Quote ="PrinterThe"You if you think they'll come over for a little bit extra than what they get for 1 game in preseason.'" which ar5ehole have you pulled that straw man out of? Quote They'd have been over here already in droves if they were interested in that. RL in this country is struggling to attract fans to its own teams let alone showing an interest in Australian teams.'" Seems an odd argument that the NRL and its clubs arent interested in visibility, prestige, access to the 2nd biggest RL market in the world and the 5th and 6th biggest economies in the world. Seems even stranger when you consider that they have created a specific product to cater for them https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... f00400ab36 Quote A late replacement for what was a mandatory fight is hardly the sane. '" Ahh, yes, Because Kubrat Pulev was a 50/50 battle. Joshua came on at 1/25 against Pulev when the fight was announced and the odds got worse from there. Quote Yes I and most of its target audience will be able to watch England vs Australia in the World Cup......if we take a days holiday from work because it takes place at 10am on a Friday. Only highlighted the problem there mate. One of your big selling points was to market it and organise it correctly and yet you've just suggested a really rubbish kick off time.'" Well it may have eluded you and the other greatest minds of this generation, but somehow, in my foolishness i have managed to stumble across a solution that might, just might, somehow overcome that seemingly Herculean problem.......Play on Saturday.

Quote ="PrinterThe"You if you think they'll come over for a little bit extra than what they get for 1 game in preseason.'" which ar5ehole have you pulled that straw man out of? Quote They'd have been over here already in droves if they were interested in that. RL in this country is struggling to attract fans to its own teams let alone showing an interest in Australian teams.'" Seems an odd argument that the NRL and its clubs arent interested in visibility, prestige, access to the 2nd biggest RL market in the world and the 5th and 6th biggest economies in the world. Seems even stranger when you consider that they have created a specific product to cater for them https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... f00400ab36 Quote A late replacement for what was a mandatory fight is hardly the sane. '" Ahh, yes, Because Kubrat Pulev was a 50/50 battle. Joshua came on at 1/25 against Pulev when the fight was announced and the odds got worse from there. Quote Yes I and most of its target audience will be able to watch England vs Australia in the World Cup......if we take a days holiday from work because it takes place at 10am on a Friday. Only highlighted the problem there mate. One of your big selling points was to market it and organise it correctly and yet you've just suggested a really rubbish kick off time.'" Well it may have eluded you and the other greatest minds of this generation, but somehow, in my foolishness i have managed to stumble across a solution that might, just might, somehow overcome that seemingly Herculean problem.......Play on Saturday.

Quote ="SmokeyTA"which ar5ehole have you pulled that straw man out of?'" Your's considering you tried using the cost of the current competition and how it wasn't insurmountable costs. Quote ="SmokeyTA"Seems an odd argument that the NRL and its clubs arent interested in visibility, prestige, access to the 2nd biggest RL market in the world and the 5th and 6th biggest economies in the world. Seems even stranger when you consider that they have created a specific product to cater for them https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... f00400ab36'" Yet they aren't rushing over here to play are they??? Quote ="SmokeyTA"Ahh, yes, Because Kubrat Pulev was a 50/50 battle. Joshua came on at 1/25 against Pulev when the fight was announced and the odds got worse from there. Well it may have eluded you and the other greatest minds of this generation, but somehow, in my foolishness i have managed to stumble across a solution that might, just might, somehow overcome that seemingly Herculean problem.......Play on Saturday.'" Friday, Saturday....those kick off times are still very poor for a competition you wanted the best possible coverage for. You honestly think 12pm Saturday is a great time?

Quote ="SmokeyTA"which ar5ehole have you pulled that straw man out of?'" Your's considering you tried using the cost of the current competition and how it wasn't insurmountable costs. Quote ="SmokeyTA"Seems an odd argument that the NRL and its clubs arent interested in visibility, prestige, access to the 2nd biggest RL market in the world and the 5th and 6th biggest economies in the world. Seems even stranger when you consider that they have created a specific product to cater for them https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... f00400ab36'" Yet they aren't rushing over here to play are they??? Quote ="SmokeyTA"Ahh, yes, Because Kubrat Pulev was a 50/50 battle. Joshua came on at 1/25 against Pulev when the fight was announced and the odds got worse from there. Well it may have eluded you and the other greatest minds of this generation, but somehow, in my foolishness i have managed to stumble across a solution that might, just might, somehow overcome that seemingly Herculean problem.......Play on Saturday.'" Friday, Saturday....those kick off times are still very poor for a competition you wanted the best possible coverage for. You honestly think 12pm Saturday is a great time?

So not insurmountable means not much more than the current price? Seems a weird thing for you to invent.

Some are happy to. Some volunteering to do so. Same as Wigan and Hull going over to Australia. It seems you have confused yourself in thinking that because some prioritise other things, none can see the value. Sadly for you, you're wrong. As evidenced by the many who have come over, and the fact the NRL are launching a product to sell to those markets.

Whats are Sky showing at 12:30 this Saturday?

I notice you didnt address the issue you raised about competitiveness after trying to pretend Pulev was a competitive match up. Im glad we are now, finally agreed, that being scared of losing is a terrible reason not to play.

Not really invented anything, you're the one who said it'll not be a lot of money.

How many are happy to? After trying to extend it to 3 matches we're down to two and AGAIN we have talk that Brisbane are interested in playing Cas. Outside of the team who come over as champions then others really don't have much interest. So by "some" you mean one.

