I'm so excited* about this international origin faux test dead rubber pantomime exhibition match I've just upgraded my WT tickets to a couple of seats in the North Stand.

[sizeNot really, I just don't fancy getting wet with a 6 year old in tow.[/size

Now, although I agree with you on the subject of disinterest in the Exiles game, I'm not sure this is all that constructive. If you reckon you could persuade the NRL to send a squad of 20 or so of their better players over here for a one-off game then good luck. So playing at a level that really prepares them for the Big 2 of international RL is not really feasible. I would argue that the Exiles team are a higher standard of individual players than you'd find in the French squad.

A more realistic goal might be to get the England players involved in some sort of representative fixture, and attempt to make that meaningful. A Roses match (or series) might do that. It might not, but at least I could make sense of the idea.

The only way the standards of Super League are going to increase is by increasing the standard of coaching and youth development. No magic bullet available.

I would have gone and wanted to but not paying £29 to sit in my seat when I can watch on SKY

Not me.
Sky+ it then watch it after I've watched Yorks lose to Lancs in the T20 game that's also on Sky.

For the same reason I don't go to the Boxing Day game - why should I pay top dollar for a friendly warm up game where they players know nothing is at stake?

Only if you consider running in a straight line as nice footwork. By SL standards it might be considered so.



What's been established is that an exhibition game played over four months prior to an international tournament cannot be considered as [i'preparation'[/i. It's a stand-alone exhibition game full stop with it's own agenda which is irrelevant to the furtherance of international RL in it's entirety. Gimmicks do not equate to internationals. Who will be playing the roles of Arthur Beetson and Mick Cronin tonight in order to establish some staged Origin folklore from the outset?

Logistical nightmares under current playing calendars between the two hemispheres to the detriment of international rugby league was caused by the switch to summer rugby in the UK. Therefore the real solution is?

I'm playing tonight (not for the Exiles or England obviously). We have our first minis training tonight, then us old boys will knock lumps out each other. I won't even see the game on tele.

I will however, be at Gloucester on Sunday to see England Saxons play Tonga. I'd be willing to bet that more people will be at that game than the game tonight. I am not anticipating much of a quality game (the Saxons demolition of the US was accomplished with very little resembling skill or continuity of any kind), but there are two games on and me and the boy get in for 25 quid - some of which goes back to our club as we are Gloucester "partners". 50 of us are going from our club, the kids get to be mascots and we will train it and have a few beers.

Why should the NRL send a squad of 20 or so of their better players over here for a one-off game just to help us out? If England desire constructive and meaningful international preparation and have decided the optimal route for that is via an Origin concept instead, it might be a better idea to send the England squad over to Australia for two games and challenge QLD and NSW? That way, they'd definitely be playing against current NRL-standard players who they'll be facing in the Four Nations.

Jesus, it would be a bloody massacre. And thats just playing NSW.

Surely we would have a better chance against NSW than the full Australian team, given that their best players all turn out for Queensland

should be a cracking night and game, surley as a rugby league fan this is the sort of game you want to go and watch im not been funny but if a game againts a french team where we all know england will win by 50 can get 8k then this game should be getting 15k. wether its classed as a full test ect so what what i do know is the exiles will be right up for this and the game on the pitch will be test match level unlike the france game. get yourself down there tonight in numbers

I think that the RFL should have held this game at the HJ stadium, closer to more SL clubs & therefore more likely to attract spectators who want to see their guys in action.
Also with its capacity the ground would have looked fuller than however many turn up at Headingley.

The last time a mid-season exhibition game was staged four months prior as alleged preparation for the then Tri-Nations was in 2006 at Knowsley Road. GB easily defeated a mainly SL-based New Zealand team by a scoreline of 46-14. Players like Danny McGuire and Sean Long were in their flat-track bullying element that night. It counted for absolutely nothing 4 months later when it really counted once the NRL-based Kiwis were back onboard.

I see tonight as not much different. We get to play another exhibition game against fellow SL players who are even more unfamiliar with their team mates, lacking in cohesion and without the added incentive of representing their country.

I think the bookies have got this one wrong. It's set up for an England win and I expect them to win. Or am I being too positive?

Am I missing something here.Why are the England fans booing Sam Tomkins????