I hear what you're saying, but it's no different to Australia and its fans larping as a football powerhouse every time the Soccer World Cup rolls around. We've spent decades pumping money into the game, banging on about grassroots development and pretending we're on the verge of something special, only to turn up every four years and celebrate scraping out of the group stage like we've just won the bloody thing. Give us another thousand years and we'll probably still be calling a 2–1 loss to a decent side a heroic performance.
But maybe that's missing the point entirely. Not every country needs to be a genuine chance of winning the World Cup to deserve a place in it. Lebanon, and the other smaller rugby league nations might never lift the trophy, but they bring different cultures, passionate supporters, fresh rivalries and a bit of unpredictability.
I'd rather watch an underdog have a crack and occasionally get absolutely flogged than sit through the same tired, predictable handful of nations playing each other over and over again.
If the only countries worth inviting are the ones capable of winning it, or for their potential, we might as well scrap the World Cup and organise an annual Australia vs Penrith trial match.
