Would an 8 team WCC work for Rugby League? One hosted start of the season lasting 3/4 weeks ending in a big Grand Final at Bellend Road or down 'ere in Huddersfield could become a great sucess, hosting it in Australia in a rotating cycle could see interest both sides of the world. Would it work?

Cant see it working. Not with the amount of games played and teams in SL. too many games anyway.

An even more expanded version was tried in 1997 but attendances were generally pretty poor. That was at least partly because most of the games were horribly one-sided, but even the semi-finals and the final, involving only Southern Hemisphere teams, were poorly attended.

[urlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_World_Club_Championship[/url

Not a great idea then or now in my opinion.

I would favour a 4 team competition played alternatively between the Southern and Northern hemisphere

Week 1

NRL winners vs. Super League runners up
Super League winners vs. NRL runners up

Week 2

Final
3rd/4th play off

Two double headers and the best case scenario is a NRL vs. Super League final and the worst is a repeat of the previous seasons Grand Finals

A 4 team WCC would work but I doubt a 8 team would

I'd say Cup and SL champs would work better, if SL champs are cup holders then SL runners up

I did think about that but with no cup comp in Australia, it just seemed more rational to go for same criteria for both NRL and SL

I think the maximum the WCC could expand to is a 4 team comp, probably similar to that of Dunbar's idea but instead of SL runners up I'd go with the Challenge Cup winners v minor premiers instead.

NRL Grand Final winners v Challenge Cup winners/Challenge cup runners up
SL Grand Final winners v NRL Minor Premiers/NRL 2nd place in league

Then the Final and 3rd place playoff as a double header

All games in the same country, alternating each year between here and Australia.

True, but that's their loss. Our's is a more interesting comp having the CC. The CC always needs promoting as much as possible. What better way to do it than having it lead to the World Stage.

A shock victory at Wembley could throw up some interesting ties as well.

Take them on the road! Either to powerful or emerging economies like America, India, China or countries we're trying to expand into like Italy or Spain.

I've been saying they should do it for years. But it would only work if you reduced SL games.

Those saying it wouldn't work because of 1997 need to sit down and have a think. SL is a lot stronger than it was then (a full generation of FT players later). Not to mention we're only talking about the top teams. The comp would be a great one.

But, like I say, could only happen if you reduce the SL fixtures. But what do the other teams do for four weeks? You'd need an alternative comp for them otherwise they'd lose a lot of money.

Certainly is their loss – the Challenge Cup is superb and historical competition

I would be happy with SL runners up or Challenge Cup winners

Or Wales, France or New Zealand

I did actually mean that! I meant here and Australia as in SL & NRL. So if Crusaders, Catalans or NZ Warriors were involved then obviously the relevant game should go there.

I don't think it's big enough to take abroad to other countries like the US yet. The only place I think it might possibly work in the US is Vegas with a massive load of Russell Crowe inspired media hype beforehand, but it would be a big media & financial risk.

I agree. Russell will only hype it up if Souths are playing but if they get Maguire I'm sure they will be in the WCC in a couple of years. Don't think taking it abroad would work yet - would be a big financial risk taking the sport to a country that has not had a real taste of it

the wwc in 97, was fantastic, 4 weeks, no wife/kids and australia & new zealand to explore, more of the same please!