Topic: Rugby League World Cup (2021/22)

[Trump's tiny tiny hands]

Bloody Pacific Island nations weakening the NZ side by taking our best players

[Crosby Nick]

4-2? Mean if them to steal all your best players in anti bullying week. No respect.

Tonga only squeaked past Lebanon too

[Samie]

Haha fucking Kiwis. Battered Scotland and thought they could steamroll through to the Semis.

[Igor Tripod Biscan]

I'm surpised there isn't more love for League on RAWK. 

Not a criticism just an observation.  Growing up - 'up north' and spending many years living in Wigan, most northerners (in my experience) consider League to be the northern game and Union to be for southerners (because southerners can afford to have 2 more friends) however Union gets far more love on here

Again, just an observation. 

[puroresu_kid]

I will be amazed if McGillvary isn't playing in the NRL 2019.

[Samie]

Well that was shite. Our pass completion was fucking amateur. We'll scrape past Tonga before our usual take it up the arse for the Aussies.

[liversaint]

I'm surpised there isn't more love for League on RAWK. 

Not a criticism just an observation.  Growing up - 'up north' and spending many years living in Wigan, most northerners (in my experience) consider League to be the northern game and Union to be for southerners (because southerners can afford to have 2 more friends) however Union gets far more love on here

Again, just an observation. 

Interest in RL literally stops at Windle island on the A580.

[Samie]

Australia battering Fiji in the fist Semi.  54-6.

Valentine Holmes 6 tries in the match breaking the record for most tries in an international. We're getting hammered.   

[pundapat]

Australia battering Fiji in the fist Semi.  54-6.

Valentine Holmes 6 tries in the match breaking the record for most tries in an international. We're getting hammered.   

Scored more tries in two test matches on the wing than he did all season at fullback. As a Cronulla supporter I surely hope he realises, at his current standing, he’s best plying his trade on the wing, where he’s simply a try scoring freak.
Don’t get me wrong, the boy is destined to play fullback one day, but he was thrust into the position at least 3 years prematurely.

[Crosby Nick]

England were 20-0 up v Tonga after 72 minutes. Finished 20-18 with Yonga knocking on just yards from the England line. Incredible finish.

[Crosby Nick]

No one else see this? Was amazing, thankfully didn’t go full Crystal Palace on us.

[sinnermichael]

No one else see this? Was amazing, thankfully didn’t go full Crystal Palace on us.

Just seen the highlights. Was a bonkers last ten minutes.

They still won't beat Australia next week.

[Samie]

Saw the highlights mate.  We're getting tonked next week,. 

[liversaint]

No one else see this? Was amazing, thankfully didn’t go full Crystal Palace on us.

Watched it all. Amazing game, nearly for the wrong reasons. Couldn't believe he didn't go to screen on last play.

[Crosby Nick]

McGilverry would have had nightmares had they scored at the end have made the interception and then lost the call.

Agree Samie 20 points or more next week you’d think. You never know!...

[puroresu_kid]

I think Fifita scores a good try. Great game, great atmosphere.

This could be huge for the game in Tonga. Hopefully Rugby League won’t waste this opportunity.

Australia to win by 20 points. If Tonga had better halves they would won and Australia have world class halves.

[Fairytale of 2005]

I haven't watched any of the tournament since the England v Australia game. What has it been like quality and entertainment wise?

[Samie]

Quality is a lot better than last time out. The pacific islands of PNG, Tonga and Fiji have greatly improved. 2 of them beat New Zealand.

[Fairytale of 2005]

Quality is a lot better than last time out. The pacific islands of PNG, Tonga and Fiji have greatly improved. 2 of them beat New Zealand.

Figures. They will probably overtake England at some point, as the quality here has severely decreased in the past 10 years or so.

[Fairytale of 2005]

I'm surpised there isn't more love for League on RAWK. 

Not a criticism just an observation.  Growing up - 'up north' and spending many years living in Wigan, most northerners (in my experience) consider League to be the northern game and Union to be for southerners (because southerners can afford to have 2 more friends) however Union gets far more love on here

Again, just an observation. 

The old Super League thread used to be really lively up until 8 or 9 years ago. A lot of those guys don't appear to post on RAWK anymore, plus the game has gone dow hill entertainment wise in the eyes of many. I used to love the game, but I barely watch it anymore.

[puroresu_kid]

The old Super League thread used to be really lively up until 8 or 9 years ago. A lot of those guys don't appear to post on RAWK anymore, plus the game has gone dow hill entertainment wise in the eyes of many. I used to love the game, but I barely watch it anymore.

Super league has defiently taken a hit quality wise. The gap between SL and NRL on the pitch and salaries continues to get wider. Clubs here lose the the best talent to Australia and can’t now afford to bring the best Australian players over here anymore.

[Crosby Nick]

Super league has defiently taken a hit quality wise. The gap between SL and NRL on the pitch and salaries continues to get wider. Clubs here lose the the best talent to Australia and can’t now afford to bring the best Australian players over here anymore.

What’s caused that? Less TV money here? Or is it more of a case of the NRL budget getting offer so they can take our best players and keep there’s?

[puroresu_kid]

What’s caused that? Less TV money here? Or is it more of a case of the NRL budget getting offer so they can take our best players and keep there’s?

