What is it with everyone suddennly deciding on new positions for everyone? Especially Tomkins, obviously, but now Hardaker's suddenly a winger.

Give it a rest. You may think Tomkins has a better long term position than FB ( I, in common with coaches who know far more than any of us, disagree ) but the middle of an International tournament isn't the time to experiment with new positions. Every player has strengths and weaknesses. When you pick one over another, there's bound to be some skill that the rejected player executes better, but the coach makes that call. If you're unlucky enough to have a lot of competition for the place you play in, it's bad luck, but hey. The solution is never to start making room for people by playing them or others in the wrong position. Don't get me started on Sinfield.

Am I right in thinking that shows no viewers whatsoever for Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth? Surely that can't be correct?

Won't be many when they publish the adjusted figures later in the month.......NRL and even origin struggles in SA and WA......Victoria might have a few but not many.

Agreed hock would be the sort of player you wouldn't want around on a tour

So all that development money and virtually zero interest in the sport in Victoria?

The Melbourne Storm is your blueprint for London!!

I said "virtually zero interest in Victoria" where exactly? I said "not too many".......
They delivered 15% of the State of Origin III Viewing figures in 2014.....that's up from less than 4% just 10 years ago. Melbourne's sporting public are "warming" to league.....10 years ago they averaged 9k at best, now it's 15k...they rank 8th of the 16 NRL teams in attendances.

Yep.
Planting a team full of journeymen aussies transplanted into the top tier, sticking posts in the ground and announcing a KO off time is what the RFL thought would work...as did owners from Branson to Hughes.......the safety of franchises enabled hughes to spend cash on development, but the reality is, whilst he was prepared to plough over 2 million a year into the club, the SL/RFL should have matched him......marketing ANYTHING in London costs a heap more money and a lot more resource.....but we were given the same cash as clubs with a 100+ year head start and heritage......And believe me, with the best will in the world, not having a top tier RL club for kids to aspire to in London is going to decimate any chances of developing future stars of the game from the capital.