RLWC 2013

Pat Richards was a great ringer last time out, his goal kicking should help Ireland out a bit.

As a follower of the domestic game, I am thoroughly disenchanted by the governing body. Post 2008, commitments were made by the directors and management to bring the game in Ireland to a standard where 5 domestic based players would attain the required skills, physique and aptitude to be selected for the 2013 WC squad. The blueprint for development agreed by the board of RLI was ratified by the member clubs more through omission than participation, a thorough reflection of the state of the domestic game. Rugby league is dying on its feet in Ireland, it will shortly consist of a governing body, a couple of employees, a national team that has no link back to its member clubs and a few member clubs. If I was an organiser, player or supporter in Ulster, I would reinvent the wheel and form a governing body separate to RLI. Good rugby league people like Tim Morton, Wayne Kelly, Manus Lappin, Pascal Mulot and Adam Agbokhaie have been chewed up by the relentless incapabilities of the bean counters and charlatans who seem to find a home at the top end of rugby league administration. RU busted flushes should not be using RL as a haven for their ineptitude, and those that allow this to continue should take the mirror of the wall because if they can look themselves in the face and not be ashamed by their obsequiousness to the "guidance" provided by the paymasters.. Member clubs of RLI should look at themselves and define their purpose.. is it to grow the game, is it to provide their local pub sponsor a bit of summer business or do you respect the game enough to fulfill fixtures? Do you realise the hard birth of rugby league, the demands that are required of you to play ,to coach, to line pitches, to find a sponsor, to find players, to spread the gospel to a public that will appreciate your effort but will turn their back when you can't sustain the effort?

With respect to all the posters on this forum, I am a victim of my own passions.My love for rugby league often leads to an inevitable build up of frustration which, in turn, leads up to intemperate commentary on the current status of the game of rugby league in Ireland. I would wish for a sustainable domestic competition, a representative national team and an independent governing body giving direction to a competent staff. None of which has anything to do with the selected squad,coaching staff or player development policies promulgated by the governing body, that being another day's commentary(maybe tomorrow).

Can't help it, I'm still a bit chippy! Although saying that, the SA v NZ game from the other week was just some of the best sport of any kind I've seen, could nearly make me a regular Union watcher.

Nearly.

45,000 tickets sold for the opener. Decent but this is probably biggest game of whole tournament numbers wise unless hosts get through to final. Not sure how other games have sold yet.