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Post by Druzik on May 4, 2009 23:07:54 GMT 10
We just nee 4-5 competitive teams again. 2007 really did look like a halcyon year, France and GB/England were looking super competitive against the likes of NZ and PNG had a very good showing as well... but alas twas not to be.
I think we will get there, with the increases exposure, and the next WC going to 12 teams so USA and Lebanon should hopefull at least make that, will bring in a few more crowds.
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Post by muffdiver on May 6, 2009 4:58:09 GMT 10
We just nee 4-5 competitive teams again. 2007 really did look like a halcyon year, France and GB/England were looking super competitive against the likes of NZ and PNG had a very good showing as well... but alas twas not to be. I think we will get there, with the increases exposure, and the next WC going to 12 teams so USA and Lebanon should hopefull at least make that, will bring in a few more crowds. Realistically though we are as far away from 4-5 competetive teams as ever. England/GB just aren't cutting it - they seem to get so far then fall short. NZ will slip back again - watch the Aussies stuff them in a few days time. France are as far away as ever. PNG & the Pacific Islands just don't have the population base or infrastructure or both to be competetive. |
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Post by supersteve on May 6, 2009 7:33:08 GMT 10
We just nee 4-5 competitive teams again. 2007 really did look like a halcyon year, France and GB/England were looking super competitive against the likes of NZ and PNG had a very good showing as well... but alas twas not to be. I think we will get there, with the increases exposure, and the next WC going to 12 teams so USA and Lebanon should hopefull at least make that, will bring in a few more crowds. Realistically though we are as far away from 4-5 competetive teams as ever. England/GB just aren't cutting it - they seem to get so far then fall short. NZ will slip back again - watch the Aussies stuff them in a few days time. France are as far away as ever. PNG & the Pacific Islands just don't have the population base or infrastructure or both to be competetive. I think the future is looking brighter as far as competitiveness goes. The Poms would have learnt alot from last years WC, and they do have some extremely talented players. Rob Burrow, James Roby, Gareth Ellis to name a mere few. Its a shame Sam Burgess couldnt play, he is a great prop from what ive seen. He would have really helped them with their go forward. The Kiwis I believe now have a very solid platform to build off aswell. If you look at the Aus V NZ games over the last three or four years, besides one shallacking Australia dealt out in 2007 the contests have been very competitive, with Australia losing two of the biggest games. France, they were so disappointing to me at the WC. I had higher expectations than that. They just could not get it together, and it seemed it was just the simple things they could not get right. One year they seem up and far more competitive, the next theyre down. One thing we know also is that nearly all of these countries have commisioned inquiries, and will be implenenting big changes to their own competitions making them stronger for the future. I believe come next world cup, 4 years away, we will have a more competitive competition. Any beyond that, even brighter again. It wont happen overnight, but it will happen  |
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Post by Druzik on May 6, 2009 16:05:51 GMT 10
Look what happened to england and france were anomolys... bit like the Kiwis of 2007... they just happened to have a bad year, and well it just happened to be a WC year.
Yes they will improve heaps, both are looking to get more internationals going, Engalnd have France, Wales and then Aus NZ and France again this year
The French have england, Ireland?scotland and then the 4 nation as well, that is a helathy international set for the year.
France have a lot of games in the lower divs as well with France A and B (Federale)... so its only a matter of time with things clicking that they will challenge again.
Its all good, that fact there are now 30 countries playing some sort of regular international program is great to see.
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Post by Kiwi fan on May 7, 2009 15:15:47 GMT 10
We just nee 4-5 competitive teams again. 2007 really did look like a halcyon year, France and GB/England were looking super competitive against the likes of NZ and PNG had a very good showing as well... but alas twas not to be. I think we will get there, with the increases exposure, and the next WC going to 12 teams so USA and Lebanon should hopefull at least make that, will bring in a few more crowds. Realistically though we are as far away from 4-5 competetive teams as ever. England/GB just aren't cutting it - they seem to get so far then fall short. NZ will slip back again - watch the Aussies stuff them in a few days time. France are as far away as ever. PNG & the Pacific Islands just don't have the population base or infrastructure or both to be competetive. England have been poor for the last four years really but they have large infrastructure and so will always be up there. NZ might fall back but really we are a small country and rugby league is poorly run so i don't think you could blame us for that. I think we will always be able to give teams like England and Aus a good go. I agree with you that it's a long way to getting a 4th team up there. People are kidding themselves if they think any of the other lower teams are going to be able to beat the top 3 reguarly any time soon. I'm sure France will be up there one day but it will take a long time. |
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Post by England 3 Lions on May 16, 2009 16:41:16 GMT 10
Papua New Guinea has a population of 6,300,000, thus making it large enough to challenge Australia, New Zealand and England. The lack of infrastructure in PNG is the problem. Rudd's new incentive in PNG should help the sport grow.
