Anyone who has been to suncorp stadium to watch a rl test match will understand how attractive our international game is. The atmosphere is great and the games are played at a very high standard. I am really looking forward to this years rl world cup, I know there are some people out there who think its a joke and the aussies should be handed the trophy now and forget the rest. Well i know for a fact that the kiwis and poms are trying there very best to topple the kangaroo juganaut. That terrible spectacle they called a rugby (boring) world cup proved that emerging sides only get better when they can pit themselve against the best. This will happen with sides like the french, png etc. I would love to see a dark horse like ireland or scotland cause a boil over, thats entertaining and creates interest. We need this competion and what better place to have it than where the game is at its strongest. It might be hard for some to take but with the crowds that flock to each nrl game week in week out. Proves there is a new genaration that will show up to see this great game. So with positive marketing, and players that are household names this comp could really bring alot of fringe supporters and sponsors to this great game.

The two stigmas that are associated with league is that it is only a working mans game full of boof heads. The second is that the aussies are so strong the test matches are a for gone conclusion. Well if anyone has seen most nrl profiles of players, they will notice most of the young players are studying some type of higher level coarse or trade. These young blokes for god sake and like all young professionals are so heavily scrutinized when ever they are out in  the public. They are told this is the price you pay if you want to be a full time professional.Well 99% of these players are so well behaved and conscious of there actions that for most they are real role models. Just ask what 2005 tri nations ment to the very proud kiwis. When the aussies are toppled it generates so much interest. So in a week to week comp like rl wc 08 another nations gets a chance to gel and have a real opportunity to be at there very best when they take on australia.I could go on forever about the positives that will come out of rlwc 08, But lets all sit back and show all the other codes what a great spectacle is. Bring it on!!!

Hey Marty, you dont have to tell me how good the game is, i have seen every test match since the 70"s  and know that there is no such thing as australia being odds on faverites to win. We have had many tough tests over the years and england and new zealand are always the hardest to beat, but this time i think we have some new teams that will give a good showing, p.n.g and samoa  also tonga and figi, include teams with up and coming talent, scotland ireland and the team who will be a force in years to come, france.

 I have just finished watching the cowboys win their 1st game against the eels, and you should never right off any team.

Thanks for the reply oikee, i believe and it isn't much of a secret that self belief and confidence will take alot of the teams very far in this upcoming world cup. tony smith is doing his upmost to get the poms as ready as they can be, he has so much respect from the english camp.  If they can't lift for this tournament they never will. In australia as we all know rugby league has such a high profile with nrl and of course origin. In the uk league ranks probably third behind soccer and rugby. So for them to do well would mean so much for the profile of there game back home. Good luck to them all.

marty 74:

... In the uk league ranks probably third behind soccer and rugby...

If you belive the TV ratings and crowd sizes, then its a clear cut second. I see that the U20's comp in Aus has been absolutely smashing the TV ratings, its outrating the S14 even!

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The Toyota cup is very good quality, the warriors love the spring board it gives there players now, we get 2 games each week before the main games. What is the super 14 ,? League with a extra man, hehehe, I told you it would not be long before we said tah-who? He must feel rejected playing union now, oh well , he has always got the tests to fall back on, where he will grow old out on the wing.

He's injured now anyway, so not like he's making a mark. I think after the two years he'll be back to RL. Mayve in France somewhere. I can't see him making top grade NRL again, and if that's the case then in two years time not top grade ESL either.

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I would not rate him any less if he came back druzik, mat rogers is playing the best football of his career now he is back in league. He looks really settled being at stand off, I just think they have more freedom in league than union. You seem to get bogged down in union.

Rogers is just a class player though, look at the pedigree in that family. Tahu was good but never in Rogers' league IMHO. OUt of all the RL players the ARU bought, Rogers was the best of the lot I think and they didn't look after him physically. Anyway no point dwelling on this.