The boxing issue is just some pointless sidestep by yourself. Not at all comparable is one mandatory boxing match that'll be sandwiched in between other massive fights for Joshua to a top 4 in each competition yearly RL competition.

Sky are showing football at 12 this Saturday but that's for the benefit of Asian markets who pay MASSIVE money and are hugely interested in the British product. It's not the best time for UK audiences which first and foremost has to be the priority in hosting this event.

If Melbourne won’t come over to the UK to play this game, I think we should play another NRL team in their place, for the World Club Challenge. It’s far less disruptive for the NRL teams to travel, as its in their preseason, as opposed to during the season as it is for Super League clubs. I’d be disappointed if we missed out on the playoffs, due to a few losses after traveling down under.

If it's not Melbourne then we can't really call it or compete for the World Club Challenge.

"The Super League Champions vs the team who finished 11th in the NRL last year for the right to be called World Champions"........would be daft.

And if it's not for the WCC then it's just an unnecessary distraction.

If we play the highest finishing team willing to compete for the trophy, we can call it the World Club Challenge.

Not a lot of money doesnt mean not much more than now any more than not insurmountable does. An attractive price would be both not insurmountable and greater than the current amount. Not a difficult concept.
Souths have come over, the roosters, NQC, the sharks, St George.

In fact St George and Souths saw so much value in it they invited Hull and Wigan over there.

But the fight itself is massive isnt it. Even though the outcome is largely thought to be known. Its almost like one side being scared of losing is a terrible idea for not contesting it.

So you are telling me that the Premier League, the football league, the scottish league, all choose to screen games at lunchtime on a saturday (and a Sunday) for the benefit of an overseas market and have jigged about their schedule to sell a product to people overseas and created something very very valuable? Hmmmm interesting.

There is high demand for Premiership football from countries with an inferior product willing to spend big money to see a better one.

You're trying to sell the idea of Aussies being interested in our product when they've already got a better one. Completely backwards to the football comparison you're trying to make.

If the Aussies are so interested then why are the two GF's not only NOT coming over but scheduled a friendly between themselves for the weekend the WCC was earmarked for? Why did last years WCC kick off at 2am Australian time? Doesn't scream interested to me no matter how much you want to kid yourself otherwise.

And did that always exist? Has la liga or the Bundesliga or Serie A managed to drive the same value as the premier league?

That might be the case if anyone was trying to sell Super League as a replacement for the NRL, but that seems a particularly dumb idea, and this is the first time i have seen it suggested.


Your scattergun approach to forming your arguments is funny to watch. You get something in your head and you believe it to be true. It doesnt even seem like you know why you believe it to be true because you will throw anything out there just to try and score the point. Some blatant nonsense, some in support of the opposite argument, some totally irrelevant. But without fail, you can't resist trying to shoot every shot and score a point on everything. The problem this leaves you with is you go in a big circle and invariably contradict yourself. Like here.

The entirety of your argument has been based on the fact that a differently structure competition would be, well, different. Now where are we? back to talking about the current structure. Even though the entire point you were making is about how difficult it would be to do something different. And where are we left? well completing the circle where you ask yeah yeah but how are we going to get them to do something different, and i will tell you money.

Jesus Christ, I like a lengthy debate on here but even I've had enough now after the sheer nonsense you're coming out with.

Has this been confirmed by anyone?
Seems strange to build in an empty weekend unless it is to allow the WCC game(s) to take place.
Melbourne and North Queensland are both unavailable on 24th February owing to their high profile testimonial game.
Come on RFL get the game on!!

Meant to be over in melbourne by all accounts at end of Feb, could be wrong. I would prefer we give it a miss this year personally. Melbourne already given the concept a big two fingers by deciding to schedule a testimonial over the games weekend and this could really scupper our season in the long run going over there during our season, probably to get pumped and laughed at.

I agree. There is zero point in forcing the Storm to play, even if we could. If it ends up being a second team against us in Melbourne there is zero upside apart from a few quid in prize money, but the downside risk is high. As soon as they scheduled that Testimonial game they were making a very clear point about where the WCC sits for them, and whilst you might be able to force them to play, you can't make them care.

Australians and the NRL are not interested in international Rl be it club or country we all no that, they're so up their own backsides with their so called superior league and SOO, that they have damaged international Rl to a point of almost impossible disrepair. Melbourne snub of the WCC is just another nail in the coffin. The Rl international federation should put pressure on the NRL to make sure their championship team commits to the WCC, but it wont happen.

Friday 16th February 2018
Melbourne Storm v Leeds Rhinos
AAMI Park

According to The Game Caller, Mick Gledhill

In that case, book your flights to Beijing for some time in July.

It’s on the NRL news in Australia now apparently

that's our season knacked then

What a great experience for the players - let's hope Melbourne field a reasonably strong side

You could fly up from Melbourne Saturday morning and watch the double header, Hull v St. George and Wigan v Souths at the ANZ.

That is what I will be doing. Have yet to miss a WCC match played in Australia. Also going to the Hull v Wigan game.

Good man. I know some of the Wigan fans who will be over there are planning to fly down Friday morning, watch the Melbourne v Leeds game then fly back on Saturday for the double header. Me and the mrs are over there for the two Wigan games then having 5 days in Perth on the way back, hopefully bump into you at Wollongong.

Well looks like I'll be going to this game, I'll be in Australia for the Hull vs Wigan and Hull vs St George games. Staying in Melbourne the week between so I will be there on the 16th. May as well go to the game. Don't ask who I'm supporting.