England RL

[STIDDY]

The reasons there are 27 rounds, loop fixtures, etc is the club's need to open their doors and generate income. In an ideal world we all agree the season needs to be shorter but until the sport works out how to increase income streams it's a really a financial issue.

I would sooner we have just the 22 + 1 games a season and have a month off in June or July to play a regular international series of 3 or 4 fixtures. Most of the monies from the international games to go to the Superleague clubs and values to be based on the amount of international players produced by each club.

[Doctor_Feelgood]

I would sooner we have just the 22 + 1 games a season and have a month off in June or July to play a regular international series of 3 or 4 fixtures. Most of the monies from the international games to go to the Superleague clubs and values to be based on the amount of international players produced by each club.

They should add two more teams to the competition and play 26 matches. Top of table wins the competition. I don't like how teams can win SL from 5th position but accept it begrudgingly because luck of the draw sees some teams having much harder fixtures than others due to magic/loop fixtures.

[Div]

They should add two more teams to the competition and play 26 matches. Top of table wins the competition. I don't like how teams can win SL from 5th position but accept it begrudgingly because luck of the draw sees some teams having much harder fixtures than others due to magic/loop fixtures.

There are not enough quality players to fill two more squads.

[STIDDY]

They should add two more teams to the competition and play 26 matches. Top of table wins the competition. I don't like how teams can win SL from 5th position but accept it begrudgingly because luck of the draw sees some teams having much harder fixtures than others due to magic/loop fixtures.

For me a top 3, leaders shouldn’t need to prove themselves in a play off and go straight to the grand final, 2nd and 3rd to play off.

There always will be the moaning of dead rubber games towards the end of the season but what we have now is a lot of low intensity games just cruising into a top 6 system.

[Daiwai]

I turned down two free tickets to stay at home and do nothing. That’s where we are with international rugby league but it’s not right. As you say, it’s a meaningless friendly that was effectively England C team against France B team. The whole concept needs putting out of its misery under the current circumstances.

Given the week off or playing in an utterly meaningless training game, I completely get why players pull out and respect them for doing it. By players pulling out, it renders the game more meaningless and in turn, fans have even less interest in it. It’s a vicious cycle. It’s been mentioned loads on here but 27 regular season games before play-offs and cup games is too many. IMG have noted that themselves, so I hope we see change there. While we have what we have, it’s flogging of a dead horse. I’d bin the whole mid-season waste of time now until a time where we play fewer games and even then, a one-off meaningless friendly isn’t going to cut it when more and more players are playing in Australia. Something needs to be done to ignite it.

I still think though that under no circumstances should an England home game ever be a four figure crowd and taking a game to York this winter or even for this mid-season game is settling for failure.

I had the same thoughts before the game but ended up watching it anyway - have to say it was quite enjoyable eventhough never a contest. I think these games are important as it does help the wider squad learn and develop together and some of these players will play when it matters. Its' also good for France as many of their players just don't get that level of competition. We need France to develop. We cannot really develop on our own because we need Northern Hemishere internationals to show case the game to a wider audience. If the teams were evenly matched then these would be great games, even if shorn of NRL players. Its not ideal but not sure what else the RFL can do. The All Star format didn't seem to work in generating interest, despite a higher quality of opposition.

[Belgian Saint]

For me a top 3, leaders shouldn’t need to prove themselves in a play off and go straight to the grand final, 2nd and 3rd to play off.

There always will be the moaning of dead rubber games towards the end of the season but what we have now is a lot of low intensity games just cruising into a top 6 system.

If we could get to 14 teams, then I would like this format.

[Belgian Saint]

I had the same thoughts before the game but ended up watching it anyway - have to say it was quite enjoyable eventhough never a contest. I think these games are important as it does help the wider squad learn and develop together and some of these players will play when it matters. Its' also good for France as many of their players just don't get that level of competition. We need France to develop. We cannot really develop on our own because we need Northern Hemishere internationals to show case the game to a wider audience. If the teams were evenly matched then these would be great games, even if shorn of NRL players. Its not ideal but not sure what else the RFL can do. The All Star format didn't seem to work in generating interest, despite a higher quality of opposition.