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Post by England 3 Lions on May 16, 2009 16:47:44 GMT 10
Rudd flags PNG rugby league overhaulPosted Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:25pm AEST Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)Kevin Rudd has announced a joint government venture to help develop rugby league in Papua New Guinea, in a plan also aimed at improving education and health.The Prime Minister will work on the program with PNG Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, hoping to boost school attendance and promote awareness of HIV/Aids through a national rugby league competition. Mr Rudd says the proposal should be refined by June, when a ministerial forum is due to meet in Brisbane. "If we develop, effectively, rugby league nationwide in PNG, and pair that with a school attendance strategy and with a public health strategy then we believe we can achieve great results," he said. For example, if participation in this new, elevated national rugby league competition, and the training programs associated for the kids and the villages across PNG can be made conditional on school attendance - primary school attendance and the rest, then we begin to make some progress." The two-tiered proposal seeks to develop a comprehensive national competition with proper coaching and support systems, with a long-term view to integration within Australia's rugby league. Mr Rudd suggested the competition would first involve itself with Queensland Rugby League, with broader initiatives to ultimately target the ARL and NRL. "We've seen progress in other such programs in Australia, and the Chief and I have discussed the possibility of the application of that program in PNG. "[It's] good for primary school education, good for education attendance in general and more broadly good for public health promotion including HIV/Aids awareness."
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Post by sportsmad on May 21, 2009 17:22:16 GMT 10
where does wales come in? i rate them quite highly now they have a superleague team. by 2013 pehaps 5th best in the world.
is this the thread to discuss four nations? if so, does anyone have an idea of what outcomes to expect from the upcoming RLEF meeting in singapore? surely at least the venues in france annouced. i was a little suprised to see the aus nz game held at a 12,000 capacity stadium to be honost......
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Post by Druzik on May 21, 2009 18:12:46 GMT 10
where does wales come in? i rate them quite highly now they have a superleague team. by 2013 pehaps 5th best in the world. is this the thread to discuss four nations? if so, does anyone have an idea of what outcomes to expect from the upcoming RLEF meeting in singapore? surely at least the venues in france annouced. i was a little suprised to see the aus nz game held at a 12,000 capacity stadium to be honost...... Well wales will be up there as always... not sure if 5th best though, they will have PNG, USA and Russia to deal with... but this years and next years European nations will be interesting to see where all the teams actually stand WRT each other. Hmmm... I think there is a 4N thread somewhere, but maybe we should have a subforum in the internationalsection. Suggest it to Ryan, maybe one for the Euro and Pac nations as well, they are the tree major tounraments this year. Is it a RLEF or RLIF meeting in singapore? I though the frnech venues were annunces, Toulouse for NZ and Perpignan for Aus... Paris has the England test next months. The Stoop game is a bit dissapointing but I can see the reasoning behind it. Its at multiple levels. * Its the larest Aus and Nz population in England and 12k should be enough to get to fill that gournd. * full grounds ... as marv reminds up constantly... are more important on TV etc in the UK than the size of them * Its the quins home ground so to help promote them a bit as well. * Soccer grounds would be unavailable |
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jim
Marquee Player
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Post by jim on May 21, 2009 18:20:41 GMT 10
