A few years ago I joked with friends that we would stand a better chance of beating the Aussie at old fashioned rugby grounds. Tight pitches hostile crowd , and cold winter weather.

It started as a joke but the more I think of it I do think we're daft for virtually giving away home advantage in the forlorn hope of spreading the game to new pastures.

To some extent Scotland result adds weight to the theory.

I know we have to suit the needs of corporate sponsors but if the money from the gate is going out of the game what's the point. We should at least play the games at ground owned by RL clubs


Pity Watershedings isn't still going

Isn't playing at a big stadium in London a traditional venue for a match vs Australia, all be it the Olympic stadium and not Wembley. Vs NZ was in West Yorkshire and the final if we get there is hardly far to travel for the likes of Saints, Wigan and Warrington fans.

Only one was against Scotland in Coventry and we didn't need a 'local' crowd to get past them.

Playing international at football grounds goes back to about mid 70s......I go back a lot further than that.

I've not checked records but I recall us playing Australia at the old Central Park, Wigan and we used to fo win a few games there

Elland Road should be used more. It's the ideal place for an England V Australia match.

If you're an amputee.

I hope we never go back to the Olympic stadium.

Awful atmosphere.

If we do play outside the heartlands we have to spend time marketing it- geta full crowd and at least it feels like an occasion, rather than staring across at empty seats.

The atmosphere was quite good for the 5 mins that England played well and looked in the match.

It's notable that Australian players frequently remark upon the noisy atmosphere at SL grounds compared to what they experience back home. Well today's test played the Australian defensive way indicates why they don't have atmosphere - it's because that way of playing the game is simply BORING.

Batley, Castleford and Keighley in future then ?

Not the 'a local game for local people ' old chestnut again!

I am in favour of expansion, but the RFL need to reflect on why todays game attracted 9k less fans than last years New Zealand test, despite Australia traditionally being a bigger draw. Playing on a Saturday may have helped slightly, but the bigger issue is their marketing just isnt up to it.

If we are going to take the game to new areas it needs to be with a bang not a whimper, otherwise todays game may as well have been played in say Manchester to a bigger crowd, with more profit and less travel expense to the fans.

Just back from the game and whilst stood outside prior to the match, one could have thought it was Twickenham with the number of southern accents and RU shirts. (I don't want to sound stereotypical either but "union type" clientele is what I'm getting at).
The ticket office had a sizeable queue of people of what appeared to be tourists. They were buying shirts and scarfs and having photos with TRY cards. No, they don't really know what's happening on the field but they are paying punters. We need a bigger fan base because not enough rugby league fans are going to international RL. London has to have an international match again.

I agree Mark. Both occasions i've been to the Olympic park there have been lots of new fans. But we have to do more to make it a reason to come back, not a reason to say'never again'

There were more non-RL types at both Olympic Park games than usual, which may account for the lack of atmosphere. However, that's what we want and need. BUT we need to entertain and compete to motivate them to want to come back again. We did neither. We should always play a game in London as it attracts a decent crowd and more press coverage than 10 games up North. Also sponsors will want it. We need to give more thought to the venue though. Stratford us very accessible by London standards but the jack of atmosphere is an issue. Also now it's labelled WHUFC rather than a national stadium it's not great.