After 30 matches and 299 tries, the only number that counts this weekend at the Rugby League World Cup is who scores the most points when the Kangaroos tackle Samoa at Old Trafford.
It will most likely be another coronation for the Australians and a 12th title, yet one that will be won differently to many others, with very little between the top four teams; England, Samoa, New Zealand and the Kangaroos.
As the talent developed in the NRL competition continues to spread widely across nations represented by players connected by birth or heritage to them, the time will eventually come when Australia is stunningly beaten in a World Cup finals match by one of them.
However, it is unlikely to be this time around, with the Australians firm favourites to hold the trophy aloft a couple of hours before breakfast time on the east coast of Australia.
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The tournament has featured a few beatings, some matches fought out on a knife-edge and seen stunning performances from individuals that have reminded us all of the sheer beauty and brutality of the game.
But how has the World Cup stacked up from a statistical point of view?
(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
A total of 1681 points have been scored across the tournament, for an average of 56.03 points per game. Not frightfully high considering some of the mismatches we saw in group play.
Interestingly, across the six sudden-death finals, the average drops to 44.5, matching 2022 NRL numbers and perhaps reflecting a well officiated tournament and a pleasant balance between attack and defence.
Crowds have been strong for the home nation’s matches and the semi-final blockbuster between the Kangaroos and Kiwis, yet a little disappointing at times elsewhere.
Just 8206 people made the trip to Huddersfield for the Kangaroos’ quarter-final with Lebanon and just over 7000 saw the ripping quarter-final between New Zealand and Fiji in Hull.
However, viewing numbers have been excellent, making the event the most watched rugby league World Cup on record.
(Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images for RLWC)
That presents an interesting addition to the arguments around bums on sets and broadcast money, something all sports continue to grapple with in modern professionalism.
Those who took the decent odds offered on Josh Addo-Carr as the tournament’s top try-scorer should have already cashed out. The Bulldogs winger has been utterly unstoppable at times, looks in superb physical condition and you wonder just how on earth he was left out of the NSW Origin team earlier in the year.
England’s Tommy Makinson was not too far behind Addo-Carr, yet his nine tries and 20 goals makes him the tournament’s top scorer, with Australia’s Nathan Cleary likely to steal the crown from him on the final day.
Adam Doueihi holds the unfortunate honour of being the only man marched from the field during the tournament and interestingly, just 17 yellow cards were issued, with Samoa and Scotland accounting for seven of those. The Samoans will be in dangerous waters should such a lack of discipline surface on Sunday morning.
The fact that the Kangaroos have avoided sanction says a great deal about the professionalism in Mal Meninga’s squad, with his team again able to combat considerable opposition brawn with brains and efficiency.
Pleasingly, even the most over-powered and out-witted nations managed to hit the scoreboard, with Wales (18), Scotland (18), Jamaica (20) and Greece (20) all finishing a distant last in their respective groups but also creating a few thrilling moments for their fans and celebrating their World Cup participation with plenty of enthusiasm.
It is hard to see the neat 16-team format as having been anything but successful and while the four teams above do have plenty of work to do to return in 2024 as more competitive units, further improvement from Cook Islands, Fiji, Lebanon and Papua New Guinea is likely during that time.
Mosese Suli of Tonga (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
The latter three finished second in their groups and competed courageously in the quarter-finals, with Fiji close to pulling off a stunning upset against the Kiwis before going down 24-18.
All up, the organisers should be pleased. Great viewing numbers, reasonable crowds, plenty of points, competent refereeing in the most part and worthy champions no matter the result on Sunday.
Whilst concerns around blow-outs reared their heads again, the issue is one present in most World Cups in any sport and the importance of expansion and growing a game lacking a strong foothold in many parts of the world, simply overrides any dislike for lop-sided results.
Despite the dramas and 12-month delay in holding the event, the World Cup was well-organised blast and a celebration of the greatest game of all. The icing on the cake would be a Samoa win in the final at the juicy odds of $7.50 with PlayUp.
Nat
Roar Guru
Yes, the growing number of clubs, registered players, interest and pathways. There is no doubt union is the dominant code in Fiji at the moment but if you read further than “very likely” you would see that i wrote it will be in the next generation. Why, because it has the money, notoriety and pathways that union cannot offer. A local 9s comp was offering a $15k winners prize - when was the last time union in Fiji could offer anywhere near that? The Silktails and the NRL are providing and pinching several of the union 7s and 15 players because of the opportunities. If a Fijian today wants to earn good money they have to go to Europe and even then it’s an average NRL salary for the majority of them. The 60k players is comfortable now there has been little competition but that won’t be anywhere near the case in 10 - 15 years time.
Julius
Roar Rookie
Based on what evidence do you believe that league will "very likely" overtake Union in Fiji? Number of registered players? Professional pathways? General interest? Attendances? Union (and especially sevens) is the number 1 sport in the country. There's and estimated 60,000 registered senior players and 20,000 schooldchildren that play the game (https://www.fijirugby.com/rugby-house/about-us/). The sevens team that won the Olympic gold featured in the official $7 dollars notes. The Fijian Drua sold out both their Super Rugby games in Suva an Lautoka last year. And despite Tier 1 nations poaching the likes of Koroibete, Vunivalu, Vakatawa, Sowakula, Reece etc they still keep producing top, top playing talent and sending them to play all around the world.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
I think everyone knew what I was referring to
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
English, French & Celtic players It’s a minor point but there are Celts in England and France. The counties west of the Celtic line are Cornwall, Devon and Dorset. Most of the English are descendants of Saxon invaders.