where does wales come in? i rate them quite highly now they have a superleague team. by 2013 pehaps 5th best in the world. is this the thread to discuss four nations? if so, does anyone have an idea of what outcomes to expect from the upcoming RLEF meeting in singapore? surely at least the venues in france annouced. i was a little suprised to see the aus nz game held at a 12,000 capacity stadium to be honost...... Well wales will be up there as always... not sure if 5th best though, they will have PNG, USA and Russia to deal with... but this years and next years European nations will be interesting to see where all the teams actually stand WRT each other. Hmmm... I think there is a 4N thread somewhere, but maybe we should have a subforum in the internationalsection. Suggest it to Ryan, maybe one for the Euro and Pac nations as well, they are the tree major tounraments this year. Is it a RLEF or RLIF meeting in singapore? I though the frnech venues were annunces, Toulouse for NZ and Perpignan for Aus... Paris has the England test next months. The Stoop game is a bit dissapointing but I can see the reasoning behind it. Its at multiple levels. * Its the larest Aus and Nz population in England and 12k should be enough to get to fill that gournd. * full grounds ... as marv reminds up constantly... are more important on TV etc in the UK than the size of them * Its the quins home ground so to help promote them a bit as well. * Soccer grounds would be unavailable Wales should be 5th best by then, although If the USNRL is a sucess there is no telling where they could be. If Wales and USA are competitive and France can continue to develop to a point where they can beat the big 3 then we should be in for a great WC. I'm fairly sure for France's games, V Australia is in Paris and V NZ is in either Toulouse or Perpignan, don't think it's been announced yet. I think it's a good move giving Paris two games and it certainly shows the relationship with Stade Francias is going well and that could have big benifits in the future. |
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Post by Marv on May 21, 2009 21:17:24 GMT 10
I agree, no where near 5th best. Wales have been poor the last few years, sure a few second rate Aussies will qualify for Wales soon but its not enough. The side has had too much quality taken out in the last two years Breirs, Cunningham and Harris is the heart ripped out of any 2nd tier nation IMO.
After the euro nations we will know a lot more about who is where in that second tier, Ireland and Scotland had strong World cups but that doesnt mean they are in the box seat either.
I agree, where are the mods in this bloody place ;D
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Post by Druzik on May 21, 2009 22:08:21 GMT 10
I agree, no where near 5th best. Wales have been poor the last few years, sure a few second rate Aussies will qualify for Wales soon but its not enough. The side has had too much quality taken out in the last two years Breirs, Cunningham and Harris is the heart ripped out of any 2nd tier nation IMO. After the euro nations we will know a lot more about who is where in that second tier, Ireland and Scotland had strong World cups but that doesnt mean they are in the box seat either. I agree, where are the mods in this bloody place ;D I think Ryan is the one that can make sub boards though. |
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Post by sportsmad on May 21, 2009 22:41:13 GMT 10
sorry i meant to say RLIF for the meeting. just seems i read a lot more about the RLEF. if only they ran the RLIF..... i can dream.
the european cup should be great this year. everyones on fairly even par in my opinion, although france might be a bit ahead. i hate to be negative but if france dont win this i will look at it more as how far france has fallen as opose to how far the other teams have come.
you guys rate USA a lot higher than me.
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Post by Druzik on May 21, 2009 23:09:42 GMT 10
sorry i meant to say RLIF for the meeting. just seems i read a lot more about the RLEF. if only they ran the RLIF..... i can dream. of course you do, they actually are visible and actively doing stuff in rugby league. Their members are active and get out and promote the game. France are in the 4N this year. This years Euro cup is Russia, Lebanon, Scotland and Serbia, Wales, Ireland, in those groups. Next year if/when France drops down it will go to 8 nations, the 8th I am hearing being either the Euro shield winner or a revamped Dutch team. They were impressive in their WC qualifiers. They made Samoa really work for every point and inch of that match... despite the score. Peoples reactions were that they were a true 2nd tier nation finally. |
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Post by Ryan N on May 21, 2009 23:12:02 GMT 10
We just nee 4-5 competitive teams again. 2007 really did look like a halcyon year, France and GB/England were looking super competitive against the likes of NZ and PNG had a very good showing as well... but alas twas not to be. I think we will get there, with the increases exposure, and the next WC going to 12 teams so USA and Lebanon should hopefull at least make that, will bring in a few more crowds. I think the most we have ever had is 3-4 properly competitive teams. We're only just seeing it as a possibility. |
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