Bit of a no win situation with that squad over.

I blummin hate the squads a lot of teams send over for this game

Save it Gotcha. Saints fans' subtle attempt to devalue any trophy their team can't win.

Serious question - do you not think the inclusion of so many young players in the squad gives Melbourne the ready made excuse that Oz teams seem to enjoy so much?

If you knew me you would know that I always cheer on the British teams against any Oz side - I've attended several WCC games without Saints involved and have even stood on the terraces at Central Park doing such.

The WCC is a nothing comp.

I reckon a few of the injured players arent injured either. Last week Inglis dropped out of the All Stars game due to an injury but was surfing a few days later. Must have been a bad injury ay. If thats how they treat a new concept that quite a few are getting behind how do you reckon they'll treat a game that no one outsidethe UK treats seriously?

I still cant believe Brittish fans get so exited about the game. The only reason I go is to see players I otherwise wont see until later on in the year. Melbourne wont bring over all thier stars because its too much of a risk before they start playing for whats more important... The Telstra Premiership.

And yes, they may say they are preparing properly for it but this is a group of players who have been back in training about 2 weeks and havent played any game time apart from a hit out against maybe the worst squad in the SL at the moment. Also the last team to send as many kids over as this was the Bulldogs in 05 and even then we nearly toppled the Rhinos. Im sorry but this game is a joke. 1 team sending a full team over out of 10 years doesnt make it any more of a comp.

Doesn't stop the enjoyment of a win mate!!
Do you not think that melbourne were trying to win it in 08??

I ask again, who are they missing that would make such a huge difference?

And you might not get excited about, but many others will. At the end of the day whoever wins it does not alter the history books, they are regarded as the best club team in the world. And I for one am quite proud when my club achieves that status.

Serious answer - I couldn't care less.

We have a great concept in the WCC. Its' a big, well attended event and it gets the game decent exposure. It also makes the clubs a decent amount of cash. These events are too rare in RL.

In order to compete for it you have to be champions and you have to play the Australian Champions. The team they put out is a matter for them. In any even, we're often told about how much more strength in depth they have than us so if they use it, fair enough.

Of course, there are logistical issues with fitting the game in to suit both and, financially, the Aussies won't commit to a game over there but, again, that is a matter for them.

The games I have seen, and I have stood and cheered for the Bulls in the past, have always been very herd, fiercely contested matches between the 34 players taking part and I have certainly thoroughly enjoyed all of the contests involving Leeds. I've rarely seen a better display of club rugby than that put on by Manly last year, I've rarely seen a tougher game than the game against Melbourne the year before and the game against Canterbury in 2005 was a really exciting game with some great highlights.

You, and RL fans generally, might want to search for reasons to down play the event and the games themselves. That doesn't surprise me. Its' a mentality very common amongst Rugby league supporters and a source of great frustration to me. I, on the other hand, have a very different, much less dour outlook.

I have my tickets, am looking forward to the game and the 34 players who play will give it there all to win the trophy on offer, whoever those players may be.

Any player that steps onto the field wants to win and I think had the weather been better they would have beaten Leeds that night but win or lose, as soon as they get off the pitch they go home and dont think about it. You didnt hear the aussie coms blurting on about Manly being the World Champions last year like Eddie and Stevo do becasue frankly, no one cares. And people over here might want to believe its because the Aussies like to use it as an excuse for if they do lose but in all seriousness... they really dont care. They got a small column in the SMH last year for the win. Thats how high it ranks. Its a game the RFL pay them to play in so of course the owners are going to accept. But the coaches and players would prefer not to have to travel 24 hours to a cold winter becasue it knacks up preperation for the season. And the players cba especially if they have been over with the touring team a few months earlier. I know its not what people want to hear but its the truth, and I cant take anymore enjoyment out of a win like that than I can out of a win against Hunslet in the Lazenby cup.

No. It's an opinion, not the truth.

Until I hear the players and coaches say those same things, I will believe what they say in their interviews. None of those players and coaches have voiced the same opinion as you.

You can't post yer onpion as FACT or the truth mate
I get it you don't enjoy it and don't care but others do and another 30k+ at ER on the 28th will also think differently.
I also don't give a flying fook what aussie commentators or papers say the reaction of the players at FT in all the ones i've attended at least says very different to what you post mate.
I do agree it's great to see players like Slater,Inglis etc live and i've enjoyed watching these players in these events and the 4 nations but like i said i will enjoy the win if we do and it's a Trophy in the cabinet which is a bonus event for being Champions.

FFS! I just spent 5 minutes typing a reply and when I pressed submit nothing came up. Anyway the jist of it was...

that $'s talk

Aussies really dont care.

English hide behind "The WCC is an important event" to make themselves feel better for the country's short comings over the past 3 decades.

My opinion is shared by fans/players/staff alike

Im not a chest beater who enjoys mediocrity

You are entitled to your opinion but it doesnt make it any more the truth (exactly like you believe *faulsly* about mine)

And I cant think of the rest right now but when I do ill be sure to reply.

So, you think the Aussies enter an event simply for the $s and don't care about the outcome?

That would make them a bunch of losers. I've seen Aussie Touring sides from 1982 onwards. The Aussies are not losers.

You're talking nonsense and even if you bother to re-type it more eloquently it will still be nonsense.