There have never been scenes like it. Sure, Australia have lifted the men’s Rugby League World Cup time and time again, to the point where they’re basically turning up for their trophy to be polished these days. But they did so this time with the women’s champions to one side of them, and the wheelchair winners to the other.
Moments later, the triumphant Kangaroos were going out of their way to seek out the England team which had won Friday night’s wheelchair final. The three winning teams got together and posed for photos, as streamers went off and fireworks filled the sky. This was a finale in keeping with the magnificent tournaments which have taken place over the past five weeks.
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Never before has a sport run concurrent World Cups in three different disciplines. And this wasn’t simply a case of patting the rest on the head while the men took centre stage. This was rugby league doing it right.
Over the last few weeks we’ve seen Samoa bounce back from a 60-6 loss in the first game to give Australia a real run for their money in the final. We’ve had Greece and Jamaica make noise on the international stage. There has been the runaway success that has been wheelchair rugby league shown live across the country and the world. New heroes in Jack Brown and Seb Bechara, Lionel Alazard and Gilles Clausells, Bayley McKenna and Martin Lane.
20 nations.
Three winners.
One game together.
For the first time in history, all three Rugby League World Cups are lifted at the Theatre of Dreams.
#RLWC2021
The Jillaroos have given hope to new generations of young female rugby league players. Some of their displays have been arguably the most complete examples of the sport you could wish to see. Ali Brigginshaw has been one of the stars of the whole month, Tarryn Aiken and Emma Tonegato, Isabelle Kelly and Sam Bremner true champions.
Elsewhere, Mele Hufanga and Amber Hall were extraordinary competitors for New Zealand, Jodie Cunningham and Courtney Winfield-Hill showed what England can be capable of if they are given further backing.
And the men’s game really stepped up to the plate at the business end too. Tonga v Samoa was a classic, Australia against New Zealand even better, and England’s semi with Samoa as dramatic as they come.
Then, at the end, the best teams won in all three competitions. England’s wheelchair team were magnificent when the chips were down with the game on the line on Friday. The Australian women’s team dominated their final, then the Kangaroos showed why they’re the world’s best against Samoa.
But it was those post-match scenes that summed it all up best. Rugby league won on every level. This needs to become the norm, not just in this sport but in all sport.
Rugby league is for everyone. No longer is that just a cliché.
