The question appears to be should Leeds fans still support England RL now there are no Leeds players in the side?

As questions go it's not very testing ...... is it?

Some of my best moments watching rugby league have come when I truely considered certain (normally despised) Wigan/Hull/Widnes players as one of my own.

Times change, dominant club sides change but supporting the national side (whether GB or England) remains constant just as my support didn't increase when extra Leeds players made the squad, it made no difference come gameday.

But it's not the RFL's fault that there is no decent competition for England within 10,000 miles. I think it is important that the players involved get together for friendlies occassionally and Wales/France and the nearest we have available to a decent opposition

A trip to the lunatic asylum that calls itself the Virtual Terrace come international season would see that one-club to$$baggery is a disease that infects the entire RL "community" with equal virulence.

Please don't take that as a suggestion that you should visit the VT though, I would feel responisble for any mental damage inflicted on yourself.

I suppose my view is laced with rather large amounts of bitterness and jealousy if I'm honest. I kind of don't want to admit it possible to beat the might Oz without any of our boys. The harsh facts (if you're a Rhinos fan) is there's only JP who'd be 100% in the team if fit.

I think all this talk of McGuire missing out through injury has only really come about since his injury. Do we really think he'd have started over Tomkins? I very much doubt he would've.

I'm chuffed to bits Sinfield isn't playing. He really needed the pre-season with Leeds. He would've been picked in the squad yes. But in reality how much would he have played? He have gone all that way, done all the training, played a few halves, not settled, not found a role for him, got knocked about, come home and only have the negative effects of the tour as memories.

Sinfield is very much the Frank Lampard of RL. World class for his club, just can't find a role suited to his talents internationally. The only way to do that would be to shaped the England team like the Leeds team specifically for Sinnie, which a) just wouldn't work against Oz and b) pile mountains of pressure on him and if he so much as misses one pass, the whole failure of the team is on his shoulders (as it is at Leeds!).

What about a Super League based World XIII??

Surely that would be competition? Briers, Leuluai, Gidley, Buderus, Richards, King?

Agreed.
I felt crushing dissapointment after every defeat by Australia and NZ since I started supporting Leeds back in '82. I never considered who was selected for GB/England before I bought my match ticket. If it weren't for all the one club bile spouted on places like the VT after international defeats or the constant reference to the "international form" of current SL players I would still be 100% behind the boys. I guess I'm down to 80% now. Even I'm human.
I gave up going to international games after a particularly appaling performance at Wembley back in the late 90's (memorable only because part of the satdium was being refurbished or something and it looked like the game was being played in a building site). Even then I remember cheering when pan face rumbled over from 5 yards out. I think these days more people would be hacked off because a Pie player had scored.

That England football team is so good though that Lampard hasn't a chance of getting in the team. Oh...hang on a minute?

Yes, I have heard this theory talked about.

I just don't see the motivation for these players to get stuck in and give our boys a proper good go. Unless we are going to throw some cash at them. And why would these former Aussies/Kiwis want to help England be mre competitive?

That would still be a no contest, England will get demolished.

Perhaps that explains why I tend to stick to this board where I kindof know everyone and feel safe and warm. Even RhinoNeil loves me really.

Well they wouldn't want to "help" would they?! They WOULD however, like to get one over on England. Given that they're all from countries that love getting one over on England. Hence the motivation for giving our boys a proper good go.

Plus there's pride at stake. Delaney defending against Hall?! Morley trying to close down Briers kicking game? Tomkins trying to defuse a Richards bomb? They'd all be well up for it!

Edit - I do realise Delaney would be hard pushed at getting into said team!

Likewise. The VT seems to be a place for non stop bickering, my club is bigger than yours tosh. Your alright tvoc

Boom.

It's England and i'll be supporting them no matter what my opinions are re-coaches or the players selected.
Not expecting to win but wanting to win are 2 totally different things.