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Yep , Rogers is  really looking  the goods  at five eighth .

To think, Cronulla/NRL could have stopped all his hooplah in his switching codes way back in 2002 when all he wanted to do was go to 5/8 for the sharks...

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Jsut a shame he is making his mark so far into his career. Would have been good to have seen him with about 4 years experience in this position.

The 2 players who stand out in the comp are the canberra half, carney, and scott prince, i dont know what they are paying prince but he's worth every cent in my books. As for carney he has class written all over him as well. The biggest problem the n.r.l has five eights.

The worrying factor for both super league and n.r.l as i have mentioned is the pivot (five-eight) role, When you look into this more you can understand why i have mentioned this, as with all teams it makes a huge difference, if you have a good half and not a good stand-off it can effect your team dramatically.

If you take for instance the super league, they have as follows, Pryce, Hill, Barrett injured, Horne injured, not sure of the others but someone can fill them in. The pressure put back on to the halves has a huge affect on the team if the stand off is injured.

The n.r.l has anasta, lockyer injured,  Bird, Ingliss, Roberts , Rogers, Finch who also has to play half, You see what i am getting at here, i am struggling to come up with other good five eights, i am trying to think and cant think of any more who are permanent in the position. This is the difference between a good team and a just ordinary team. Once you have a couple of injuries, your team is on the ropes. Benji Marchael is another injured. Just imagine the quality of league if we had all teams with good stand-offs?

I have heard rumors that Trent Barrett might be back in the n.r.l , if he comes back to the dragons you would expect them to be a force, because they are strugglig without a good stand-off, and i rate Barrett the next best to Lockyer. So Bennett would have his job made easier with him as stand-off.

This would not help super leagues cause, but if they get Lockyer as a replacement, then hopefully it will even it up a bit. The thing about lockyer is his passing game, he creates plays from nothing, so i think he will be around for another 5 years.

Its a worrying factor for any team, in any country. ;)

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Its always been the case that for any nation in this years cup they will need some good fortune with injuries. you just can't replace a darren lockyer, jamie peacock or david kidwell just like that. They have to much knowledge and football life skills to get u thru the difficult situations. So any side who can keep there squads as injury free as possible will go a long way we all know that. I know as u all do australia will be hard to beat.BUT they are not unbeatable, What u have to take in to account is there intensity and desire to always play the 80mins. If u are willing to match this like i have seen and what always springs to mind is gb first test wembley 90 and especially 92 with 12 men. So, some of these emerging sides may struggle at the back half of these wc matchs but its great to really see where u are at in the international stage.Like france, I will be keeping a close eye on the french. There is always something about them that facinates me. They have had great history in the game but have struggled thru the 80s,90s,and early 00s. As the big 3 understand if u can bring a country like france back to where they should be its a springboard to help other emerging nations. i would love to see a fully proffessional league in france as in ireland wales scotland etc. But i am a realist and know the real answer is thru sl which is great. I hope all the nations can get all there top professionals on the pitch at this years wc, it would be really great to see.

Back on the Mat Rogers subject,

 

I think its a huge shame he went to union. Before he left he was considered to be a future true great player of RL, but because he went to union I think he will now only be remembered as a good player of both, not an outstanding player of league like he could have been. He has been playing a bit better lately but hes still a far cry away from what he was before he left RL.

 

I too am very interested in seeing how France go at this years WC. I think they are going to push the big three all the way, and I think they will go further than what alot of people think. People who dont pay attention to International RL dont realise how close it has become again. The 54-0 drubbing of NZ by Aus last year didnt look good, but NZ had basically half their team out due to injury, star players too. I cant remember the last time Benji Marsh was able to play for the Kiwis and we all know how important it is to have a good halves combination. I think England will be the biggest threat this year to Australia, the quality of the ESL is really improving and has been for years now. I love watching the few ESL games per week we get here in Australia.

 

Im really excited about the WC...I wish it was sooner!!!