Only expats from both nations and maybe Aussies the only crowd?
Nat
Roar Guru
Dave, seriously, you're done.
Dave
Guest
I just grabbed the most recent round one mate, If you go back to 2020 the result is the same…… How is that the vast majority :laughing: :laughing: state of origin number 1, 2021 went close to 3mil, now that’s the majority of league fans. How does half a mil equate to the vast majority when there’s at least nearly 3mil fans watching a different league game. I just can’t figure out how you got to those numbers, especially the 44k attendance seeing as all stars match as far as I’m aware has never had more than mid 30’s in attendance
Nat
Roar Guru
You mean the highest round one ever? Nice comparison, why didn't you throw in the GF or Origin? Nearly half a million people tuned in last night which is a "vast majority" by any standard. You lose. Yes champ, I'm sure you did know the numbers, I wrote them on the page and told you where you can source them but you cannot work out add the numbers even if they they are written on the page then I'll leave you to with your giggling emoji. You, empty can and all that.
Dave
Guest
Why would I change the subject :laughing: I’ve seen those figures, I’m referring to the 750k tv audience number. No idea where you’ve pulled that from, or the 44k attendance More people watched round 1 Thursday night footy last year than watched the all stars match last night. I’m sorry but if that doesn’t scream mediocrity then I don’t know what does. The game that is pushed so hard by the NRL and by your words, the majority of NRL fans enjoy watching and they can’t outdo a Thursday night fixture I won’t touch the attendance figures from last night given the inevitable “but it was raining excuse” which is valid enough
Nat
Roar Guru
I'll leave this here and wait for you to change the subject. :thumbup: Ratings https://www.mediaweek.com.au/tv-ratings-saturday-february-20-2021/ https://www.mediaweek.com.au/tv-ratings-february-22-2020/ Attendance https://www.austadiums.com/sport/event/24405 https://www.austadiums.com/sport/event/22750
Dave
Guest
Classic, I’m going to cite something but not actually link to it I’m not arguing for the sake of it, I’m arguing because I believe in the point I’m making and you’re making sweeping generalised statements that don’t add up “All of us” :laughing: you have a real problem with exaggeration and a self inflated sense of self worth if you think you speak for “everyone” :laughing: deary me. Next you’re going to tell me that was a good game to watch :laughing:
Nat
Roar Guru
I wasn’t being snippy at all. If I can find them numbers in a click so can you. You’re arguing for the sake of it. Check out the thread. Your the socials king, all of us are enjoying it.
Dave
Guest
No need to be snippy, if you quote a number I’m more than in my right to ask where it originated from. I’ve also googled and am not able to find the figures you’re referring to and they don’t reflect the numbers you qouted for the last few years so I’m confused what they are for? It is an exact quote, but what you wrote didn’t equate to your explanation of said quote. But they aren’t massive numbers though :laughing: comparing it to a regular season nrl game doesn’t help your argument :laughing: The first fixture of the year with all the promotion it’s given and they only pull those figures? That’s really poor
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Andrew, I'm watching as we speak - 8.20 and still no start . Oh here we go ????
Griffo 09
Roar Rookie
But it won't because if they're good enough they'll play for Australia or New Zealand.
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
Richard meet Cranium
Nat
Roar Guru
Google Dave. Every thing you need to know is there. Media week will give the TV numbers. What do you mean it's not really how it read? It's an exact quote. I know it's not for everyone but they are in the minority as exampled by the massive numbers who did tune in. 280k is above the average NRL game, 450K is massive by comparison. 21k and 23k is significantly more than the NQ and GC teams average at home. If you're chasing origin numbers for a preseason, Saturday night game of league to say it's not popular than no NRL game is popular at all.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
I was wondering why he thought Rugby League is deeply r.aci-st and the most R…… game in the entire world. He hasn’t replied yet. I shouldn’t feed the trolls.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
You clearly don't get it. A game celebrating two cultures is not racist. Not getting it is being kind. It's not the 1950s anymore
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
You don't like it ? Why ? Surely the fact the players like it is the only real criteria. State of Origin will remain an incredible spectacle for as long as it means something to the players. Same with this game. If its not your thing Home and Garden is on.
Dave
Guest
But what basis are you using to measure that? Vast majority is an extremely definitive statement. Also that’s not really what it read as but if that’s what you meant fair enough Sorry where did those numbers come from?
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
Because as we all know Tim that suits the path that they want to take the argument on, bugger the facts :thumbup: