2021 World Cup : Mon Nov 12, 2018 7:09 pm  

Australia, New Zealand, England and Tonga, Rugby League’s 4 Powerhouse Nations will be kept apart in 4 separate groups in the 2021 World Cup. What a terrible decision. The 2017 format was ideal and should have been kept. https://www.rlwc2021.com/article/95/rug ... nouncement

Australia, New Zealand, England and Tonga, Rugby League’s 4 Powerhouse Nations will be kept apart in 4 separate groups in the 2021 World Cup. What a terrible decision. The 2017 format was ideal and should have been kept. https://www.rlwc2021.com/article/95/rug ... nouncement

Re: 2021 World Cup : Mon Nov 12, 2018 7:34 pm  

Might as well start with the Semi-finals.

Re: 2021 World Cup : Mon Nov 12, 2018 7:36 pm  

The 2017 format was ridiculous. Two groups of 4 with 3 progressing and 2 groups of 3 with just 1 progressing. How is that ideal?

Re: 2021 World Cup : Mon Nov 12, 2018 7:43 pm  

HXSparky wrote:

The 2017 format was ridiculous. Two groups of 4 with 3 progressing and 2 groups of 3 with just 1 progressing. How is that ideal?

Because the two groups of 4 had the best teams in them. It meant the majority of group games were competitive and good to watch. Nobody was sure who would win each group before the tournament.

Re: 2021 World Cup : Mon Nov 12, 2018 7:58 pm  

On that basis, groups C and D were irrelevant in 2017, and we should just have 8 clubs in the WC. The nature of RL means that major surprises are unlikely, but the lower ranked teams should have the chance to test their arm against the best if they've qualified rather than just being pushed aside to a second tier in the same tournament.

The cream will float to the top, but the likes of Ireland, Wales, USA and Italy should be able to have their day in the limelight against the top teams.

Re: 2021 World Cup : Mon Nov 12, 2018 8:08 pm  

The Samoa and Ireland fiasco shows that the 2017 format was ridiculous.

Re: 2021 World Cup : Mon Nov 12, 2018 8:19 pm  

Enjoyed the New Zealand v Samoa and Fiji V Samoa games at the HJS, can we have some more of that please!

Re: 2021 World Cup : Mon Nov 12, 2018 8:20 pm  

Groups C and D were not irrelevant, a team qualified for the quarter final from each of those groups. Fiji were in group D and got through to the semi final.

Yes it was unfortunate Ireland narrowly missed out on qualifying and Samoa were very fortunate to qualify. But the fact is Ireland had significantly weaker opposition. Samoa played New Zealand and Tonga. Ireland played Wales and Italy.

How many people are going to watch England, Australia or New Zealand face the likes of USA, Jamaica, Serbia or any of the home nations, the games will be an absolute walkover. People want to see competitive games and the top teams play each other.

Re: 2021 World Cup : Mon Nov 12, 2018 8:22 pm  

MorePlaymakersNeeded wrote:

Enjoyed the New Zealand v Samoa and Fiji V Samoa games at the HJS, can we have some more of that please!

Sadly Samoa and Fiji will be 2nd seeds meaning they will be kept apart

Re: 2021 World Cup : Mon Nov 12, 2018 9:41 pm  

Sir Kevin Sinfield wrote:

Groups C and D were not irrelevant, a team qualified for the quarter final from each of those groups. Fiji were in group D and got through to the semi final.

Yes it was unfortunate Ireland narrowly missed out on qualifying and Samoa were very fortunate to qualify. But the fact is Ireland had significantly weaker opposition. Samoa played New Zealand and Tonga. Ireland played Wales and Italy.

How many people are going to watch England, Australia or New Zealand face the likes of USA, Jamaica, Serbia or any of the home nations, the games will be an absolute walkover. People want to see competitive games and the top teams play each other.

It's a World Cup. Tonga played Italy at the Shay in front of a sell-out crowd (around 10,000 or so at the time) in 2013, so lot's of folk will watch "meaningless" games if it's marketed correctly.

Read that again. Halifax, the Shay, and two decent but not top RL teams coming to town. Good marketing and result is a full stadium (I know because I couldn't go to the game originally, but then went for tickets and bought literally the last 2 available).