They could try the same version the NRL are doing with the NRL All-stars game.
Get fans to vote online and chose a player from each club with the coach to pick the other 3 players.

Can't beat a bit of Beaver.

I raised this point during the french game with a friend who is quite high up in the rfl and put a 1-17 to him, if they all play it will be a sterner test but then again my under 9's team could be

1. The introduction of Catalans Dragons into Sooper Dooper League was supposed to raise the playing standards of French RL on the international stage. Instead, they've gone backwards as their results and performances testify.

2. The introduction of Sooper Dooper League a decade and a half ago was supposed to raise the playing standards of British/English RL on the international stage. Instead, they've gone backwards as their results and performances (post Sooper Dooper League era) testify.

3. Pitching England against a motley crew of disinterested overseas, surplus to requirements, no longer good enough, pensioned-up, tax-havened, ex-NRL retirees is hardly the kind of preparation for competing against NRL-based Aussies and Kiwis in proper Tests. It's pitching one set of Sooper Dooper League standard players against another set of Sooper Dooper League standard players who will never attain the requisite playing standards to compete successfully against the best NRL standard players.

4. Sooper Dooper League screwed international RL and the only competitive teams worth watching and playing to a high standard worthy of international recognition these days are Australia and New Zealand.

5. The rich history of international RL (pre-Sooper Dooper League obviously) has been flushed down the toilet with the loss of GB and the loss of proper tours, to be replaced by some entity called England which has little to no historical international RL relevance.

HTH

What a load of rubbish - the Aussies were way passed us well before SL ever started - how long is it since we last beat the Aussies in a test series? how long was that before SL started?

It is time you got a grip on even a semblance of reality!!

The real question is this - the Aussies have SOO which is supposed to get them ready for the test matches yet they cannot beat the Kiwis; a nation dominated by RU and with only one professional club why?

The idea that SOO type series will be a big help in improving standards simply doesn't stack up - especially if you see what has happened to the standard of Australian RL?

Why not have the fans vote for the SL All Stars team like they do with the Pro Bowl in the NFL? That normally works out well.

One way of going about it from the VT, would be a good way and if that team played, would be a tough contest.

England Knights ?

Didn't they used to be called England 'A' ....

Are they going to be playing during the same weekend ? Perhaps with the full England game somewhere in Lancashire and the Knights playing somewhere in Yorkshire over the same weekend (and visa versa on alternating years) ?

Or, maybe double-header the game for extra value or even something like Wales Vs Ireland, Knights Vs France and England Vs Other Nationalities at the same venue and on the same day ?

Who are the Knights going to play ? France ? Wales ?

The other thing about the reincarnation of an All Stars / Other Nationalities side is that they were counted as 'Test' caps back in the past. Perhaps as an added incentive to play, this should remain for the current game ?

It’s because that one professional club is in the mythical NRL where the rugby league fairy’s wave their wands and make things seem magically better. The saying ‘[iit’s not winning or losing that matters – its presentation[/i’ comes to mind. The NRL has been a lot of hot air over the years and the record of NRL clubs in the World Club Challenge just proves that.

I think it would be a good idea and alot better than the mid season test against France which is pointless. Regardless of if the game would improve the international team or not from a fans point of view it will be a much better game to watch and the teams mentioned above I would love to see play.

Damo even you have to admit the standard in the NRL is vastly superior to that of the SL.

There is only two ways we will become competitive with the Aussies: if their standards drop significantly or we increase the GB qualified playing pool from which the team is selected.

The showboating standard of the NRL is vastly superior to that of the SL. There’s a big different between fancy play and actually winning games. In my eyes, The NRL will always be a glorified super league. However this is probably something we’re going to have to agree to disagree on.

Internationally I agree with you. But I think it’s more to do with the coaching rather than the players that we have up for selection.