In terms of French development we have probably missed the boat now, but I always thought that Toulouse should have been protected from relegation for say 3 seasons.

[Private Pyle]

I turned down two free tickets to stay at home and do nothing. That’s where we are with international rugby league but it’s not right. As you say, it’s a meaningless friendly that was effectively England C team against France B team. The whole concept needs putting out of its misery under the current circumstances.

Given the week off or playing in an utterly meaningless training game, I completely get why players pull out and respect them for doing it. By players pulling out, it renders the game more meaningless and in turn, fans have even less interest in it. It’s a vicious cycle. It’s been mentioned loads on here but 27 regular season games before play-offs and cup games is too many. IMG have noted that themselves, so I hope we see change there. While we have what we have, it’s flogging of a dead horse. I’d bin the whole mid-season waste of time now until a time where we play fewer games and even then, a one-off meaningless friendly isn’t going to cut it when more and more players are playing in Australia. Something needs to be done to ignite it.

I still think though that under no circumstances should an England home game ever be a four figure crowd and taking a game to York this winter or even for this mid-season game is settling for failure.

Similar here. I don't really see the point of the mid season game anyway, just get some proper internationals lined up at the end of the season and play a friendly before that. They can always run a team training camp on Challenge Cup semi or final weekend to get most of the UK based players together.

Shorten the regular season so we're not overloading players, get the internationals sorted a year in advance so you can promote them while the previous one is on.

Really looking forward to the Tonga series as they should be great games albeit at fairly short notice and in uninspiring stadia.

[Rogues Gallery]

Eleven of the thirteen players from various clubs who pulled put of the England squad are included in their teams squads for the weekend. I guess the bus to Lourdes must have been pretty full.

[reliable sauce]

Eleven of the thirteen players from various clubs who pulled put of the England squad are included in their teams squads for the weekend. I guess the bus to Lourdes must have been pretty full.

You’re really upset on this subject and already embarrassed yourself with your comments earlier in the thread, don’t do it again.

Pass on our thanks to the Wigan bunch for keeping the Saints’ lads shirts warm.

[Tomsepho]

Eleven of the thirteen players from various clubs who pulled put of the England squad are included in their teams squads for the weekend. I guess the bus to Lourdes must have been pretty full.

All of those players would have benefited from a week off, Saints have a long injury list, why risk others carrying niggles in a meaningless game? Maybe there should be a limit on how many players from a single club that can be called up for a midseason friendly, that way we dont end up with a situation where a number of players pull out.

[fizzy rascal]

Eleven of the thirteen players from various clubs who pulled put of the England squad are included in their teams squads for the weekend. I guess the bus to Lourdes must have been pretty full.

I've seen lots of crying about this on various platforms - lots aimed at Saints.

The bottom line is, the clubs pay the players wages and they are within their rights to protect their assets. If they send a player carrying a knock and that is made worse playing for England, it won't be Shaun Wane losing out will it?

We will never know if the lads who pulled out were genuinely injured but if they were, we can't bang on about player welfare and then play them in a pointless game whilst not fully fit. They play too much rugby as it is, without an extra nothing game in April.

[BackrowSaint]

Eleven of the thirteen players from various clubs who pulled put of the England squad are included in their teams squads for the weekend. I guess the bus to Lourdes must have been pretty full.

Welsby - Played
Makinson - Minor op on his knee didn't play against Warrington
Percival - Out with a hamstring injury for the forseeable
Lomax - Carrying a groin injury for weeks - we've got no choice but to play him anyway due to a long long injury lis
Dodd - Carrying a hamstring injury for weeks - same boat as Jonny, might not play this week and hasn't been training
Walmsley - Been out for a month with a hamstring injury
Lees - Rib injury picked up v Wire, may not play this week and hasn't been training
Knowles - Banned

So no, the bus to Lourdes wasn't full because they're not fit. Look on the bright side, it gave some of your not quite good enough to make a fully fit side players a chance to have a run out that they wouldn't get when our superior players are available.

