How I expect the exiles to line up
1 Brett Hodgson
2 Francis Meli
3 George Carmont
4 Matt King
5 Pat Richards
6 Rangi Chase
7 Thomas Leuluai
8 Mark O’Meley
9 Danny Buderus
10 Tony Puletua
11 David Fa’alogo
12 Craig Fitzgibbon
13 Louis Anderson
14 Kylie Leuluai
15 Josh Perry
16 Willie Manu
17 Michael Monaghan

David Faiumu
Steve Menzies
Glenn Morrison
Iosia Soliola
Brent Webb

If it raises a few quid and people have a good time, more power to them. I can't pretend I'm excited. It isn't on my doorstep (Wembley is nearer...) and it doesn't feel like a real match. I may look up the result if I remember, but I can't pretend I care. I'd prefer a Roses match/series. At least I understand that. This one feels like Fantasy RL made flesh, and it's weird.

For all Danny Buderus' soundbites, which he obviously has to make, I can't see why this match would matter a jot to anyone in the Exiles team either.

Details of the Exiles 18-man squad are below:
Danny Buderus (captain) (Leeds Rhinos & Australia), Thomas Leuluai (vice captain) (Wigan Warriors & New Zealand), Louis Anderson (Warrington Wolves & New Zealand), George Carmont (Wigan Warriors & New Zealand), Rangi Chase (Castleford Tigers & New Zealand), David Fa'alogo (Huddersfield Giants & New Zealand), David Faiumu (Huddersfield Giants & New Zealand), Craig Fitzgibbon (Hull FC & Australia), Brett Hodgson (Warrington Wolves & Australia), Matt King (Warrington Wolves & Australia), Kylie Leuluai (Leeds Rhinos & New Zealand), Willie Manu (Hull FC & Tonga), Francis Meli (St Helens & New Zealand), Glenn Morrison (Wakefield Trinity Wildcats & Australia), Mark O'Meley (Hull FC & Australia), Tony Puletua (St Helens & New Zealand), Pat Richards (Wigan Warriors & Australia), Iosia Soliola (St Helens & New Zealand).

No Menzies or Perry?! But Lealuai gets the nod. Did this bloke use to coach Leeds?

And New Zealand...Faiumu ahead of Monaghan for bench hooker too (I know Buderus has to be there as captain, so between those two).

I can only think that word must have come from Menzies & M.Monaghan that they didn't want to play, because that's the highest calibre overseas player in SL and the form overseas player in SL out of the side.

Was just looking through some stuff this morning, came across the teamsheet from the Sheffield Eagles v Australia game from 1994. Menzies is on it.

Was Keith Senior on it too?

I’m going knowing full well that this game will be nothing but an exhibition game. There will be no big hits, no big hit-ups, there will be no hard tackling at all, there’ll be no biff, nothing. Not one player or coach will want their players potentially picking up an injury in a pointless, mid season faux international.

I know that this game will be a diluted, poor imitation of an international but… it’s an international all the same, regardless however poor it is.

I’ll hopefully get 3 games in this weekend – makes me a happy bunny anyway.

That's the spirit!

.....And plenty of it will need to be quaffed to mask the fact that this game is an utter nonsense. One does have to despair for the international future of the game if this is the best the game has to offer.

Bring back proper GB tours down under with antipodean tours here.

Stick to the strengths and stop pretending the game can credibly field home nation teams.

was this your opinion of International RL this time last year when England walked passed an LER select XIII?

its a mid season run out for England, nothing more, nothing less.

It will be far more entertaining than the usual dross against France. Mind you that's probably what australlia think when they play us at end of the year.

Top and Bottom of it for me.

Whilst I don't disagree with your views on this game and the overall sentiment I'd like to know how you're going to organise tours when our seasons now run concurrently?

Easy. Get the Aussies to see the infinite wisdom of Summer rugby too ...although strictly speaking the North Queensland Cowboys wouldn't be able to participate

Tours would be a good starter to a season being completed prior to NRL and SL seasons. Clubs could still play their friendlies between test matches. Drop the W C C.