Confusing, but captivating RL

THE structure of the rugby league World Cup may be as difficult to comprehend as a doped-up Kerry Katona, but the criticism it has attracted has been over the top.

With England, New Zealand and overwhelming home favourites Australia plonked in the same pool as Papua New Guinea, the big three will eventually make the semi-finals, along with France (probably).

Contrived? Yes. But so what?

At least it means every game in the initial stage will be relatively competitive, as was the case when Stanley Gene’s Kumuls made our boys strain every sinew to claim a win on the opening day of the tournament.

That isn’t the case in the rugby union equivalent, in which the sight of New Zealand running in a gazillion points past Japan is commonly treated as a feast of exciting action. Rather than the equivalent of, say, quiz champion Kevin Ashman from the BBC quiz show Eggheads taking on everybody’s favourite top-heavy ex-Atomic Kitten in a battle of wits.

With the last RL World Cup in 2000 proving as disastrous on every level as an on-the-hoof interview with vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, the RL authorities are mad-keen on helping the international game to grow.

If that means putting in place a slightly odd opening stage, so be it. As long as there are plenty of thrills on the field to savour.




IT is easy to forget who exactly is putting up the cash for the current Twenty20 competition in the West Indies in which England are competing.



That is, until you actually switch on the television and tune in. At which point, the figure of Sir Allen Stanford pops up all over the place, offering much needed tactical advice in the dugouts, flirting like a drunken uncle with the tanned young things in the stands and putting his name to enormous on-pitch logos.

In between the Stanford promotional campaign, there is a bit of cricket going on, though it doesn’t really amount to much so far. I mean, England versus Middlesex: What is the point?

In the current economic climate, following the astonishing events which proved that — shock, horror, — house prices weren’t going to go on rising forever, it was prescient of England captain Kevin Pietersen to portray himself as being a little bit embarrassed at the $1million riches he and his team-mates stand to pick up in the event of them defeating the Stanford All-Stars.

But while winning will matter to those seeking to deposit such big cheques, the rest of us have every right to give such a soulless event the cold shoulder.

Even the Barmy Army aren’t bothering to turn up, which says something about how seriously the viewing public should take it all.