Found myself wondering how this Leeds team would cope if they entered the Australian competition. Where would they be in the final league positions?

Think they'd go ok. Think Wire, Saints & Wigan would too. There aren't as many easy points to be had (whipping boy rabble as our NRL freak would call 'em), but there's fewer games over the season and they don't have a cup competition mixed in.

They'd do dreadfully in the regular rounds, scrape into the playoffs, then through a herculean effort epitomising an iron cast team ethic and real guts, end up winning the Grand Final

Think they'd finish around fifth and win it

My honest answer, knowing that they would have to step up every week and play a lot better than they do in SL? 8th-10th. If they play the same as they do week in week out in the SL though they would be fighting for the wooden spoon.

I think if I'm honest the first season would be very tough, but after that we'd step up and do well as we have the squad to do it, as do Wire, W**an and Stains. This is why more regular competition is needed with the NRL to improve the standards over here

I think it'd be interesting, and unfortunately no-one really knows the answer, though I'm sure some will proclaim to.


Also, what are the variables? Do Leeds play at headingley, and all the clubs have to fly over to play, or are Leeds based somewhere to call 'home'. Would they also be able to spend an increased salary cap?

Ignoring the travel side of things though I would say that Leeds, or any of the teams would do ok, and probably finish mid table. I don't imagine that they're good enough to win it, but I doubt they'd be the worst.

I think the difference would be that the intensity would be higher week in week out, and at present our squad is not cut out for that, but we know that the team can raise their game sufficiently when required. I'd love to see it happen though with the season split in 2, and the champions spend 3 months playing in the NRL, then 3 months with them each coming to Headingley consecutive weeks. Finances would be tough but it'd be a good measure.

It would also be good to revisit the WCC format of the mid nineties with the top 4 playing each other in a competition

I think the WCC should include the League Leaders hubcap winners plus the GF winners. Or the Challenge Cup winners if the aforementioned are the same.

This would incentivise teams to win the league. I think that might be a big problem after this year!

This question gets asked every year we win.

there's only one poster on these forums that can realistically answer this question,but as is usual at this time of year he goes awol
in my opinion the rhinos,warrington,wigan and saints could all handle the nrl around mid table mark,the rhinos big game mentality would see us do much better in the bigger games though,wigan and saints tend to not handle the big play off matches too well

Who cares?

Quite right. Does anything matter really?

Leeds would struggle, NRL is a big step up. Also I don't think the WCC can really used as a tester as the Aussies do not take it seriously and from going to Aus in 2011 to the GF I didn't find any Aussie fans know any English clubs despite the WCC matches!

Alright, I'll pretend to care.

How do we know the NRL is a step up, if nobody has ever actually made the step.

Not sure of the relevance of what Australian sports fans know about the world beyond their doorstep?

Most English football fans could name a good number of clubs in Germany or France. Does that make those leagues of higher or equivalent quality?

Pointless Question.

The Australians do take the WCC seriously.

I reckon that Leeds, Wigan, Warrington, St Helens and Catalan would do well in the NRL if it was a Reality.