I’ve just about had my fill of the Rugby League World Cup 2008 for today. It is a big effort for us here in the UK to watch it, for example, to take in Fiji against France this morning; I had to wake up at 6:25am. It’s not exactly a match of importance to me – as far as I knew, Fiji were a totally unknown quantity and France are an emerging rugby league nation. But I was up anyway, complete with a mug of Aero hot chocolate, to watch. 

It was a double bill for me, as New Zealand against PNG was the follow up game. Sadly for me, you and the World Cup, this was the match that pushed me into writing this blog. Firstly, the crowd. Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but I was under the impression that the reason a new team was put onto Queensland’s Gold Coast was because the demand was there for a new NRL team. Well, I for one find this hard to believe, as the crowd for the NZ – PNG game was nothing short of a joke. All you could see was empty seats, left right and centre. And I don’t mean the odd one or two blocks, where possibly a minibus has broken down and people haven’t been able to make it, I mean a whole stand devoid of people. Even down the side, huge swathes of people were missing.

With TRF being mostly a union board, I have always defended my corner as best I can, and the code wars have died down significantly over the past three years. But what on earth are the Australians playing at? I am embarrassed by the attendance of the NZ/PNG game today and it has made me question something – how much do the Australian public LIKE rugby league? It’s a long standing view of mine, as unpopular as this is going to be, that Australia is the most arrogant nation on the planet when it comes to rugby league. When it comes to international rugby, I suppose they back it up by constantly being the best, but if they are the good, the best and all that, why does their public not get behind the sport and get into the stadiums?

Even the opening game, England against PNG, had empty seats. I find this an absolute disgrace myself. This is the OPENING game of the WORLD CUP, the FIRST since 2000, and the Australians have failed to pack the stadium. I think this is disgusting. The same goes for Samoa vs. Tonga yesterday. Pretty big crowd, mostly expats from Samoa or Tonga, but there were still reams of empty seats at Penrith. That, incidentally, was the best game of the tournament so far.

A very poor showing from the Australian public.Why are there so many empty seats? My thoughts are that people aren't bothered if it doesn't involved Australia, but maybe that's just me...

My blood pressure was not helped by the fact that Phil Gould was co-commentating with the respectable Andrew Voss. Now, I have hated Phil Gould for about 10 of my 24 years, he is everything I hate about Australian rugby league. I personally think he’s quite a bit of a tit actually. He inspires hatred and dislike, for me on a personal note, towards Australian rugby league.

He’s fatheaded, ignorant, knowledgeless, boneheaded, arrogant t**t. Nothing more, nothing less. He has been in true xenophobic ranting form today, having a moan at English referee Steve Ganson (“English” being a good starting point as to why Gould was moaning) and at the officiating in general, e.g. use of the video referee. Now, had the referee been, say, Shayne Hayne, I doubt this would have been a problem. In fact, the problem stretches beyond Gould (although he is a sizeable, fat-headed problem) and covers the entire Australian media. Now, as a fully qualified journalist from England, I can’t have a go at anybody else’s journalistic integrity, but I knew something was fishy this week…

England didn’t get panned for squeaking past PNG last week. I was shocked, I thought they were going to rip into us. However, for once they reported an England game accurately and fairly. “Brave PNG” this and “Heroic PNG” that. But, of course, I knew it wouldn’t last long as I read an article regarding the officiating during the Tonga – Ireland game. Steve Ganson was getting slated, despite the fact he got almost every call right in the game, and this links back to fathead Gould. The referee wouldn’t have given 14 penalties against the Tongans had they not messed around at the ruck.

But this is the best line, he was criticised for “not implementing NRL rules.” Well you morons, we are playing INTERNATIONAL RULES, BECAUSE OTHER RUGBY EXISTS! NRL RULES ARE NOT THE BE ALL AND END ALL OF THE WORLD!

Instead of criticising everyone else for reasons that are beyond flimsy, why not get your public to get out there and come and watch a game, even if it doesn’t involve the mighty Australia! When the World Cup was in the UK in 2000, I went out of my way to watch games nearby, including the massive league showpiece that is Russia vs. Samoa.

I can’t see why the Australians aren’t doing the same.