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As for the topic:

Tri Nations Final 2004...the winners will be...

I think that the winner from the entire series was international rugby league. At least when there was a contest it was a real contest, it took skill and teamwork to win, not decided off the back of penalty goals. When there were tries scored they were generally very hard fought for, rather than a heap of soft tries. Even in the final the tries came at the end of skillful passing or a well placed kick, etc.

All in all I thought all three teams and even the referees and administrators should be congratulated. It was a boost for RL on the international stage.

Now they need to start planning for the next tri-nation series.

Funny enough Richard Lewis heading the RFL over here has been saying all sorts in the last day or so on the back of a wave of enthusuasm. I read that he'd said profits from this series would be shared between the three countries concerned and to developing the game internationally.
He and others over here are backing the retention of the series even if it undergoes a few tweeks. This may be to address the voices of concern mostly quoted from some folk in the NRL who are worried about player burnout.
Despite Saturday night's mismatch there still seems to be an amazing amount of positive thinking going on over here. This matches the rise in respect and admiration for our game over here in a sporting scene more often obsessed with football (soccer).

http://www.skysports.com/skysports/arti ... 25,00.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 025311.stm

By the way Lewis still talked about the RL World Cup (2006? 08?) as if it would take place.

Graham Las Darrington wrote:By the way Lewis still talked about the RL World Cup (2006? 08?) as if it would take place.

If RL World Cup goes ahead I fully expect it to be 2008, gives more time for the game to develop internationally and it works in wonderfully with the centenary of the start of the game in Australia.

It also works in great for Melbourne as hopefully by then we'll have a brand new stadium.

BBC RL Website:

Steve Folkes, coach of Australian champions Canterbury Bulldogs, fears an annual Tri-Nations competition could force players into early retirement.

.... the rest of it:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 053489.stm

In the long run I reckon running it annually would weaken its appeal as a spectacle. Once every two years would be fine for now.
If it were to be an annual event it would benefit from being hosted in rotation in all three countries for variety and prestige.

The IRB has the right idea in holding a tri nations tournament. We could take a page out of their book.