I went yesterday. Really disappointed with the attendance and I think English RL missed out on a great opportunity to boost the profile of the sport by winning the competition. We have witnessed what winning a major trophy did for RU and women's football. It have gave those sports a massive shot in the arm. It was there as the Australian team is not on one of the strongest I have watched over the last 40ish years. Possibly they’re weakest, although still very good, to be fair.
The RFL have been so poor when it’s come to getting these stadiums full for this tournament.
The ticket prices have been ridiculous!
For the Tonga v Samoa game along the side of the pitch in the seats, it would have cost me about the same as I paid in my similar seat for all three Champions League Group Stage games put together at City this season.
(Tonga v Samoa ticket - £70, combined prices for all three City CL games - £74)
Even so, me and my Father still tried to get tickets there but couldn’t purchase two together on the ticket website… we went in the standing terrace on the other side of the pitch instead but when the game was being played we noticed how many lots of two-seats together there were dotted all over the seated areas. Why the hell could I purchase any on the RFL WC website?
Bloody rubbish!
There’s also been absolutely no advertisement for the games. The RFL have even had an extra year to get tickets shifted yet I’ve not seen any advertising anywhere. When the RUWC was on here in about 2015 there were adverts on tele for two years advertising tickets for the games, there were adverts on social media, adverts on street posters and ad boards.
None of my non-RL supporting mates knew there was a World Cup on last year, that it was postponed or that it was rescheduled to this year or even when England games have been on while the tournament has been on.
Oh and my ticket for the final says ‘Doors open: 11:30, Kick off: 13:15’… when it actually kicks off at 16:00.
Proper amateur stuff!
I disagree about the Aussies. I think the NRL has upped its quality again over the last five years, the players coming through now are of such high quality in higher numbers and across more teams than I’ve seen before. I think this is the highest quality and depth this sport has ever had. Most NRL teams have a couple of players as good and better as Ellery Hanley ever was, the athleticism and skill of what are deemed as average players in that league at lower clubs are incredible, forwards are more skilful than they ever have been but with the size and power to go with it and they rarely make mistakes.
The 1 6 7 9 and 13 of Tedesco Munster Cleary Grant and Yeo are as good as it gets, all-time.
Players like Turbo Tommy can’t even get picked for the Aussie squad.
