There can never be a power shift as long as players in SL are paid so much less.

It does suck but let's not go overboard.



The sport in the UK not growing has nothing to do with the NRL.



We cant kid ourselves into thinking the world cup was some silver bullet which was going to change the fortunes of the sport dramatically.



As long as the structure of how the sport is governed remains as it is the sport has no chance of growing with or without a world cup.

I think that you should have phrased that "while ever players in Australia are paid so much more"..

Almost the same thing but, it's not as though RL in the UK can afford much more than "we" are paying out.



Even if the cap was scrapped, there wouldn't be any more cash swilling around in the sport.

Although, it may tempt more people to want to have a dabble at running a SL club.

Really ?

But the gap between salaries wasn't always so big. The sport used to be able to sign Australians before they were over the hill as the earnings potential for players was similar.



The fact that SL salaries are no higher today than they were 15 years ago is a joke and shows the sport is getting smaller.

[urlhttps://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/rugby-league-has-olympics-goal-as-brisbane-awarded-2032-games/[/url



RL 9's at the Olympics would, IMO, get the game in the spotlight more than the World Cup.

Cas laying an 8’s on the table.. Still not sure who is funding it. Plus possibly only available to clubs with academies.

This would be great but I fear the Rugby Union World will be doing lobbying hard to block this.

Coverage of the Olympics generally involves some "expert" or other being dragged out to explain the nuances of synchronized swimming or the high beam and straight away participation numbers and interest in those sports does nothing.....

Wanting Rugby 9's being in the Olympics is akin to wanting Tennis to be be joined by Real Tennis because some fans prefer one sport.





Also, when union got the nod, they had been lobbying for decades and had college and association infastructures in place to attract and receive Olympic funding, not to mention a world series that was attracting fans in good numbers and sponsorship from a huge global bank whilst we in league have a local preseason club comp that we tried a few times, binned and then restarted attracting 25,000 fans over 2 days....

......Australia Rugby League thinks it's a huge thing in sport and a global phenom, but the harsh reality is that 85% of their current medal tally is water based stuff...with a couple of bronzes for cycling, tennis and horsey stuff.



But back to the real point.......why does RL constantly look for a silver bullet? if Brisbane had RL as a sport cleared today, tell me how many of the competing nations [u[iwouldn't[/i[/u have sides made up of NRL players born in AU/NZ? Tell me how much Olympic funding would be given to the GB side, only for players to have to choose between club or country? How many fringe players would train like Trojans only to be replaced by SL/NRL stars for the games proper? Would GB winning gold make a jot of difference to RL participation or would it just give union another fertile area to swoop into in the UK?

As with most things, League has missed the boat. 7's, Lions tours and world cups.....far better to sort out the game close to home before having 9 sydneysiders masquerading as Lebanon with 90% of the global TV audience knowing if they're watching league, union or kabbadi.

Rugby League World Cup 2021

@RLWC2021

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1m

We can announce this morning that the tournament will be postponed until 2022. We have done everything in our power to stage the tournament this year, but it is not to be.

Well at least we know now. A very sad day for our game & all thanks to the NRL clubs shear out & out selfish greed. If anyone can’t see that the only way our game can survive is by having a viable well managed international programme. International sport is the only way we will ever get sponsorship & decent TV money for our game (except NSW & Queensland) mass audiences will watch international matches but as proved here club games have little interest outside us few fans. Just look at the coverage of the lions tour is all over the news it’s own channel on SKY & it has been up to now two of the most boring uninspiring games ever seen with lots of pundits slamming it? But yet it gets mass coverage as it’s international sport! I really can’t express my disgust & loathing of the cowards of the NRL.

Have been reading reports that Aus / NZ have suggested playing a game instead, just hope that the IRL would not sanction any games & fine any country trying to do that.

Maybe the RFL/ super league could extend our season to complete all the missed games?

I am very worried that this is the final nail in our games coffin,

These two countries and their insane pursuit of the insane policy that is "zero covid" will see them not participating in the 2022 world cup and that subsequently won't happen because...reasons.