Greatest achievement since dinosaurs ruled the earth.

Maybe a bit OTT, but what better side have played on these shores since SL began? What side in the SL era has had a tougher match?

Maybe the greatest achievement in SL era is us winning 3 in a row. But for us to then go on to face Melbourne, as a result of winning SL again, and beat them, then that's just something else when you put it all together..

It could be classed as an achievment if the Aussies actually took the game seriously.

Yep, i've heard they'll be periodically stopping during the match to have a chat or a bite to eat. We'll obviously just walk in tries while they do this - but spose that's how it is when one team aren't taking it seriously right? After all they've got their free trip to England, so none of them care if they get beat ....

Ooo look a GF bitch

YES , exactly my reaction everytime some one uses the 'not taking it seriously' line.

Manly took it seriously last year. How do I know? Because I have played a part in Aussie preparations for all WCCs in the last 5 years.

So, in short I judged for myself how seriously each touring side took the match.

How about you?

Fact is they don't want to lose.

If we win, people like you won't be happy because 'we played a team who weren't taking it seriously' and if we lose we'll be terrible because 'we lost to a team who weren't even taking it seriously'

Melbourne are a quality side and regardless of all the pre match preparations that you 'play a part in' they have a group of players with more than enough ability and desire to want to take this match seriously and win from the moment that whistle goes. I don't buy any of this 'not taking it seriously' crap at all, sorry. Not how games like this pan out.

We have two finals a season?

You said last season that you lot at Odsal was our final.

I'm not even watching the game, so my big game spirit will go on friday night, but probably not so much the nerves.

Good luck, you'll need it.

That doesn't take into account that we're a month into our season when they haven't even started theirs. If they really wanted the WCC challenge that much, the aussies would try to get it mid-season.

Yeh I accept the preparations going into the match are different and sure, for all intent and purpose Melbourne probably don't care as much as us about this game....

...But as for taking it seriously - as soon as the game starts, they'll be up for it and want to win it just as much as we will. That's the only point i'm making.

I do agree with that then. From when they landed Melbourne probably do want to win it, but they have had nowhere near as much preparation as the SL side. Any SL side would probably want to win it more than the NRL side, just because we want to prove we're better than them, whereas they couldn't care less.