And I still say don't be soft. if you complain over something like that, how on earth do you deal with everyday life? Like being from Hull, for instance?

Finals are suppose to be close affairs. Not a gap like ten points or more

To be fair, I was at that final and I felt suitably embarrassed. The scoreline may not appear to suggest it, but Broncos wiped the floor with us that night.

I just don't see why you're being so combative over what was a fairly innocent post but whatever mate.

Me? You were the one dummy spitting, not me.

Good point, well made.

Only in Wigan

The big thing that stands out to me is the fact that the Aussie teams are always undercooked when they play the WCC. Even today they did not seem cohesive (bad conditions taken into consideration). Leeds have had 4 SL games up to today i think. Melbournes first NRL game is on March 13. For me this is a huge leveller. I think it would be a different story if the Australian teams had played a few NRL games before the WCC.

Yet three final wins in it would tell you otherwise.

Play it at the end of each season and English teams would lose by a country mile - partly because of the extra games we play but mainly because the Aussies would be on top form

One thing that stands out for me, is when Saints beat Brisbane 18-14 a few years back and Lockyer was sat in the dressing room after the game, distraught. It obviously meant a lot, i think a lot of it comes from the media rather than the clubs.

fact is the aussie teams will quite happily have a player go in for an operation or rest a slightly injured player for the WCC where operations would be delayed or players given pain killing injections if it was the NRL grandfinal.

once the players cross the line i have no doubt there out there to win, but there preperation towards the game is not all it could be

then you arent looking closely enough

the game has as much credibility in australia as the S14.

where was melbournes first chouce 7 last night?