2008 Rugby League World Cup

Format

Qualification

Main article: 2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying

The hosts, Australia, were given automatic entry into the World Cup, along with New Zealand, England, France and Papua New Guinea. The five remaining places in the World Cup were determined by qualification rounds. Two European rounds and Pacific, Atlantic and Repêchage rounds were scheduled.

Tonga and Fiji became the first two nations to qualify after Tonga defeated Samoa 18–10 in Leeds on 22 October, forcing Samoa to enter the repêchage. In the European Group Two, Ireland drew 16–16 with Lebanon to ensure qualification, while Lebanon were forced to enter the repêchage. The final automatic place went to Scotland, who defeated Wales 37–32 on aggregate after two legs. Wales then faced Lebanon in the repêchage semi-final, where they lost in a surprise 50–26 defeat, to knock them out of World Cup Qualifying. Lebanon then faced Samoa, who beat USA 42–10 in the first semi-final, on 14 November for the final qualifying position. The game was won by Samoa, 38–16, and so they booked the tenth and final place. Many qualification matches were broadcast live by Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and New Zealand, whilst BigPondTV broadcast matches online for other fans around the world.

Draw

The draw, after being confirmed by the RLIF on 19 April 2007, involved three groups. The first group was made up of four teams; Australia, England, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Whilst the other two groups involved three teams each. The semi finals were made up of the first three teams in the first group and the winner of a playoff between the winners of the second and third groups.

The draw was put into doubt after the Papua New Guinea team claimed that it was unfair to them and threatened to boycott the tournament should it not be changed. Marcus Bai, former Papua New Guinean winger and captain, said:

Fortunately for the tournament, this separate island competition did not eventuate. Papua New Guinea still remained upset with the draw, seeing it as a huge challenge but one which would have seen them be rewarded if they had won. The draw was finalised on 4 October 2007.

The first match took place in Townsville between England and Papua New Guinea, although the official opening ceremony of the competition occurred before the Australia and New Zealand match the following day in Sydney. The final took place at Lang Park (Suncorp Stadium) in Brisbane.

Teams received 2 points for a win, and 1-point for a draw. This meant that, unlike in the Australasian National Rugby League, there was no "golden point" rule enforced. In group stages, if two teams had the same number of points then positions were determined on points difference, the number of points scored minus the number of points conceded.

After group matches were completed, a match featuring the second placed teams in Group B and Group C took place with the winner receiving 7th place. Similarly the third placed teams in Group B and Group C played off for 9th place. It was believed that these results were to be taken into account in the 2009 RLIF World Rankings.

Squads

Each nation competing in the tournament named 24-man squads in the weeks prior to the group stage commencing.

Venues

Due to Rugby League World Cup rules prohibiting the use of commercial venue names, all venues were known by their non-commercial names, e.g. Suncorp Stadium was known as Lang Park during the tournament. Lang Park would also host the World Cup final.

Officiating

Six referees from four countries controlled matches in the tournament. These four nations also provided touch judges while England and Australia provided the video referees. In support of the Australian National Breast Cancer Foundation, the referees wore pastel pink shirts while officiating matches to raise awareness. The shirts, which carried the NBCF logo on the collar, were signed by the team captains at each World Cup game and were later auctioned off with the proceeds going to the NBCF.

;Referees

• FRA Thierry Alibert (France)
• AUS Tony Archer (Australia)
• ENG Steve Ganson (England)
• AUS Shayne Hayne (Australia)
• ENG Ashley Klein (England)
• NZL Leon Williamson (New Zealand)

;Video referees

• AUS Steve Clark (Australia)
• AUS Phil Cooley (Australia)
• ENG Steve Ganson (England)
• ENG Ashley Klein (England)
• AUS Paul Simpkins (Australia)

;Touch judges

• NZL Adam Burns (New Zealand)
• AUS Steve Chiddy (Australia)
• ENG James Child (England)
• AUS Tony De Las Hera (Australia)
• AUS Paul Holland (Australia)
• FRA Jose Perrara (France)
• AUS Bernard Sutton (Australia)
• AUS Gerard Sutton (Australia)
• AUS Russell Turner (Australia)

Opening ceremony

As part of the official opening of the World Cup on 26 October, an exhibition game was played between an Aboriginal selection and a New Zealand Māori side.

