World Cup 2021 - Yeah, Right

It seems the 2021 WC has been postponed until 2022. Why? Because Australia said so. It doesn't suit them so they wouldn't play unless they got their way. New Zealand jumped to their side like a well trained lap dog. 

It started quite early when NRL clubs in Australia said quarantined players coming back would miss some pre-season training so they were against it. When that got nowhere, player welfare became the reason and Australia pulled out and said it would suit better in 2022. NZ quickly joined them in a move that left me wondering as to the motives. No World Cup and some lucrative test matches in the Pacific instead the most likely carrot on a stick that got them onside.

What exactly is the problem? 

Sport is going on all around the world. When the ARLC and the NZRL came out saying they wanted assurances of player safety when obviously the organisers had already given them that, I had my suspicions that this was a precursor to a jointly organised decision to pull out. 

Too many new infections in the UK? They don't think there are safety protocols in place? I noticed for the Olympics that in Tokyo, 1,400 new cases in a day as the games commenced. With 11,000 athletes plus many more support staff, this was a scale of operation that dwarfs the RLWC.

I would be more sympathetic with the ARLC and the NZRL if they were desperately trying to get to the WC. They clearly weren’t interested in attending and COVID then becomes a convenient excuse. The traditional Australian RL media didn’t get the rights for the WC so wanted test matches they could televise. The NRL in Australia didn’t want any disruption so getting the WC canceled was the solution. I am shocked how brazenly this has been played out. 

So who runs the sport? 

The role of a national sporting organisation is first and foremost to promote their domestic game. That is their priority, their responsibility which in RL is the IRL However, by the pro clubs and the ARLC effectively assuming role of leading the game, then self interest will override doing what’s best for the global game. Australia wants to take over the running of the sport as has been stated in the media. 

The most powerful body in any successful sport should have no vested interest in a particular country. The problem with RL is the tail wags the dog. An international sport has to be bigger than one member. One or two teams being absent from the WC shouldn’t be a deal breaker. If the WC went ahead without them it would say something positive about the code. It’s a very weak international sport otherwise. Australia feels if they don't want in, then the world of RL will come to heel. Much like a well trained pooch. 

There have been boycotts of FIFA tournaments, Olympic games and other global events by some top class nations yet they went ahead anyway yet still retained their integrity. No nation is bigger than the game as a whole. If that is one thing that could have been learned from this WC, international RL would be stronger for it. 

As RL generates nearly all its income from two pro comps, that gives them power. The few media companies who pay for those rights also become powerful, dictating what they want. In RU, a large amount of their revenue comes from international matches so that lessens the power of the clubs. I presume it also widens the number of media companies who pay for those games, lessening their control to a degree. 

So RL is basically at the mercy of a few media companies and a handful of pro clubs. The WC being postponed proves the game is dependent on Australia to do anything. The COVID situation is simply a convenient untruth to cover a power grab. One country says there can't be a WC without us. Hand the reigns over to Australia now. Let's capitulate. 

Could it have gone ahead?

I believe the WC could have been held in 2021. It wouldn't be as profitable as a full compliment of teams but I doubt it would run at a loss if it went ahead. I think the monetary side and maximising the return would be a major factor in the decision to postpone. Players in Australia being pressured not to go would have encouraged nations heavily dependent on that player pool to favour a postponement.

I think the committee has also tried too hard to appease and seek consensus. In the process, the protracted wait for a decision only to it putting it back a year has come across to me as somewhat feeble, when decisive leadership was needed. I don't feel any interest in the 2022 version due to the way it was hijacked. I may feel more positive in a year's time but right now a total loss of interest in it.