Quote: Beverley red "Am I the only one who wonders why the Australians 1, get to play a day earlier than the other semi finalists? 2,with their own countryman as ref? 3,wont have to travel overseas to play the next match? 4,plus playing on the same ground as the final (no travel at all)?
If we had done that to them they would have whinged the ears off the world!'"
And if they had played tomorrow, you would be whining that they got an extra day to recover (after playing in the Darwin heat and humidity).
Let's face it, whatever happens you'll blame the Aussies.
Would have been too cruel to make your blokes play in the Top End though. 30 degrees C and 80% humidity; heat strokes left, right and centre.
Quote: Seth "They just have far greater numbers playing the game at all levels, its that simple.'"
Is it that simple though? I mean, it's certainly not that simple when you look at other sports. England has a lot more people playing football than Iceland does, but that didn't stop us losing to them at the last Euros. And I'm sure that New Zealand doesn't have more people playing RU than every other country, but that doesn't stop them from being the best. Yes, population size and the number of people playing the game are definite factors, but I don't think that's the only reason. Unless RL is somehow different to other sports in that regard.
Maybe the NRL and Origin are better preparing the Australian players for the big games, I dunno.
Or maybe the best athletes and most talented sportsmen in England are choosing to play other sports instead of RL.
I think football is a sport where the underdog can have its day more often owing to the limited physical nature and the size of the 'scoring zone'. Also of the players playing in the premier league only about 30% are English (the england squad is picked from approx only 70 players). RL numbers in england are almost half that of Aus and im sure the gaps participation are much more close in RU. Maybe i was remiss in saying its that simple, as RL in england is so poorly run and could without doubt reduce the gap.
Quote: Wilde 3 "Who replaces Cronk, Slater and Smith for Australia - that has to be the worry for them, when they retire from rep footy'"
We thought that about Fitler, Lockyer and Johns, England have to try improve rather than wait for great players to retire
Morgan can play 6 or 7 so he could be partnered with Milford, Reynolds, Cherry-Evens, Pearce, Hunt, Moses or even one of the younger guys like Taylor or Cleary.
The fullback will likely be Tedesco for a long time and Friend or Peats could do a great job at hooker.
76030_1540929970.jpgJESUS WEPT HOW MANY TIMES?????
£20 a ticket and £15 on beer and merchandise.....so an away fan is worth £35. At best, 1,000 is the average away support split across 11 rounds and I am being really generous here, so Toronto, replacing say Wakefield will cost a SL club £35,000.
The minimum turnover of a SL club is £4,000,000 so Toronto instead of Widnes is worth less than 1% of a SL clubs turnover.
There are many valid reasons for and against expansion into America, but "AWAY FANS" isn't one of them. :d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_76030.jpg
Quote: Seth " im sure the gaps participation are much more close in RU. '"
The RFU has more registered players than all of the other Unions around the world combined...well they did in 2011.
I'd say it's a cultural thing as well as coaching. The Aussies just don't do "plucky losers"....neither do the Kiwis whilst the Brits are always happy to say "well played"..."hard luck" etc.
Touch rugby is absolutely huge here in NZ....some of the teenagers in our social comp have insane skills and play both codes, with Union at School and League at Club level.....I'd say that the RFL need to get all over the touch rugby scene in the heartlands.
All views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the RLFANS.COM or its subsites.
Whilst every effort is made to ensure that news stories, articles and images are correct, we cannot be held responsible for errors. However, if you feel any material on this website is copyrighted or incorrect in any way please contact us using the link at the top of the page so we can remove it or negotiate copyright permission.
RLFANS.COM, the owners of this website, is not responsible for the content of its sub-sites or posts, please email the author of this sub-site or post if you feel you find an article offensive or of a choice nature that you disagree with.
HOW MANY TIMES?????
£20 a ticket and £15 on beer and merchandise.....so an away fan is worth £35. At best, 1,000 is the average away support split across 11 rounds and I am being really generous here, so Toronto, replacing say Wakefield will cost a SL club £35,000.
The minimum turnover of a SL club is £4,000,000 so Toronto instead of Widnes is worth less than 1% of a SL clubs turnover.
There are many valid reasons for and against expansion into America, but "AWAY FANS" isn't one of them. 
:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_76030.jpg
