Mark Smith on Rugby League

Rugby league has its day in the sun on Saturday when Manchester hosts the World Cup final, the only genuine question of the tournament having already been answered.

The issue up for debate was which of England or New Zealand would be beaten by Australia in the final, although the same theory was debunked five years ago when the Kiwis sprung one of the biggest surprises in the sport’s history by winning the entire thing.

A belter of a semi-final saw New Zealand sneak their way past the English but, for all the back-slapping over the tournament’s success, the true test will be whether or not the sport sticks in the minds of those outside its bubble.

Rugby league, a game I enjoy immensely, can certainly not be criticised for failing to try and widen its borders from the M62 corridor and its Cumbrian adjunct. But mainstream penetration has proven a tough nut to crack.

The North East has previously been the beneficiary of the sport’s expansionist ambitions, Gateshead Thunder parachuted into the 1999 Super League before being merged with Hull after a single season.

The “merger” in question meant changing the team’s name to Hull FC and moving their home games to Hull, this despite Gateshead finishing a creditable sixth.

The Thunder brand has since been resurrected by an indomitable ownership which refuses to be swirled down the plug-hole, despite their small but dedicated band of followers having witnessed repeated bottom-of-the-league finishes in the third tier of the English club game.

Climbing to second-bottom of a league with no relegation was seen as something of a result last season, and for all their enormously creditable work Thunder have not come close to catching the imagination of the region’s sporting public.

Where they HAVE succeeded is in player participation with amateur clubs springing up around the region, even if some are largely rugby union players filling their summer holidays with competitive sport.

Super League’s other forays into new ground have had decidedly mixed results, Paris St Germain folding after two years and Celtic Crusaders losing their licence after three seasons unsuccessfully plodding around Wales.

London Broncos, once the beacon of the sport’s hopes for a bigger footprint, last week announced their intention to go into administration with no home ground for next season and much of their squad already departed.

Catalan Dragons remain the only viable expansion outfit following their Super League debut in 2006.

Their effect on the French national side seven years on seems negligible, with a one-point triumph over Papua New Guinea the sole note of positivity in a World Cup of disappointment for their English coach Richard Agar.

So the sport remains dominated by Australia at international level and the trans-Pennine faithful domestically, just as it has been for most of its history.

The chances of that changing anytime soon are nil.

Article source: http://www.skysports.com/rugbyunion/match_preview/0,,11069_59379_1,00.html

Mark Smith on Rugby League