The RFL really havent had a good tournament have they! Dampening the positive news that 35k+ tickets have been sold for a non-England final is the news that Anfield has had to have its pitch shortened for health and safety reasons.

Biggest international game of the year, with a pitch 9metres shorter than regulations, could only happen in RL!

And the in-goal area will still be a skinny few metres as well.

Old Trafford ain't fit for the purpose either.

Neither is Langtree Park!

At least with this and predicted rain all day it should ensure a tight game. Still should be an Aussie win.

You'd think it is something they might check before confirming a venue wouldn't you? Oh wait... RFL...

Langtree Park is no different than any other RL ground. Luke Lewis slid a good way to hit the hoardings. DW stadium has had a player going over the wall into the seating.

I just hope the pitch is in good condition as to avoid any slipping in a vital moment...

Play it at Odsal home of the sport and help the locals out!



That would be a good image on the box

This is an absolute nothing story. How many SL clubs have full size pitches? The last world cup final and all Grand Finals are played at under-sized pitches.

And if you slide in for a try in the corner, the slope will bring you back into the field of play



Seriously though, far better to shorten the pitch that risk injury to the players.
Old Trafford makey you wince, any time a player gets close to the dead ball line and we play THE showpiece match of the season there.

Are there any large stadia that RL might use where there is room for a 100 metre field of play plus at least 8m metre deep in-goal areas and then at least 5 metres between the dead ball line and the barrier? Arsenal (Emirates)? Headingley can't meet that BTW. Plus the moat behind the dead ball line at Old Trafford should be filled with foam rubber or something for RL matches there. Plus all pitches should be marked out NRL style - it's part of the RL brand (or should be). Not one Super League club does it properly.

The RFL have had a stinker with the venues!

Here's a few of the high quality views at Anfield:






If you're at the sides towards the back in the Kop you won't see any tries if they're scored in the corner at the other end. Depending on where you are some of you will see absolutely nothing! There's even supposed to be some restricted views in the corner of the new Main Stand n'all but I can't find any pics.


And they can't even fit a RL pitch in there!

Do you know if these seats have gone on sale? I doubt they have.

Regards to the pitch, I don't believe Andield is any shorter than other football grounds (Old Trafford, Wigan ect)
The problem is the players want 3 metres after the back of the in-goal area before any hoardings/walls. And rightly so IMO, the players already put their bodies on the line in the middle of the pitch, without the added danger of crashing into a wall or advertising board chasing a kick trying to score a try.

I remember a state of origin try when a player (can't remember who) jumped a good couple of metres beyond the in-goal, batted the ball backwards into the in-goal and it resulted in a wonder try. A number of the grounds we use over here he'd have landed in the stand

Despite the concerns over the pitch, the crowd and ground looks good today, it has that big final feel

And despite the amount of empty seats.

the first pic sums up selfish football fans at all seater stadiums! if those fans were sat as they are supposed to do you would see the pitch!

Its a 54k stadium and England didnt make the final, youve got to be realistic

New Zealand fluffed their chance to get level and now it's looking like it's going to be a hammering.

England lost to this NZ side. Worrying

Morgue-like atmosphere. One way traffic.

Yawn.

International rugby league (outside world cup) is finished, I feel.

Shades of the Lockyer inspired 2004 1st half in the Great Britain vs Australia final at Elland Rd

Was wondering how soon the doom and gloom merchants would be out.

The World Cups aren't always great either. I remember England getting smashed in the semi-final in 2000 by NZ, and NZ then getting the same treatment in the final by Australia.

Today's game is frustrating because the Kiwis looked bright early on, but they failed to take their chance(s), made a few simple errors, and Australia are just ruthless.

Hopefully the Kiwis can come out all guns blazing in the 2nd half and get a few points on the board. Otherwise this is going to be another poor day for international RL.

It's just not a spectacle is it?

Are these spectators going to keep going to these drab, lifeless contests? That's my worry.

Probably not, no. To be honest the atmosphere was utterly dire from the very beginning. I suppose you can't really expect much else when it's two 'away' teams playing, and the only chance of a half decent atmosphere was for the Kiwis to remain in the game. The moment that Australia started to build a big lead, it was always going to be a flat atmosphere.