1st: 16 - 8 2nd: 18 - 18 Rod Jensen (33', 53') 2 Rhys Wesser (22', 71') 2 Justin Carney (18') 1 Yileen Gordon (80') 1 Goals: Jamie Soward 4/5 (20', 34', 54', 72') Derrick Watkins 1/1 (80') Field Goals: Jamie Soward 0/1 Sam McKendry (2') 1 Shaun Kenny-Dowall (25') 1 Chase Stanley (48') 1 Jordan Rapana (58') 1 Arana Taumata (67') 1 Goals: Bronx Goodwin 2/4 (49', 69') Chase Stanley 1/1 (59')

|}

Group stage

The 2008 Rugby League World Cup's eighteen matches were played during October and November in various locations throughout the east coast of Australia. The tournament's teams were divided into three pool groups. The teams finishing highest amongst those groups progressed to the play-offs.

All teams from group A (shaded in green) with the exception of the bottom qualifying team progressed to the semi-finals, the other two groups the top finisher progressed to a playoff match, in which the winner would qualify to the semi-finals.

Group A

Main article: 2008 Rugby League World Cup Group A

Group B

Main article: 2008 Rugby League World Cup Group B

Group C

Main article: 2008 Rugby League World Cup Group C

Knockout stage

Main article: 2008 Rugby League World Cup knockout stage

The top three teams from pool A advanced to the semi-finals, while the top teams from pools B and C played off in the qualifying final to decide the fourth spot in the semi-finals.

7th place play-off

9th place play-off

Quarter-final

Semi-finals

Final: Australia vs New Zealand

Main article: 2008 Rugby League World Cup final

Statistics

Try scorers

;7 tries

• AUS Billy Slater

;6 tries

• AUS Greg Inglis

;5 tries

• FIJ Akuila Uate
• IRE Damien Blanch

;4 tries

• AUS Joel Monaghan
• AUS David Williams
• NZL Lance Hohaia
• NZL Jerome Ropati
• NZL Manu Vatuvei

;3 tries

• AUS Scott Prince
• AUS Johnathan Thurston
• ENG Martin Gleeson
• ENG Lee Smith
• FIJ Jarryd Hayne
• FRA Jérôme Guisset
• IRE Pat Richards
• NZL Sam Perrett
• TON Michael Jennings

;2 tries

• AUS Israel Folau
• AUS Anthony Laffranchi
• AUS Darren Lockyer
• AUS Brent Tate
• ENG Rob Burrow
• ENG Ade Gardner
• ENG Danny McGuire
• FIJ Jayson Bukuya
• FIJ Semi Tadulala
• FRA John Wilson
• NZL Adam Blair
• NZL Simon Mannering
• NZL Benji Marshall
• PNG George Keppa
• SAM George Carmont
• SAM Francis Meli
• SAM Misi Taulapapa
• SAM Ben Te'o
• SAM Matt Utai
• SAM Nigel Vagana
• SCO Jon Steel
• SCO Oliver Wilkes
• TON Etuate Uaisele

;1 try

• AUS Paul Gallen
• AUS Anthony Tupou
• ENG Jamie Peacock
• ENG Mickey Higham
• ENG James Roby
• FRA Christophe Moly
• FRA Sébastien Planas
• FRA Sébastien Raguin
• FRA Jared Taylor
• FIJ Iowane Divavesi
• FIJ Semisi Tora
• FIJ Wes Naiqama
• IRE Liam Finn
• IRE Simon Finnigan
• IRE Sean Gleeson
• IRE Scott Grix
• IRE Michael Platt
• NZL Greg Eastwood
• NZL David Fa'alogo
• NZL Nathan Fien
• NZL Bronson Harrison
• NZL Issac Luke
• NZL Sika Manu
• NZL Jason Nightingale
• PNG Paul Aiton
• PNG Jason Chan
• PNG Rod Griffin
• PNG Menzie Yere
• SAM Joseph Paulo
• SAM Frank Puletua
• SAM Ben Roberts
• SAM David Solomona
• SCO Paddy Coupar
• SCO Michael Robertson
• TON Tevita Leo-Latu
• TON Feleti Mateo
• TON Eddie Paea
• TON Fetuli Talanoa
• TON Esikeli Tonga
• TON Tony Williams

Attendances

Critical reception

Ricky Stuart, coach of the Australian team, was reported to be so incensed by his team's defeat in the final that he verbally attacked Geoff Carr, the chief executive of Australian Rugby League, claiming that tournament organisers and match officials conspired to cause the Australian loss. The next morning he had a chance meeting with Ashley Klein, who refereed the final, and Stuart Cummings, the Rugby Football League's director of match officials, at their hotel. He reportedly abused both officials in front of a number of witnesses, calling Klein a cheat, and behaved in an aggressive and physically intimidating manner. Stuart later apologised for his behaviour and resigned from his post.

