They've done the right thing in holding these matches at smaller stadia. Can you imagine the uproar on here if the 3 grounds were the KC, Galpharm and the DW, it would be that these were all too big and how embarrassing would that look on national TV. Now, we've got decent enough RL grounds across the heartlands that SHOULD be fullish, without them looking daft. The RFL really weren't on to a winner whatever with this tournament.

Lighten up man, the last comment was meant to be flippant.
However, two English teams playing against each other would be a stronger test than Wales.
We're almost back to Yorkshire /Lancashire or West /East.
Wales are just not ready yet !

the exiles should have been the 4th team in this comp...it would have made it interesting

Craven Park can be half-full and still look decent. It's an inspired choice. Get the stand that faces the camera at Salford nice and full and we should be fine. If they don't fill Wrexham up for this they never will.

Craven Park an "inspired choice"?! Inspired or conservative? Scared? Unimaginative?

Craven Park is not an international standard RL ground.

It would be ok if the fixtures were next season but, at the moment, its a building site.
Looking forward to seeing the new stand finished though.
Doncaster would have been a good choice, excellent facilities and a good atmosphere even if it isn't a sell out.

I think the RFL thought it would be a safe option to have it at Craven Park. With nearly 20k attending rugby league in the city you need less than half to make it a sell out. (I know a lot of sad FC fans who won't go any where near Craven Park) but add more rugby league fans from yorkshire/Lancashire who always go to internationals and you should get a good crowd.
At the Keepmoat you dont have as big a fanbase on the doorstep. However I do think it is one of the best stadiums for RL and would love to move it about 40miles to east hull.

Caravan Park is a ridiculous choice atm, no matter how you dress it up.

Problem is that there aren't many decent small-medium sized stadiums in Yarrkshire. Leigh would have been ideal, for example.

The organisation of this competition just seems to get better and better. I just attempted to buy tickets for the Wales v England game at Wrexham via the RFL ticketing website. I found instead a message saying that I am unable to purchase tickets as I don't have 'enough priveleges' on my account to purchase tickets for this game. I would be able to buy tickets for the final (which is surely a higher profile game, so should require more 'priveleges' (whatever they mean by 'priveleges')) so why am I not allowed to get tickets for that game?

I have bought tickets from the same site for previous internationals and for the challenge cup final and if doing so has not allowed me to be eligible to attend this game then how is someone looking to test the water at their first RFL event going to fare? Our sport struggles badly enough to sell its internationals without being obstructive to fans that actually want to attend games.

Yeah but we've no train station in Leigh!

Why have no Train Station?

England need more of a challenge than France and Wales. Quite who that challenge would be is a problem though. If Australia and New Zealand won't play us then we don't really have anyone other than creating a team like the Exiles.

A SL dream team style side perhaps? Similar to the Exiles but including those players eligible for Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France and on the brink of England selection.

Pacific tour please !!
PNG, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga would all be great opposition!!

It's difficult for all concerned.
With only 3 top quality international teams, Aussie, NZ and England, coupled with the fact that Aussie and NZ dont want to tour this year, who could / should England be playing against ?
I agree that one of the Pacific teams would offer a different style of competition with their more abrasive style and offload game, but we have Wales to "look forward" to

aside from 1 game.......australia,NZ & all the pacific teams are'nt allowed to play this year cos of a union agreement