A World Cup starts this weekend but you wouldn't have known it unless you followed sport closely.
Yes, the Rugby League World Cup has actually been around longer than rugby union's World Cup, yet it is a relative unknown compared to the 15 men game's version of the World Championship which is now up there competing with the likes of the Olympics, FIFA World Cup, Euros and IAAF World Champs, as one of the most followed sporting events in the world.
Indeed, until 2008, the Rugby League World Cup wasn't held for 8 years with the International Rugby League Federation working to ensure the world game is up to scratch and avoid the debacle of the 2000 Rugby League World Cup in Europe which saw a Lebanon side comprise mainly of Australians of Lebanese descent and a New Zealand Maori side.
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup in Australia and New Zealand was a huge success for the game, played in two of rugby league's heartlands, with the Final at Suncorp Stadium considered the greatest ever - in the eyes of Kiwi fans - as the New Zealanders upset the much vaunted Australians 34-20 in a game that will go down in league folkore.
But therein probably lies rugby league's problem. While rugby league as a global game has made big strides in recent times, it definitely does not have as near the kudos as rugby union does and remains a game played by Australia, New Zealand and England with the likes of Wales, Ireland, France, Papua New Guinea, the Pacific Islands and the USA very much playing the amateur role.
Indeed, rugby league is the national sport in Papua New Guinea but the country of course does not have the wealth and resources of Australia, New Zealand and England to take the game to the level it is there, meaning PNG will continue to remain a minnow unless a billion dollar donation is put into grassroots there - even then, maintaining any structure there is very questionable given the corruption there.
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| PNG are a bit like Argentina in rugby union pre-2012 |
And then of course, in France, Ireland, Wales, the Pacific Islands and the USA, rugby league is very much pushing a pill up a hill against rugby union.
That's another issue for another day though.
The big question is can the Kiwis retain the title they won in shock circumstances 5 long years ago?
Benji Marshall and Lance Hohaia may be gone but Sonny Bill Williams with a World Heavyweight Boxing title and Rugby World Cup winners medal in his cabinet, has put his hand up and Stephen Kearney, the Kiwis' coach all these years, has responded, controversially dropping Tohu Harris to fit the multi-talented SBW.
Again, the Kiwis will be underdogs though - their record against the Kangaroos hasn't been that flash in the last 5 years apart from a Tri Nations triumph in 2010 and at times, England have had their measure - and they will be strong on their home turf thanks to the Burgess brothers and James Tomkins.
But in SBW, Kearney may very well have a player who could turn things around as he did for a Roosters side that was hanging on the periphery last season in the NRL.
However, with the hurt from Brisbane still fresh in the Kangaroos' minds, they will be desperate to make sure they don't repeat the collapse from 2008 - one player central to that, Billy Slater will be keen to make amends 5 long years after that wobbly back pass that handed the Rugby League World Cup trophy to Nathan Cayless and his men.
It should be a beaut - a slow burner, a bit like the America's Cup but come November 30, should the Kiwis be in the Final, expect a nation to be watching.
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