International Rugby League Update

Filed in Uncategorized by on October 20, 2011

The 2011 RWC is almost done and dusted and I would regard it as a success both on and off the field. As per usual, the best football was played in the early stages of the tournament with the elimination matches yielding little in the way of tries and open running but plenty of poor refereeing. We can now turn our attention to the short International rugby league window and here is my update on what is going on.

While International rugby league may not be able to match the corporate interest and extensive domestic leagues of its union counterparts there is a far more organised approach to the international game nowadays. It would be mad to expect enormous growth but the game’s major powerbroker, namely the NRL, must continue to push the importance of growing the game in the lead-up to the 2013 World Cup. After all, the AFL cannot match anything in the way of International content while the IRB cannot match the rugby league product, especially with the abundance of players from NZ and the Pacific Islands.

Four Nations:

This will be the last instalment of this format until at least 2014 as sides are given a much-needed rest leading into a World Cup year. As usual Australia are the team to beat and their classy performance at Newcastle last Sunday just shows how much work their opposition has in front of them. Assuming Greg Inglis regains his fitness, the side is only missing Justin Hodges and arguably Petero Civoniceva, Glenn Stewart and Jarryd Hayne from their best possible line-up. Darren Lockyer should hit 60+ Test caps in the UK and his presence alone means the side will not treat the tournament lightly. The Kiwis are missing a few more players than Australia and may indeed rue the absence of Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Sam Perrett, Manu Vatuvei and Steve Matai. However, they are still fielding a great hooker/halves combination, especially with Thomas Leuluai set to join the squad this week. We know what they can do when up against Australia in a final but their record V Eng/Great Britain in the UK in recent seasons (one win from past 11 matches) means they may not get a chance. The English game is sadly battling and I applaud their decision to lure Jack Reed, Chris Heighington and Rangi Chase on board. Anyone mocking the move need reminding of the following players in the RWC: Manu Tuilagi, Shontayne Hape (England), Daniel Vickerman, Quade Cooper (Aus), Tom Court (Ireland), Quintin Geldenhuys, Luke McLean, Paul Derbyshire (Italy), Dan Parks, Nathan Hines (Scotland), James Arlidge, Ryan Nicholas (Japan) and my favourite; Adam Byrnes (Russia). English rugby league will continue to produce top quality forwards but they must send talented young backs to the NRL to develop their game and Gareth Widdop is an example of that. This side will challenge NZ and possibly beat them but since abolishing the Great Britain concept and sticking to England, the Poms haven’t gone close to challenging Australia. I doubt this will change in the near future. Wales are a side thrown together with a strong contingent of Crusaders along with a sprinkling of other domestic players and QLD Cup battlers. Their highest profile players are probably Lee Briers, Tyson Frizzell from the Cronulla Sharks and 37-year old Gareth Thomas. They will get hammered in all three matches but will at least get a chance to flex their muscles against a week Ireland side this weekend.

World Cup Qualifiers:

Group D of the 2013 RLWC will be made up of Wales, the Cook Islands and an Atlantic Qualifier with the winner progressing to the next round. Well, the Atlantic qualifier will be decided this Sunday in New Jersey when USA hosts Jamaica. USA will field ex and fringe NRL players Joseph Paulo, Junior Paulo, David Myles and Matt Petersen with Matt Elliott the coach. Jamaica are also boosted by several notable ESL players such as Karl Pryce and Lamont Bryan. Both sides were too good for South Africa this week and while USA should prevail this weekend, the Jamaicans will not be without a hope. The final spot in Group C (alongside Scotland and Tonga) will be taken by the winner of the Italy/Lebanon/Russia/Serbia round robin tournament. The four sides are playing a three-week event with matches staged in Tripoli, Padova, Vereya and Belgrade. Last week Italy dusted Russia 92-6 and Lebanon were too good for Serbia 96-4. Needless to say it will come down to the Italy v Lebanon match in Belgrade on October 29. Italy can call upon experienced former Kangaroos Anthony Minichiello and Craig Gower but they probably can’t match the Lebanese in terms of depth. It will be an intriguing encounter and Lebanon will be hopeful of a World Cup berth after unluckily missing out to Ireland on countback for the successful 2008 event

Rest of Europe:

France, Ireland and Scotland are currently playing a round-robin series that means very little. France lost to the England Knights by 20 last week and will be doing extremely well to get within that margin against a full strength England team at Avignon tomorrow. It seems bizarre that a side made up mainly of a well performing Catalans Dragon side regularly gets pasted by all-comers (including Wales last year) at this level. One can only point the finger at the bizarre appointment of coach Bobbie Goulding several years ago and we wait impatiently for him to lose his mantle to Trent Robinson in February next year. Unlike last year, France are fielding their best possible side this campaign (including former NRL players Jason Baiteri and Dane Chisholm) and should have little trouble against Ireland and Scotland. Scotland managed to defeat the Irish in Glasgow last week and both sides fielded very little in the way of experience. It was good to see that the sides were made up of many locally-based players and that should be the priority in between World Cups. I guess the biggest interest will come in the final match when Ireland host France at Munster’s famed Thomond Park. The first time a rugby league match will be staged at the venue.

Pacific Islands:

Sadly the Pacific Island nations have had a terrible end to 2011. Samoa’s three match trip to the UK was cancelled due to lack of funds which robbed English fans seeing the likes of Frank Pritchard, Eddie Pettybourne, Matt Utai and Daniel Vidot to name but a few. The Cook Islands named an impressive squad for their home match to NZ but sadly that was cancelled due to the Warriors’ surge into the grand final. I have no doubt the Cook Islands will be a team to watch in years to come given the number of Toyota Cup players pledging their allegiance. On a brighter note, PNG were very competitive in their annual match against the PM’s XIII and have managed to lure Adrian Lam back to the fold. Let’s hope the rift in the game over there is being ironed out as their side can now boast talented young players such as James Segeyaro and Ray Thompson. The Kumuls should be far more competitive than they were in the 2010 Four Nations in years to come but we are relying on their local administrators to make this a reality which is a concern. PNG will host Fiji in a two-match series starting next week at Mt Hagan. Fiji have selected a strong side following their “Battle of the Bati” tournament in Fiji last week and credit must go to what is becoming one of the most professional organisations in Pacific Islands rugby league.

So there you have it. Plenty of football in certain corners of the globe and seemingly a long-term plan by the RLIF to improve the game across teh board. The RLIF could spend a little time updating their website but the most pressing issue from their point of view is whether the new ARL Commission commits enough funds to the International game. With NRL clubs holding out their hand, who knows what will happen? 

 

Photo courtesy of Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images AsiaPac

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