Way less TV money. The superleague TV deal hasn't really risen when inflation is taking into account. The NRL deal is huge in comparison. The pound not being so strong against the Australian Dollar also plays a part.

http://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/21659/11111087/super-league-at-risk-after-nrl-announce-bumper-pay-deal

  The average wage for a top NRL player will rise to nearly £200,000 a year as part of a new pay deal worth £566m that will have huge ramifications for Super League.

The National Rugby League finally reached agreement with the players union, bringing to an end more than 16 months of negotiations, which will see the salary cap increased to £5.4m next year and to more than £5.8m in 2022.

That compares to a salary cap in the Super League of £1.9m in 2018 and effectively rules out any more major recruits from the NRL.

So in effect you have the the NRL being able to pay players more as well as offer players a lifestyle in sunny Australia as well as a threat from Rugby Union taking talent.

The worrying thing is NRL teams can be now take players younger. Superleague may not see its best players for 3,4,5 years and then they go to Oz. Now a player could play one season and his then offered a chance to move to Australia.

Would be crazy to say no.

Now some would argue its time to scrap the salary cap in superleague as there are some clubs who are wealthy enough to pay more to players and still not go into debt.

Another point is Australia has a much larger player pool to choose from. Rugby league is huge in NSW and Queensland with the participation numbers of kids playing the game being much higher than in the UK.

[Fairytale of 2005]

What’s caused that? Less TV money here? Or is it more of a case of the NRL budget getting offer so they can take our best players and keep there’s?

The problems for RL run deep in this country, starting with coaching at kids level. Skill and flair is actively coached out of kids in favour of fundamentals. The product on the field gets worse and worse, because the players are actually worse. Then there are the clueless clowns at RFL, stupid rule changes, Sky and a whole host of other issues.

[puroresu_kid]

The problems for RL run deep in this country, starting with coaching at kids level. Skill and flair is actively coached out of kids in favour of fundamentals. The product on the field gets worse and worse, because the players are actually worse. Then there are the clueless clowns at RFL, stupid rule changes, Sky and a whole host of other issues.

The lack of real quality creative half backs is worrying.

I thought Kyle Eastmond would of been a star but he left for Rugby Union early.

[Fairytale of 2005]

The lack of real quality creative half backs is worrying.

I thought Kyle Eastmond would of been a star but he left for Rugby Union early.

Halves may be the area that suffers most from the coaching at a young age and the obsession with arm wrestle rugby. It is no coincidence that the backs in SL are not the same as what they used to be. Just look at the wingers being made to take the first couple of drives from deep, it's nonsense. The forwards play 20 minutes at a time and have plenty of rest, so why make the wingers take drives? As a result, wingers of blistering pace are all but extinct and the game is all about scoring tries off kicks and set plays. No flair, no speed, just boring grind.

First thing I would do is drop the interchanges to six, it would instantly bring back some excitement.

[puroresu_kid]

Halves may be the area that suffers most from the coaching at a young age and the obsession with arm wrestle rugby. It is no coincidence that the backs in SL are not the same as what they used to be. Just look at the wingers being made to take the first couple of drives from deep, it's nonsense. The forwards play 20 minutes at a time and have plenty of rest, so why make the wingers take drives? As a result, wingers of blistering pace are all but extinct and the game is all about scoring tries off kicks and set plays. No flair, no speed, just boring grind.

First thing I would do is drop the interchanges to six, it would instantly bring back some excitement.

It's why Castleford are so liked as they play a different game.

[Crosby Nick]

6-0 Australia at half time. We’re at that horrible ‘false hope’ stage.

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

Still find it ridiculous that an Australian can be refereeing a World Cup final that Australia are playing in.

[Red-Soldier]

Still find it ridiculous that an Australian can be refereeing a World Cup final that Australia are playing in.

It's a total farce.

[Barneylfc∗]

Listening to this on 5 Live. The commentary is shite. There's 20 certain tries prevented. Sounds a bit like Steve Hunter from LFCTV

[The North Bank]

Done everything but score  england

[Crosby Nick]

Listening to this on 5 Live. The commentary is shite. There's 20 certain tries prevented. Sounds a bit like Steve Hunter from LFCTV

That’s who I thought it was at first.

[Yorkykopite]

Where’s all the fat blokes bending over, breathing heavily, hands on their knees? Oh, it’s League, not Union.

[Outer Mongolian Red]

Why kick it away there?!

[cdav]

Stupid decision making towards the end of sets cost England there, a lack of composure near their try line. But it was a lot closer then I thought it would be, the Aussies looked spent at the end.

[Crosby Nick]

Where’s all the fat blokes bending over, breathing heavily, hands on their knees? Oh, it’s League, not Union.

Yeah they all looked fresh as a daisy there at the end.

Would like to see that last play of the game there, looked like we were in had he held on to it.

[Johnnyboy1973]

Too many errors alongside a lack of professionalism and intelligence in the final third.

Shame really but always nice to see Bateman lose

[cdav]

Yeah they all looked fresh as a daisy there at the end.

Would like to see that last play of the game there, looked like we were in had he held on to it.

Think a forward pass was given earlier on in the play as it went wide. The one I didn't understand was Gayle kicking on the 3rd with 2 mins left- need to play to the end of the set.

[Crosby Nick]

Think a forward pass was given earlier on in the play as it went wide. The one I didn't understand was Gayle kicking on the 3rd with 2 mins left- need to play to the end of the set.

Yeah that was a waste. Great effort but just a difference in class with the execution. Almost more galling to lose a tight one with a few missed opportunities to mull over.

Ah well, at least that twat Slater didn’t score!