[Belgian Saint]

[QUOTE=BackrowSaint;872434]Welsby - Played
Makinson - Minor op on his knee didn't play against Warrington
Percival - Out with a hamstring injury for the forseeable
Lomax - Carrying a groin injury for weeks - we've got no choice but to play him anyway due to a long long injury lis
Dodd - Carrying a hamstring injury for weeks - same boat as Jonny, might not play this week and hasn't been training
Walmsley - Been out for a month with a hamstring injury
Lees - Rib injury picked up v Wire, may not play this week and hasn't been training
Knowles - Banned

So no, the bus to Lourdes wasn't full because they're not fit. Look on the bright side, it gave some of your not quite good enough to make a fully fit side players a chance to have a run out that they wouldn't get when our superior players are available.[/QUOTE

Much easier for Rogues to have a pop than look at the facts.

[Prez]

Eleven of the thirteen players from various clubs who pulled put of the England squad are included in their teams squads for the weekend. I guess the bus to Lourdes must have been pretty full.

Remind me why you're on this site?

[The Wee Waa Womble]

Welsby - Played
Makinson - Minor op on his knee didn't play against Warrington
Percival - Out with a hamstring injury for the forseeable
Lomax - Carrying a groin injury for weeks - we've got no choice but to play him anyway due to a long long injury lis
Dodd - Carrying a hamstring injury for weeks - same boat as Jonny, might not play this week and hasn't been training
Walmsley - Been out for a month with a hamstring injury
Lees - Rib injury picked up v Wire, may not play this week and hasn't been training
Knowles - Banned

So no, the bus to Lourdes wasn't full because they're not fit. Look on the bright side, it gave some of your not quite good enough to make a fully fit side players a chance to have a run out that they wouldn't get when our superior players are available.

You’ve given the expert fisherman another bite. The reason so many Wigan players put their name forwards is cos it’s the only chance they’ll get to play for England. Once the Saints and NRL lads are available they’ll be nowhere near.

[Pasty]

[QUOTE=Belgian Saint;872441]

Welsby - Played
Makinson - Minor op on his knee didn't play against Warrington
Percival - Out with a hamstring injury for the forseeable
Lomax - Carrying a groin injury for weeks - we've got no choice but to play him anyway due to a long long injury lis
Dodd - Carrying a hamstring injury for weeks - same boat as Jonny, might not play this week and hasn't been training
Walmsley - Been out for a month with a hamstring injury
Lees - Rib injury picked up v Wire, may not play this week and hasn't been training
Knowles - Banned

So no, the bus to Lourdes wasn't full because they're not fit. Look on the bright side, it gave some of your not quite good enough to make a fully fit side players a chance to have a run out that they wouldn't get when our superior players are available.[/QUOTE

Much easier for Rogues to have a pop than look at the facts.

If Dodd has a hamstring injury that explains a lot but I think he should be rested

[philthompson]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwYIlg3o...FhOGMzYTE3ZQ==
Latest kit

[philthompson]

Lee Briers assistant coach for the Tonga series

[The Wee Waa Womble]

Lees, Knowles, Makinson, Welsby and Clark all named in the England squad. Glad to see Percival and Lomax miss out and hopefully Makinson doesn’t play too much either.

[Dos Cervezas]

Hope they all get mysterious niggles that require three weeks off, to be honest.

[JackMooves]

Welsby is burning the candle at both ends and needs saving from himself. An extended period of rest followed by a good pre-season will elevate his game to the next level. The last thing we need is for him to be breaking down with injury in the winter months because he's jaded after putting in more minutes than anyone anywhere in the sport. Especially since we rely on him so much.

[Rogues Gallery]

Welsby is burning the candle at both ends and needs saving from himself. An extended period of rest followed by a good pre-season will elevate his game to the next level. The last thing we need is for him to be breaking down with injury in the winter months because he's jaded after putting in more minutes than anyone anywhere in the sport. Especially since we rely on him so much.

Harry Smith has played as many minutes as Welsby.

[paulscnthorpe]

Interesting to see how we go

Welsby will be full back
Wingers are two from Johnstone, Young and Makinson
Newman and King centres
Lewis/Williams at half back with Smith
Burgess / Lees / Knowles / Dupree props
Clark
Bateman / Whitehead back row
Radley loose forward

[Prez]

Harry Smith has played as many minutes as Welsby.

And don't forget Harry's flight to Australia to take part in the WCC................oh, no, sorry, that wasn't him was it?