Dionysus
Guest
the
Maximus insight
Guest
"Disgraceful" is a bit ridiculous. It just reflects that, despite being on BBC, the modest numbers confirm rugby league is a very regional sport in the UK, only popular in the regional areas of two counties.
Ad-O
Guest
Please stop it. There is no chance that 18.5M people watched every match in the UK. There wont be 18.5M people watching England play their opening match in the soccer world cup let alone PNG vs Tonga or whatever in League. They didn't break 18M for England v Germany in a WC knockout. Maybe 18.5M total, but even that's a stretch.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
I don’t think bringing a French club into the NRL for a year would help French RL, but bring the best young English, French & Celtic players over to the NRL every year and get them into NRL systems and that will do wonders for the European game long term. Raid the Northern Hemisphere Rugby Union academies for suitable talent . Imagine how good Brian O’Driscoll or Owen Farrell would have been in the NRL had we got them as teenagers.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
Why can’t we do both ? I agree we need to grow the game in Europe, particularly in France and the Home Nations, but the IRL & NRL’s Pacific strategy isn’t about the Pacific markets, although that is a nice little bonus, it’s about participation because the Polynesian & Melanesian physiques are uniquely suited to a collision sport like RL. RL would be stark raving to ignore such a rich source of potential talent, especially given that those countries under the heritage rule punch well above their weight.
Nat
Roar Guru
Good idea but I don't know about the logistics or possible benefit if they do get pumped every week. However, much like the Bateman's, Burgess' et al... if they can develop a few very good ones and bring them across to play and star in the NRL that will get the French attention.
Dionysus
Guest
That is why the Toronto Wolfpack was such a great opportunity. Its a real shame what happened there as they were really trying to give it a shake. They are still around but very much amateur now. One idea I thought of was letting a UK or French team (Toulouse ?) enter our comp for a year as our 18th team ahead of awarding the franchise. Whilst they would probably get flogged (especially Toulouse) every week, the experience would be invaluable. UK clubs often see their players (like Bateman) joining an Aussie club as a positive thing and often seeing a benefit from their return with the experience - this would be similar.
Bernie Vinson
Roar Rookie
Where are the critics now???
Bernie Vinson
Roar Rookie
18m must be the cumulative total. Apologies required. No UK program gets 18m viewers unless the Queen dies etc https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/63506436
Bernie Vinson
Roar Rookie
The rise of the PI nations means England and France have gone backwards and of course Lebanon is still closer to Bondi than Beirut but if you wish to be taken seriously you have to have neutral refs - what other code in the world doesnt have that,.....I have been told Klein and Badger and the Finalists refs if so have all the English refs gone on holidays - no matter how good you think the Aussie refs are, the locals (esp hosting the Cup) should be upfront - I assume they fear a blowout or like to create controversy if there is a dud decision favouring a winning Aussie team
Nat
Roar Guru
Well I guess we have a different outlook on that. While I agree that the PI nations are not the big market segments more than the low hanging fruit. Will league usurp union in Tonga and Fiji? It hasn't yet but it is very likely. Starting now with the Silktails and even more likely when they put another NRL team in NZ. That said, I'm not talking 5years, it will be the next gen and that's the point. The rise has been incredible and it's only been 5 years. The people who enjoyed this world cup will have kids who only know league an the pathways will be there for them. Europe and the US is obviously the money markets. No one is pretending league will make any huge impact by comparison to Football in Europe or NFL. However, what is big money here that drives investment in coaching, players and infrastructure is not that much in those markets. These rules allow good players to represent those nations and bring notoriety. If ever we get to the point where the US/Germany/Russia finds themselves in a WC final, it's a game changer. As it would in union.
Nat
Roar Guru
The eyes have been open for days, you've just failed to stump up anything more than insults and bluster for no other point than the argument. If that's "winning winning" to you, all the best with that. However, I will definitely stop replying to your comments - the day you make an actual point. xxx
Rob9
Roar Guru
‘losing losing to that bloke’ No junior- I’m winning winning to that bloke. Facts are there. Open your eyes. As always, it’s been real Nat- signing out now. As suggested earlier, I’d suggest not replying to comments I make and wallow in your sad existence somewhere else. Or do… you only end up with egg all over your face.
Aiden
Guest
The rule works to make the WC exciting as a spectacle. But if the ultimate aim is to grow the game, then you do need it to catch on more in Europe as that is where the cash is. Even if the game takes over rugby in Fiji or Tonga (it won’t) look at where their players come from in rugby? They may be born in Fiji, but most of them play in Europe where there are thriving professional competitions. League will never grow hair by making League a bit more popular in the Pacific Islands than union. All that will do is lead to more talent heading to Australia. The game needs to grow in France, Italy, The UK, Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Those countries can help improve the professionalism along with us as they can afford it. Otherwise a see a situation where every few years it’s mostly a bunch of Aussie born NRL players having a WC against each other … plus England and the Kumels.
Aiden
Guest
Sort of yeah. But I guess the players all have skill. More accurate to talk about the relative lack of team cohesion and concentration of talent in a few top sides. Because Man City could probably beat Brazil 7 times out of 10. But what I love in WCs is that Coaches have a limited pool of talent and time to make things gel, and you get Michael Chieka with Lebanon, or Eddie Jones with Japan in Rugby, or whatever NZ did to draw with World Champs Italy a while back (hint … it was the 9-1 formation).
Nat
Roar Guru
Yep, I must be a window licking, crayon eating, hot shoe shuffling, FOOL born with dwarfism but you keep losing losing to that bloke. Keep it coming big man. All your vitriol still doesn't make a fact.