true, it does highlight the catalans club biggerst problem though, that none of the key positions are taken up by french players when they play a full strength side.

having backup players at club level being starters at international level is going to make it difficult for them to progress

so I suppose England with all their key positions filled with so such talent, not to mention the excellent 'back-up' players available is tickety boo then ?

or maybe we should simply take the warm-ups for what they really are....warm-ups ???

there are many reasons why the USA won that game, motivation being the no.1 for me but when you have a negative thinking coach in charge then maybe you get what you pay for ?

Have the French ever been motivated for anything?

Utter disgrace.

Now you know why 7 major Super League clubs want the RFL to stop its mad, ill considered reforms of Super League and give the clubs more say in the process.

These same clubs, and their owners or CEOs, also want to do something about the failure of the RFL to attract naming rights sponsorship -- to either Super League or the World Cup. This despite hiring as Chairman an empty suit named Brian Barwick to attract such sponsorship.

The complete failure of the RFL under Wood-Barwick on the financial front is paralleled by the fiasco of not getting the WC games telecast in the USA, and heaven knows where else.

erhh drinking, love-making and eating