100% this. I think for Australia to care about IRL - it needs to be put under threat as the leader of IRL on a consistent basis.

Got to hand it to Mal Meninga for doing all he can to try to restore some pride and passion into the cause. Bad news is that they've still been the team to beat even with everyone involved only half-arsing it.

Dammit, i can't find it on mobdro

What, in the same way that Italy beating England in a 2013 RLWC warm up game saw RL take off massively in Italy ?

[url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/39804623team announced[/url heighington and mcqueen both in the 17. no place for arguably 2 of the form players in superleague, taylor and percival

NRL will be picked over SL everytime. NRL players play at a high intensity on a weekly basis SL players don't.

It's two average Aussies over two of our own

Chuffed for McMeeken fully deserved

Form SL Centre not picked.
From SL Full Back picked at Centre.
2 Aussie's on the bench
Scott Taylor not in the 17

Very odd.

So Liam Farrell and Scott Taylor sit the game out whilst two aussies, one of them 35 years old, get a run out? Terrible decision.

Liam Farrell isn't even in the squad. The 3 missing out are Warmsley, Percival and Taylor.

i find it odd that hardaker has been moved to centre - albeit a position he has played in before - from his usual position of fullback this season, especially when he could have put percival there and played zak at fb and put ratchford to non playing squad member, given that ratchford was a late addition to the squad. i'm not going to be too critical with the backs selection until the game pans out though, as the injury to widdop has probably thrown a big spanner in the works.