https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/wi ... s-decision Does this not just perfectly illustrate the contempt & utter lack of respect the NRL has for anyone outside Australia.

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/wi ... s-decision Does this not just perfectly illustrate the contempt & utter lack of respect the NRL has for anyone outside Australia.

They made it clear early that they're just not interested. I find it amusing that the NRL is getting praise (self praise mainly as is usually the case with the Aussies) for the Pacific championships, as though it's being done to build the International game for the good of the sport. They've been bunged a load of money from the Government and the main benefit for them is that it allows them to keep control and keep International fixtures to a bare minimum, with most players not having to travel any further than New Zealand. I've no doubt the Ashes is only going to be played over here because the Aussies couldn't be bothered organising them Down Under.

Even when they say yes, it's frustrating that near enough every year we have to go through this ritual dance with the Aussies to see if they feel like participating in one of the sport's great spectacles.

Their own competition is all that really matters, even to the exclusion of the sport's international agenda.

It's not just shortsighted, it's almost like a form of protectionism. The WCC is repeatedly the only real international fixture where they are seriously challenged and at least as often as not come out second best. That shouldn't be something to be ashamed of. It just means that in a one-off clash anything can happen, so it's a real contest, and no one can predict the outcome ... which is surely what we all want high-level sport to be.

But, no. That doesn't seem to suit the Australian RL psyche. If they can't win most of the time, they don't seem to like it.

it should always be played at a neutral venue

You mean like Las Vegas? Like we suggested?

This is all to just stop Wigan winning all 4 trophies again next year, conspiracy by the rest of SL clubs

If there is one small positive around the game not taking place, its that it will help our cause in the domestic comps.

Maybe, but it means we can't do a historic back to back all four trophies which the chances of ever being done again would be pretty slim

All four trophies in one season is an awesome achievement but I think even bigger than that is winning six consecutive trophies. Challenge Cup up next to try and go for seven.

Winning 6 on the spin and all four in a single season is absolutely incredible but in a funny way, we won't really know what an achievement it has been until we do have a bad patch and come up short in a couple of competitions. It really has been a golden period and one I'm glad younger fans have got to see because they wouldn't have had those days of the late 80's to mid 90's.

See how we go in 2025. These players look hungry for more and are clearly good enough to win more but I'm happy to just enjoy it all. More than anything else, I was desperate for us to go back to back with Superleague titles because we haven't done that before and now a bit of weight is off.