England ignited the Rugby League World Cup with a near-perfect performance on an opening weekend highlighted by wins for the favourites but empty stands elsewhere.
The thumping win over Samoa was beyond Shaun Wane’s loftiest expectations. It was just the win that England and the tournament knew it needed to convince the wider public that this is a team and an event worth throwing our support behind.
But bigger than that, it was the kind of dominant display that will both convince the doubters - and several England players have hinted that they feel the side had been under-appreciated - and reassure tournament bosses that ticket sales will pick up as the tournament, and the England team, progresses.
Because England were brilliant, blowing away one of the tournament favourites without any respect for their superstar NRL statuses, ironically the kind of absence of respect that Wane’s players themselves have felt in the build-up to this World Cup.
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One current Super League coach remarked at St James’ Park that he felt Samoa had completely disrespected England by turning up under-cooked, under-prepared and trusting in reputations to win a game of rugby league against an expertly-drilled international side.
Make no mistake this, England team means business. And it may be a timely reminder that the earliest Wane’s troops could face big favourites Australia or New Zealand is the final.
But while the performance of the host nation would have buoyed the tournament office, there has already been plenty of reason for anxiety for the organisers elsewhere.
World Cup chief executive Jon Dutton told me at half-time in Newcastle that he was absolutely devastated by the technical problems that ruined their big opening ceremony, leaving a confused crowd in silence and television viewers none the wiser as to why pre-match events had stood still. It was, in truth, one of those things, but something the sport’s cynics would have remarked could only happen in rugby league. Dutton was utterly shellshocked in his seat as the nightmare unfolded, before heading inside as soon as the game kicked off to prepare a statement.
And then there’s the crowds, a disappointing, if not unexpected sight. Sam Tomkins praised the 43,000 who cheered England home at St James’ Park in a fixture the tournament was banking on as a big seller. The hope had been a sell-out, which remains the hope for the final and semi-finals should England get there. It wasn’t full, but given the way the world is right now it was still impressive.
The other games look more problematic, with New Zealand’s stars showcasing their talents to just over 5,000 at a one-third full Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington on Sunday night and around 6,000 watching Jamaica against Ireland at the bigger Headingley Stadium in Leeds.
The global cost of living crisis has hit everyone and everything of course, but the overwhelming feedback from supporters so far has been that tickets have just been too expensive, or to quote one fan “RLWC2021 has completely misread the room with their pricing.” If you want to watch the meeting of England’s potential semi-final and quarter-final opponents Tonga and Papua New Guinea from anywhere near the half-way line at St Helens this week it will cost you £70 a ticket, or £55 if you are happy to move along the stand a bit.
Organisers have nonetheless remained steadfast that there would be no reductions to fill out stands, as that would not be fair on those who had already purchased. This was a question repeatedly asked during the monthly media briefings over the past year as ticket sales grew more slowly than anticipated, and each time there was a resolute insistence on sticking to the plan.
So expect a few more empty stadia before we reach the juicier knockout games, which could yet justify the business strategy. Earlier this year Dutton told me of his confidence that the “natural drama of rugby league” would get tickets sold between the first and last games. He at least deserves that chance for the tournament to gather pace before judgement is passed, but many fans are frustrated at not being able to afford to go.
The players though are doing their bit, with Joey Manu producing an early try of the tournament contender in the Kiwis’ entertaining win over Lebanon and referee Chris Kendall producing a viral moment of his own with an astonishing sprint to keep pace with Australian flyer Josh Addo-Carr. The on-field product looks in pretty rude health, so let’s hope that natural drama can indeed prove that bosses have got it right.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
