Nothing Changes In Gaga Land

RL has a great product but at every other level.... The World Cup was delayed a year due to the Corona virus. Understandable. Provided the pandemic is sufficiently under control, there is no reason that the event shouldn't go ahead in 2021. In a normal sport at least, but in RL's gaga land things are rarely that simple.

Is a 14 day quarantine period for NRL players returning home which slightly disrupts their preseason training is sufficient grounds to postpone the biggest event in RL? Apparently so. The pro clubs in the sport are the biggest liability to expanding the game. While clubs have the whip hand, self-interest will prevail.

Would people still go to a WC without certain major nations participating? I know it wouldn't dampen my interest in the tournament one jot. I would actually enjoy a WC without Australia and possibly NZ as well. RL has enough nations willing to play, so it can be held. It would be more interesting and less one sided.

If we compare how FIFA handled the early WC tournaments. The first three tournaments had various top nations refusing to play. They were barely worth holding, but FIFA went ahead with them anyway.  FIFA has never cancelled a WC due to the refusal of certain nations to participate. Everyone got the message. 

The IRL body could ahead anyway and show the RL community it can still put on a tournament even if some of the big names stay away. I just don't think the IRL has the confidence to do so. It seems to be subservient to Australia and its navel gazing, myopic attitude. I don't call RL gaga land without reason.