The tournament proved a commercial success, delivering a profit of over and re-establishing the credibility of the competition.

Marketing

Branding

The World Cup's "Heroes Here 08" promotional campaign was launched at the Sydney Opera House on 6 May 2008. At the launch, Paul Kind, the World Cup Director of Marketing, explained, "Heroes Here 08 underlines that fact that the international game, and particularly this tournament, will bring out the best in every player who takes part. It will create heroes."

Natalie Bassingthwaighte recorded an "Australian version" of the Mariah Carey song "Hero" which accompanied the "Heroes 08" promotional video and other World Cup advertising. The World Cup Opening Ceremony featured a live performance of the song by Bassingthwaighte.

Filming of visuals for the promotional video began in Leeds during the worldwide ticketing launch for the event in November 2007.

Advertising agency MJW, celebrity photographer Garry Heery and production company Engine worked together to combine the latest digital animation with a dark and determined set that highlighted the passion players feel in representing their country on the international stage.

The Heroes campaign featured Mark Gasnier (Australia), Roy Asotasi (New Zealand), Rob Burrow (England), Keith Peters (PNG), Waisale Sukanaveita (Fiji), Nigel Vagana (Samoa), Jerome Guisset (France), Lee Paterson (Scotland), Stuart Littler (Ireland) and Lopini Paea (Tonga). Gasnier was later removed from some of the promotional material after he left the sport mid-season and was replaced by Darren Lockyer.

The video also appeared in the video game Rugby League 2: World Cup Edition, which featured a world cup mode based on the event.

Ticketing

Tickets for Australian residents went on sale 7 November 2007 and internationally on 18 February. However tickets were not distributed until 3 March. Ticketek were announced as the official ticketing agency for the competition, selling tickets for all matches. Ticketmaster and Pilbeam Theatre were selling tickets to the Telstra Dome and Browne Park matches respectively.

The World Cup final sold out months in advance.

Sponsorship

The Official Sponsors of the Rugby League World Cup 2008 were:

• Jetstar: Official Airline
• Foster's: Official Beer
• Bundaberg Rum: Official Spirit
• AAMI: Official referee sponsor
• Telstra: Official Telecommunications sponsor
• Gillette: Official Male products
• Holiday Inn: Official Accommodation Supplier
• Coca-Cola: Official Soft drink
• Harvey Norman: Official retailer
• Bic: Official stationery

Broadcasting

Television

The 2008 World Cup had 26 separate television deals taking coverage to 127 countries and generating more than $20 million income. A global television audience of 19.2 million made it the most widely broadcast event in the game's history.

Channel 9 broadcast all Group A matches and the Knockout Stage matches in Australia. Fox Sports broadcast all Group B and C matches plus Ranking Stage matches live. In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports broadcast all matches live, meaning that all were shown in the morning and some as early as 06:00 am with highlights being shown on the BBC. Sky Sport showed all games live across New Zealand. Mai TV broadcast all matches live in Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands and the Solomon Islands. Orange Sport provided coverage of all matches live in France.

Coverage of the competition also extended to countries not taking part. Showtime showed all matches live across the Middle East. G offered coverage of all games in many countries in Africa. Astro showed all matches in Malaysia, and ESPN360 showed all matches in the United States. In Brazil, some matches were broadcast by Bandsports.

The only participating country with no television coverage of the matches was Tonga; the RLIF were hoping to secure a deal before the World Cup started, but this never happened.

BigPondTV, an online television station, broadcast all matches live and also repeated matches. This service was available to everyone for free.

Radio

• UK – BBC Radio 5 Live and its sister station BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra broadcast selected games.
• UK – some non-rights holders used Australian freelance reporter Tim Stackpool to report on games for UK broadcasters. An extensive archive can be heard here: RLWC Archive
• AUS – ABC and 2GB Radio broadcast selected games.
• NZ – Radio Sport broadcast the Kiwi's games, including the Kiwi's victory in the final.

References

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