Peter Beattie has called for unity after the World Cup was officially postponed

ARL Commissioner Peter Beattie has called for unity after World Cup organisers heeded the call from Australia and New Zealand to delay the World Cup for 12 months

NRL commissioner Peter Beattie Picture: Mike Burton

ARL Commissioner and international board member Peter Beattie has called for an end to the infighting and a new sense of unity after the World Cup organising committee put the tournament on ice for 12 months and then promptly delivered a backhander to powerbrokers in Australia and New Zealand.

Beattie had been campaigning both publicly and privately for the tournament to be delayed until 2022, citing concerns over the health and wellbeing of players. Already, the ARL Commission and NZ Rugby League had withdrawn their sides from the tournament, leaving organisers facing an uphill battle to justify the event.

The concerns of Australia and New Zealand were reaffirmed on Thursday as Sydney confronted disturbing Covid-19 figures – there were 262 locally-acquired cases and five deaths.

The World Cup organising committee confirmed the tournament had been postponed during an international teleconference on Thursday afternoon, at the same time revealing that more than 80 per cent of players polled had voted in support of the tournament.

They also took a shot at the stance taken by the southern hemisphere giants, saying tournament organisers were hamstrung because they would not have access to up to 400 players, match officials and staff from the NRL.

They added that was despite all requests having been met, including rigorous health measures that have been keeping thousands of elite athletes from around the world safe while competing in major sporting events across the UK over the last year.

ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys did his best to bite his tongue, although he and Beattie were both disappointed with the comments emanating from overseas.

“No matter how much name-calling, no matter how much bullying, our priority was always the welfare of our players,” V’landys said.

“We weren’t going to risk having our players spend another 28 days in solitary confinement. No matter how mentally strong you are, that would be a test of anyone’s mental wellbeing.

“They need a rest”

Beattie added: “You would have to be living in the rarefied atmosphere of northern Scotland not to understand the threat of Covid in Australia and the risk to our players.

“Sydney is in five weeks of lockdown tomorrow. Brisbane is in lockdown. And Melbourne has just gone back into another lockdown.

“We are struggling to keep the season alive and protect the wellbeing of our players. That is what has motivated us and why when vaccines are available to everyone it will be a different situation.

“Postponement is the right decision for International Rugby League and as more people are vaccinated by 2022 it will mean larger crowds and full strength Kangaroos and Kiwi teams.

“It is a common sense decision. Player and fan welfare are our top priorities. That is why I voted for and argued for the 2022 postponement.

“RLWC 2022 has the potential to be one of the most successful World Cups on record. The RLWC22 is a unique opportunity to grow rugby league.

“International rugby league can grow the game if all nations work together. We therefore need to put some of the recent critical comments of Australia and NZ behind us.

“Rugby League is a robust game. None of us are shrinking violets. Today’s concerning Covid figures of 262 locally acquired cases and five deaths prove that postponement of the RLWC was the most sensible and correct decision to protect our players”

The decision to postpone the tournament ends a tumultuous time for the code that effectively pitted the southern hemisphere against the northern hemisphere.

The final call once again reiterated that the power resides in Australia and New Zealand. Without their participation, the tournament would have been a damp squib.

The World Cup organising committee conceded as much in their release on Thursday.

“A key factor was ensuring that fans of rugby league are able to enjoy the best possible tournament, which was not possible under these circumstances,” the statement said.

“Yet the stand taken by the ARL Commission and NZ Rugby League was insurmountable, as was the ongoing concerns over Covid both in Australia and England, where the tournament was due to be held.”