i reckon paul newlove could STILL run rings round bridge. I would love to have had a young fit newlove playin last night.

Someone made a comment last night (i think it was McCrae) about the fact that the Aussies have the state of the origin as a step up from weekly RL before they come to the internationals & we don't.

Lets face it, the NRL is a much stronger league & with the origin series, the Aussie international players get to experience more intense competition, what do we have? A friendly against France mid season & then an end of season game against Wales! Not exactly good preperation is it to face the Aussies?

I think State of Origin is a red herring. It's only 3 games, and the Kiwis don't have it and still won the World Cup.

The issue of greater intensity of competition is far more relevant to the fact that the NRL is a higher standard than SL. However, even that is overstating it a bit. The Aussies didn't come through our good players in the pack yesterday - they came through our average players in the threequarters, every time. Ultimately, it's about the talent we have. We have good talent in the forwards and weak in the threequarters. Making those average threequarters play more SoO-type games won't make them into players who can match Inglis, Hayne and Slater.

The SOO is only 3 games a year so I can't see how that would have any bearing on it at all.

In fact half the players that play SOO back up and play 2 games in 3/4 days which in this country we would moan about as we do over the Easter games.

We could debate why the convicts are better than us for ever but the simple fact is they born better players.

God knows why but that's just how it is.

It was good conditions for England last night. It's little bit wet, cold and a wind but they still put a score on us.

I think WindleSaints' point was that the weather in Aus makes people want to get outside and play sport and practice, where as here, kids would rather sit in and spend 2 solid days playing Call of Duty

along with cricket, league is their national sport, you would assume the majority of their schoolkids want to play either of those sports, as someone on here already said our kids want soccer, the facts are they have far more to choose from and nurture at a young age, the conditions over there are superior to here. it's always been the same and it will probably never change. its like comparing england's international football team with wales.they give england a game now and then but when it matters they just can't compete. i have been watching rl since 1970 and nothing as changed as far as england and the aussies are concerned.

I think we have some hope for the future .. We are currently lacking centre's but Calum Watkins at Leeds looks a great propect and hopefully there'll be more like him coming through the ranks at other SL clubs.

What you have to realise is that the Aussies identify players at a young age.

The clubs put them into schools which are essentially sports colleges.

IMO we need to start scouting kids not necessarily from RL, but from other sports such as football, basketball, athletics etc but who have the physical attributes and can be coached into RL players.

We also need to get to no more than three non qualified England / GB players per team.

Wigan could have 8 next season, Leeds will have 7. It has to stop.

Exactly!
I was around Jnr RL for some 13yrs, and in the winter months its more about avoiding frostbite / getting soaked by freezing rain / trying to run on pitches that look like muddy bowls of custard!
Pace, power, and ball-handling skills really dont come into it very much.

I also believe that the Aussies dont play fully competitive games until U16, in order to focus on total skills development rather than just winning matches.
Also doesnt help that RL isnt exactly at the top of most kids dream sports over here.
Bit different down under.

We have a long, long way to go yet.

Thanks Ski, that was exactly my point



They have the perfect climate for rugby league, and for lots of other outdoor sports. Our poor climate is one of the worst.
When we get our 1 week of summer (if we're lucky), and you go to the local park for example. You'll see loads of adults & children out, playing whatever sports & games they like. Some even grabbing hold of tennis raquets & having a game.
Go around now or anytime from say October-April & you'll see a few people walking dogs, or maybe feeding the shivering ducks at the very most.
Its sad, but its a fact. We do better at sports like darts, snooker, boxing etc its no coincidence that them sports are played indoors.

Thats not to say we can't produce talented RL players & other sportsman, but nowhere near the depth of talent warmer countries can.