Given the success of the NRL allstars V Indiginous XIII in Australia, is it time to have are own "allstars match" as a curtain raiser between say an English/British XIII versus a World XIII. The world XIII would likely be made up of the best of the European and import players in SL.

I really think the RFL should look into something like this, while it wouldnt have the same feeling as Indiginous players playing for their people, it would still be a great spectacle

I think theres something to this, but id like to see a European Superstars vs ROW Superstars (all players from superleague) in the same format as the allstars game, where the fans can pick the squads, it would be a good way to drum up interest for fans pre season, and it could coincide with the Superleague season launch, maybe playing in a host city to expand the game, or as a pre cursor to the world club challenge.

I think the idea of a european team is something which would enable the best players to play in a team which other wise would never happen.

It would let the likes of Pat Richards play for Europe, and the best french talent.

I think it could also add gravity to players opting to play for less established nations whilst still being able to compete in a top level rep game.

The english or european team would get mullered!

Hodgson
Roberts
Carmont
Gidley
King
Mogg
Orford
O'Meley
Buderus
Tronc
Menzies
Galea
Puletua

C McGuire
G Hall
C Fitzgibbon
Luaki

Then also
Chase
Leuluai x2
Donald
Lautiti
Eastwood
D Johnson

The aussies/kiwis etc could pick 2 sides better than the english 1st.

I thought we played too many games as it is. Why don't we just start the season at Christmas?

effectively it would be the England team (minus Ellis/Burgess) that battered NZ and matched Australia for large periods last year, plus a couple of the top French lads. Would easily be enough to beat the Overseas13.

No - there is no interest

they tested the waters down under with the Indigenous team as the curtain raiser for the world cup game at SFS - there were thousands queueing to get in for kickoff (I was one of them) - UK audiences are not interested in our own national or county teams

The RFL would ensure that they did everything they could to ensure it failed.....i.e. play it in some backwater like Doncaster, on a freezing cold Friday night, with ticket prices to ensure a low crowd and shown only on Sky Sports.

Played on Saturday afternoon, live on BBC1 (and promoted by the BEEB across its different outlets), ticket prices no more than £10, in a proper venue, promote it to the Aussies/Kiwi communities in London (and bus them up to wherever it is for free) - would get a cracking crowd and a good atmosphere.


saying that - I dont see the point. Another game for the top players when they dont need it.

How about the Dream team that they choose at the end of the season, change it into a 17 man team and let them compete against a team of select Superleague players (a choice which can expand through all teams) by a coach.

That's funny, because the NZ team couldn't even pick 1 side to beat the English last year, let alone 2 sides based on SL players. The whole "Aussies/Kiwis are miles ahead of the English" line is just boring now.

I wouldn't mind seeing a game like this. It's innovative in this part of the world so could get some media attention. It'll get more than England vs France in Leigh for sure, and it'll be more of a contest as well.

Fans vote for two players from their club to play for Europe All Stars, and two to play for Oceana All Stars. Squad of 28 for each coach to pick a 17 from then. Or could just be one player per club, with the coaches picking the last three.

I think its a great idea to replicate a similar game over here, i liked the way that the NRL let the fans vote on players to play in the game, so how about...

Great Britain vs Foreign XIII

Each team selects four FOREIGN / FRENCH players; outside back, half back/hooker, back row, front row. This means that 56 players are selected, Superleague then launch a poll on the website, each fan gets a vote for each position, positions are then filled in with accordance to who has the most votes.

As for opposition? How about Great Britain; and no i dont mean England plus Pat Richards and Oliver Wilkes or whoever. It should be based on after the international season (October-November), the coach (whoever it may be) picks 5 players from each country, it may seem however a bit lopsided in terms of England mind.

Scotland: Paul Jackson, Oliver Wilkes, Kevin Henderson, Ben Fisher, Iain Morrison
Ireland: Michael McIlorum, Pat Richards, Damien Blanch, Sean Gleeson, Scott Grix
Wales: Craig Kopczak, Ben Flower, Elliot Kear, Jordan James, Glenn Morrison???

ok maybe not that bad but heck you could even include a retired few e.g Lee Briers, Keiron Cunningham

I would love to see an rlc level player base to make a county championship. With the rlc now expanding to nearly every county in England this could be a great tournament and use the final as a curtain raiser to the sl gf or
something.

Yes the yorkshire/lancashire teams would probably walk it but would be great to get the newer southern players the chance to play the guys up north

That's not really got anything to do with this thread has it!

That allstars game was awesome and I'd advise anyone to watch it if you can. Invites available for a place you can get if anyone wants it (PM me). Sailors last game and a noisy full house with the Australian Prime minister on the panel at half time. You think Gordon Brown would sit between Stevo and Eddie? He'd lose the election hands down. I'd vote for him though.

I like the idea of an All stars game. Maybe it's time for a fresh idea to replace the magic weekend with.

What about doing it in a format of only 2 players per team can be selected (1 for the foreigners and 1 for the English) from the 14 teams with the remaining 6 spots filled on a wildcard selection basis perhaps.

This would help keep the game competative, ensure that no team suffers more than others through loss of players. It could also be played mid season meaning that the other 200 plus regular SL Players get a break, there could perhaps also be some kind of agreement from clubs that the players that partake in the game sit out the following weeks fixture.

The only 2 possible drawbacks that I can see would be that it a) extends an already long season by a week and b) would there be enough quality only using 2 players per team?