Good post Biff. SL squads are much smaller than NRL ones, so missing 4/5 players has a bigger impact on us, particularly when they are mainly bigger forwards. Most NRL sides have a reserve team plus U20s and access to other feeder teams if required.

Basically the game showed that the Storm are a very good side and Leeds are not at that level, even taking into account players missing. The Storm have shown in the past two years that their strategy in the NRL is to get a fast start to the season and rack up points early. They get hit hard in Origin period and like a buffer to take into the back end of the year. So they'll be closer to full match readiness than some NRL sides.

I also thought BM's comments were very true - Leeds won't play more than 2/3 games against teams anywhere near that good all year. If the Leeds squad was exposed to that higher standard week in week out we'd be a much better team after half a season. That's not to say we could beat the Storm by then, but that I'd expect we'd see most of our players playing at NRL level at least in terms of intensity if not class.

Good points made there BR.
Out of interest how did the Australian press report the game?
Did they take into account we had some of our bigger forwards missing and that we lost Walker and Ward who were making a difference?
Or did they do their usual pommie bashing and say we were crap?

Storm are acknowledged as the best side in world RL and its interesting because they are an expansion club . I wonder have they got a decent crowd average compared with the clubs in the traditional RL areas ?

And on the expansion point, this is something I've mentioned a few times to those who question expansion teams relying on imports and not adding value because there are no hometown players.... In Melbourne's entire history, they've only had 1 player from the entire Victoria State, let alone Melbourne as a city to play for them. It's not about new players coming from that area (though that should happen in time).

Just home. Absolutely fantastic occasion.

I want to go back.

The press here didn't mention Leeds having players out at all as far as I could see, OTOH there does seem to be the view that as far as NRL sides go, the Storm are top class ATM. There's little commentary that Leeds did much worse than an average NRL side would.

Me too. Absolutely amazing experience and what a fantastic credit to our club the players are both on and off the field. Leeds were superb all week in promotung the game. The stmosphere was superb and i just thought the whole week was sensational. Ive watched Leeds for 37 years and i never dreamed i would get to watch them play in Australia.

Loved the city of Melbourne. Great to meet past players like Matt Adamson and Martin Masella who genuinely remembered me from his time at Leeds which was a real highlight for me.

After the game all the players attended an evenr at a pub in the City centre with the fans and spent as much time as they could with everyone and the Toronto Wolfpack owner made it a free bar for every Leeds fan due to being the best fans in world rugby. A great night had by everyone.

I will say tho the prices in Aus are ridiculous. What a bloody expensive place!!! Jeez.

Only downside to whole week was losing my phone in Brunei airport on way back so thats gone forever now ffs.

All in all an amazing experience. One i can see being repeated by the club on a regular occassion. Brisbane would do me nicely next year Mr Hetherington!!

Yeah, the price of stuff is quite alarming. Even in supermarkets it's expensive.

All hail the god of Happy hour!

www.skysports.com/rugby-league/n ... kable-club Food for thought.

www.skysports.com/rugby-league/n ... kable-club Food for thought.

Wow. Interesting thing for me is how much of that work is on the mental strength.

Seems to be on another level.

Like a day at school in Donny.