This joke of a Rugby League World Cup looks a doddle for Australia

"Ireland, for instance, don't even have a competition at home" try doing some research first http://www.rli.ie

Ireland have a two tiered domestic competition which has supplied four of the irish squad. PNG have players from both the NRL and English Superleague. As for your union analogy, in England, we have former NZ League Internationals playing for the national side, there are plenty of other examples e.g. Va'aiga Tuigamala played for the All Blacks and for Samoa. Indeed in all sports such examples exist.

Guessing your a Union fan after a bit of attention. Final sold out already, I can't wait for it to begin. One thing I can guarantee is that France and Wales (who didn't qualify) will become stronger every year

need to think and research before you write. australia will win, just like the storm were always going to win the nrl comp this year. new guinea, tonga and samoa can upset the poms and kiwis and the aussies are likely to be beaten at least once. that could be in the final. It is a step in the right direction as the game needs international teams and $. league remains a better spectacle with greater speed and skills and harder running than union and this will help the unbiased international spectator to realise these facts

Maybe if we rename it the "It's A Small World Cup" we can avoid some of these uncomfortable realities. This is not a credible competition. Surely you can see that. Your assertion that the 'unbiased international spectator' will think league is a better spectator sport than union just does not hold up. In every country except Australia where spectators have a choice between the sports, specatators chose rugby before league. Cue conspiracy theories...

Why the need to denigrate another sport? If league wants to celebrate its history and heritage, then why not? Who cares who wins , im glad to see all my countrymen playing around the globe playing together in one team. Hope we upset the POMS first up. Go Kumuls!!!!!

The kiwis are a chance i think they can upset the Aussies infact i would give them more of a chance to win the world cup than the all blacks winning the union world cup as it seems choking is born and bred into nz rugby union players... Im sure all kiwis will jump on the bandwagon.

Hope you're wrong, Mr Lawler, but I've an awful feeling you're right! I can't think of another sport in which one country has been so dominant for so long. Even if I was an Aussie, I think I'd be hoping for just the odd slip-up now and then, just for the sake of the game!

Well i guess the Final would be sold out, because its only going to be between Australia vs New Zealand !! It doesn't take a genius to work that one out. I'm a big football(soccer) fan, and i like League too, it will take time to get the teams up to standard, but you dont go off slagging the players because there not up to scratch. I mean when was the last time Ireland played the Aussies in a test match ?? You need to sack all of the NSWRL and NRL bosses because they have no vision to take this game to rest of the world.I mean i'm getting sick and tired of playing the bloody Kiwis ( no offence) and even then they get a touch up. If the NRL is not careful , it will be like the yanks with the NFL , WE ARE THE WORLD CHAMPIONS. Yeah , because nobody else plays the crap !! Peace out

u just have to wait and see.....TOA SAMOA all da way

A pointless competition. They could split Aus into Queensland and NSW and the final teams would be predictable. If you need a reality check ask the bookies.

Well, the “joke world cup” has exposed this journalist’s lack of knowledge, or more accurately ignorance: Samoa one of two capable of causing and upset provide said upset when the Irish, seen as incapable of even catching a ball prior to the competition, put them to the sword. The Papuan’s, with all of their poor players, played out of their skins and shamed a dire English side with a lesson in creative Rugby League, passion and self belief. Then I suppose you didnt watch any of it as you already "know". Bet you didn't miss Rikky Flutey putting on that England RU shirt… Next time you want to berate the other code, don’t.

There is ONE way the Rugby League World Cup could be made into a genuine competition...and that would be to disqualify Australia from taking part. Otherwise it is a foregone conclusion, and as such does the game more damage than good.

I'm not a follower of League, but from what I've seen, it does all seem to be a bit pointless. The format of the competition has been laid out in a ridiculous manner, such that England, Australia and NZ have an easy route to the semis (only having to beat the whipping boys of Papua New Guinea) whereas the six teams in the second and third groups have to battle it out for the one remaining place. With the above-mentioned teams automatically qualifying, it is conceivable that one of them could win the thing, having only won three games and lost two, and another team could win three games, only lose one, and not even make the final.

Dear Mr Lawler, Following the result of the Rugby World Cup Final, I have one question... ...would you like salt and pepper, or would you prefer to eat your words unseasoned?

Or imagine Alama Ieremia, Michael Jones or Frank Bunce playing for Manu Samoa??? ...oh wait...they all did..BEFORE switiching to that other team... the ALL BLACKS!!!!!!! FYI

As prevoiusly said, please check your facts out in the future. also you as a union man have proven once again that union lovers know nothing about the greatest game which is of course Rugby League. in future just comment on something you understand, YAWNION.