The Rugby League World Cup got off to an ominous start on Saturday (local time) with an opening ceremony that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Technical difficluties saw the headline act, rock band Kaiser Chiefs, silenced after just one song.
Frontman of the band, Ricky Wilson, was left scrambling without a working PA system and ended up running up and down the touchline of St James' Park in an attempt to entertain bewildered fans.
The ceremony was ultimately brought to an early close but not after causing a delay to kickoff between England and Samoa with supporters left less than impressed.
If there has ever been a worse opening ceremony to a World Cup in any sport, I missed it. #RugbyLeague #RLWC2021 #RLWC2022
— Bots (@botters2323) October 15, 2022
What the hell are they doing at this rugby league World Cup opening ceremony? It’s just deadly silent and everyone is just stood there doing nothing 🤣 #RLWC2021
— Pey (@wotsthatmoosic) October 15, 2022
Whoever’s responsible for organising the opening ceremony for the #RLWC2021 seems determined to embarrass the sport in front of what’s hopefully its largest number spectator. What a way to grow/publicise the game. #bbcrl
— Dr Jamie Crowther (@Dr_Crowther) October 15, 2022
This is so embarrassing #RLWC2021 #RLWC2022
— Marissa Chaplin (@GenAddict1) October 15, 2022
Come on guys, the fans are having to do their own opening ceremony! #pisspoor @RLWC2021 @TheRFL
Former England international Jon Wilkin also slammed the spectacle speaking on TV.
"You can say it's funny but it's not," Wilkin said on the BBC.
"I wonder, at the Olympics, would you chuck the opening ceremony before the 100m final?"
Rugby League World Cup organisers subsequently released a statement apologising for the ceremony.
'We would like to sincerely apologise for the disrupted tournament welcome, which was severely affected by technical failure. It wasn’t the start we wanted but we would like to thank fans for their patience," the statement read.
While the official ceremony failed to deliver, Samoa would save the day with their stirring pre-match Siva Tau which left fans stunned for the right reasons.
🇼🇸 What a way to start the Rugby League World Cup!#RLWC2021 | @RLSamoa pic.twitter.com/moJWL6LqWb
— Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) October 15, 2022
There's your #RLWC2021 opening ceremony right there courtesy of the Samoans. Doesn't get much more intense than that! #ENGvSAM
— Raidercast (@RaidercastNRL) October 15, 2022
The RLWC really didn't need an opening ceremony - nothing could top that Samoan equivalent of the haka. What a brilliant spectacle! #RLWC2021
— Tracy Q (@TQ_1978) October 15, 2022
Samoa’s Hakka just pissed all over that opening ceremony 🤣 #RLWC2021
— Pey (@wotsthatmoosic) October 15, 2022
Unfortunately for Samoa, they'd fail to deliver once the match began with England running away surprise 60-6 winners.
The other match of the opening day at the Rugby League World Cup saw Australia come from behind to defeat Fiji 42-8.
That game also ended on a heartwarming note as the two teams came together as Fiji sung a native hymn.
🤝 After the heat of battle, the power of together shines through.#RLWC2021 | @BBCSport | @Kangaroos | @fijirugbyleague | #AUSFIJ pic.twitter.com/ovowCjKHfR
— Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) October 15, 2022
