Number 6. I typed a response your first post but then though better of it as I didn't want to come across as negative for negativity's sake, but your response to a valid point made by Mrpurfect does warrant a response.

The biggest problem with Rugby League and the people tasked with marketing it is that "they honestly believe that one game will get people hooked"......I can assure you that this is a myth. The idea that someone from Denver will attend their first game of RL, say "that's for me" and then set up a club with hopefully 2 dozen or so other "converts" is exactly why our sport has stalled in terms of attracting players, sponsors, fans....in fact in some instances it has gone backwards.

I would think that over the years I have brought over 100 people to their first RL game, yet only 1 returns regularly and less than 5 ever went again.....these are sports fans by the way, people who do attend other sports and events. The fact that I love the game doesn't mean everyone else will.....this is the reality and to claim that the RLIF will "get on board" to assist the formation of a club off the back of this test match is just insane.......


I'd love you to be right, but getting 50k to a NEW sport in it's first outing in the region is going to cost Millions of $ in marketing and PR costs to get media coverage. That said I can see a lot of Rugby Union fans and college students interested.....but 50k would be fantastic.

If they get more than 10K i will be surprised.

I would love to see it full, but 7k would be my guess.

That would be amazing if it was that amount

Probably irrelevant to the whole expansion point, but even though clubs are being forced to release players, let's just see how many pull out with 'injuries'. My guess is that it will be plenty, particularly from the NRL based players.

There will 100% be pressure on some players to pull the injury card and have a weeks rest instead of flying around the world for what will be deemed a meaningless Test match (I don't see it as meaningless, but the club's will put it that way to their players). This is the acid test for how much does Test rugby actually mean to the players. Mid-season, most, if not all players are carrying knocks and would welcome a week off - I'm sure this will be used as an opportunity to do just that, whilst also keeping their employer happy.

As I say, I doubt players pulling out will have much, if any impact on attendance figures, as it's hardly going to be diehards turning up who'll be put off by weaker teams, but lots of withdrawals will be hammer blow to the credibility of the international game.

Yeah I was thinking that this would be a good idea as well.

True get in touch with the RLFANS and tell them to get in touch with the USA and Canada teams let’s get it on

Hey we don't have any impact lol.

...oh you were being serious

No it was my iPad that should have been the rfl

...that's even funnier

In a nutshell, this, and if it does happen and Moore sports don't get the traction they want, I see the RLWC 2025 being reallocated.

the NRL are now looking at putting a game on in the US at the start of the 2019 season. No firm news as yet but looks like being held on the west coast as it suits their flights, schedules etc

Bloody copy cats

You can fly Sydney to LA non-stop for about NZ$1,300 (£700), so I can see the benefit of a Sydney Derby being organised with official tour packages as well. That said, I'd be happy to fly to LA to see the NZ Warriors......

I hope it doesn’t rain.

There's an intresting interview with Jason Moore in this week's League weekly. I would just like to pick up on a couple of points he made (i am paraphrasing).

One of the reasons that Denver was chosen was because of the times zones (which I admit I hadn't considered). If they kick off at 2pm on Saturday, that's 8 am Sunday morning in New Zealand, 9pm Saturday night in the UK. Plus various timezones favourably in the US (lunch and Tea). Which makes perfect sense when you think about it.

There will be a game beforehand, though not sure who they're hoping it will have a local flavour.

40,000 is what's going to be considered as a par crowd. Less will be a disappointment, more a success.

It's the first of 3 games in consecutive years between England and New Zealand. Though no mention if they're all going to be played in Denver.

But it his comments on a couple of other things that caught my attention.

When asked about Lenaghan's recent comments. He said that what's really needed is 4 or 5 countries where RL is strong. Then you can look at things like a world league. Which kind of echoes my views.

And that his aim is to by 2025 have an 8 to 10 team elite competition in the US/Canada . With like football another league just below it. And to hopefully increase it in the future.
Which becomes intresting should it take off with regards SL's desperation to take over there, and would also raise questions about the likes of Toronto and other franchise's. If it's successful would they still want to be part of the English competition.

I wish them all the best........2017 RLWC Final got 33 people more than 40k in a stadium that averaged 31k for club games......I genuinely hope he can do this but I fear for the game as an international entity if he fails......and he's had to bribe the NRL with an opener in 2019 to get release of players for this.........and his company website and accounts are still very "sketchy"........

Looks like the game is at risk with the NRL not releasing players, not a disaster for us but rules out virtually the entire NZ squad https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/rugbylea ... australia/

Looks like the game is at risk with the NRL not releasing players, not a disaster for us but rules out virtually the entire NZ squad https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/rugbylea ... australia/

Maybe we'll see some of the SL based kiwis selected

Quote ="Trainman"Looks like the game is at risk with the NRL not releasing players, not a disaster for us but rules out virtually the entire NZ squad https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/rugbylea ... australia/'" Real shame. Wouldn't want to see NZ give away caps to players they normally wouldn't pick just to get a team on the park.

Quote ="Trainman"Looks like the game is at risk with the NRL not releasing players, not a disaster for us but rules out virtually the entire NZ squad https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/rugbylea ... australia/'" Real shame. Wouldn't want to see NZ give away caps to players they normally wouldn't pick just to get a team on the park.

Why? It's not as if the fans who'll be there would know them anyway.

Because if they do it will be a walkover which is not what the sport needs. Without NRL players NZ would be a team of Toyota cup kids supplemented with a handful of SL players.