Football wars continue

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Authored by: Aaron Richard
on Tuesday, November 18 2008 @ 04:16 pm ACDT

For Sean's, and anyone else's benefit, here are some links to media stories critical of the RLWC as Brett mentioned.

These are from late last year, as criticism mounted pre-event:

World Cup Under Fire - The Daily Telegraph (Sydney).

Wilkin Expresses World Cup Fears - BBC World Sport.

This is the article from TheRoar.com.au that Brett mentioned.

The Rugby League World Cup is a Joke.

It starts as follows: The Rugby League World Cup is more Amco Cup than World Cup. Tonight, we were supposed to watch and enjoy a delayed broadcast of a semi-final of the Rugby League World Cup.

The Australian team comprised players from professional NRL teams. The Fiji team was a scratch team of mostly amateur players hailing from places such as Parkes and Wentworthville.

This is an article quoting Australian rugby league legend Gordon Tallis' response to criticism in the media: Rugby League World Cup not a joke, says Gorden Tallis - Courier Mail.

Another from last month: What Rugby League World Cup? - The West

Football wars continue

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Sunday, November 23 2008 @ 02:18 pm ACDT

An interesting footnote to all this is that last year NZ lost to Australia in Rugby League 58-0 (that's equivalent to an Aussie Rules loss of what, maybe 300-20). And in their last four games the aggregate was Aus 140 to NZ 24. And Australia started the tournament with a 30-6 win over the Kiwis.

But guess what, in the final in front of over 50,000 fans in Brisbane last night, NZ won the grand final 34-20 to win the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. That must be a big boost to RL worldwide and especially in NZ. Let's hope Australia can find a similarly worthy opponent in Australian Football one day.

---
Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

Football wars continue

Authored by: Michael Christiansen
on Tuesday, November 25 2008 @ 12:48 pm ACDT

Question - what pseudonym did you use on theRoar?

I posted a bit on theRoar back during the IC,...there are some 'cross code' folk who are mighty supportive of what the AFL is doing, i.e. running an 'IC' rather than 'WC' and keeping it purely developmental rather than 'bolstering' it with expats and children of (alas, my chances to represent my parents homeland - Denmark, has passed me by!!).

Having noted that US Football (Grid Iron) has run 3 'world cup' events, '99, '03 and '07, and that the US only participated in '07 - - - well, that suggests we could call it a WC if we wanted even without Australia involved.

Reality though - always is, most football codes are negatively geared (rule set) 'defensive' games. Australian footy is very much the opposite (although, it can still be mighty hard to kick a goal, just ask the Chinese and Indian sides). So, the capacity for a bitpart pro/semi pro single nation open age team in years to come to challenge Australia will be highly unlikely.

However, we need to keep benchmarking, and Maffra vs NZ Falcons is about the only reference there is. Not always fair though, i.e. a local team that plays every week and many came up through the Maffra juniors together, vs an amateur national team that only plays/trains together every so often.

We need more situations such as the Amateurs tour of Ireland to occur - - not playing IR matches though. The Australian Convicts perhaps needs to be expanded. And for all that it's lovely that the Fed Govt effectively under writes the FFA and their 9 National Teams - - playing soccer vs Uzbekistan is hardly inspiring Uzbek kids to head to Australia to attend Uni and learn more about 'the game'. Whereas, the current articles about the Canadian Wolfpack is symbolic of just what our game can achieve.....more at a junior level. ANd on that front, I'm always mindful that a ICC U19s level, Zimbabwe were far, far more competitive than at open age level. Likewise, let's not focus on an open age competitor for Australia, but, and U16s or U18s opponent for Australia - - before professional 'elite' development has kicked in.

---
Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

Football wars continue

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Tuesday, November 25 2008 @ 01:34 pm ACDT

> Question - what pseudonym did you use on theRoar?

Who was that query aimed at Munro Mick? If it was me, the answer is no one, I don't think I've ever posted on there.

I agree a competitive opposition to Australia is more likely to come at junior level first - once the best Aussie juniors have spent years in the professional AFL system they will move even further ahead.

The flipside is that currently a lot of international juniors are starting the game late, so also won't be as advanced as the Aussie juniors at the same age.

The AAFC (Aussie amateurs council) are interested in sending rep sides to play other countries, so hopefully that will happen at an appropriate time, once other countries reach the right level. I suspect there will be no shortage of opposition once the standard improves, be it Convicts, AAFC sides, other touring clubs and groups.

---
Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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