Yes, I'd agree that marketing is probably of greater importance than performance in terms of attracting new fans. But if you are looking to performance, I'd suggest any type of win holds greater interest than another gallant, albeit stylish, defeat.

Well, if you consider who they have missing

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Kieran Foran
Tommy Leuluai
Shaun Johnson
Manu Vatuvei
Simon Mannering
Jason Taumalolo

That's 7 KEY players. including their halves, captain and NRL loose forward of the year.

Seven key players in one team? Don't think I've seen the like in 40-odd years of watching the game.

Are the stats from the game available anywhere?

if Leuluai and Vatuvei are "key players" then the Kiwis really are struggling.

So what? If Australia have an injury chrisis before the World Cup should we not bother with that? Why do people still bang on about Vatuvei too? He really isn't missed that much.

World Cup isn't as problem.

4 nations, isn't a problem.

A Test series IS a problem - NZ and Aus have never been that bothered have they?


You can BET your bottom dollar that if it was a World Cup, rather than a one off test series, some of those 'injured' players would be over here.


Its always 2-1 - certainly keeps ticket sales flowing if nowt else innit?

Dont you think?

Leuluai would be off the bench and a half option and Vatuvei would replace Kenny-Dowall on the wing who would replace Kahu in the centre to the bench.


Fair enough if you don't keep tabs on the NRL though - understandable.

Bit of a mix of two threads and a tad unrealistic / over optimistic BUT if Burgess was to sign for Leeds / Souths this week would he be brought into the England RL team? He still looks fit but surely the number of runs / tackles in league would be hard for him to keep up with so quickly? Would be a great media boost for RL.

I've seen enough of both players thanks. Leuluai isn't a massive upgrade from Nikorima, and Vatuvei is either famine or feast, quite often a famine of catastrophic proportions under kicks in particular. SKD is a much safer, if less spectacular option on the wing.

Johnson, Foran and JWH are major losses and would be to any side. The rest of those you've named are hardly "key" losses by any stretch of the imagination.

England have their own missing players in Buregess (x2 arguably) and Tomkins.

Completely agree. Imagine having these Lads in the England Squad.

George Burgess - Injured
Sam Burgess - Unavailable **At the minute**
Stevie Ward - Injured
Adam Cuthbertson - Not Selected
Tommy Briscoe - Not Selected
Alex Walmsley - Injured
Sam Tomkins - Injured
Michael Shenton - Not Selected
Dan Sarginson - Injured
Danny McGuire - Not Selected
Mark Percival - Not Selected
Jordan Turner - Not Selected

Jack Reed is a big loss for England, also.

Oh yes I forgot about Reed. He's had a great season with Brisbane but didn't impress on his last outing with England.

The RFL should say it will take him 6 months to get back up to fitness.