People are always saying about playing the challenge cup over a shorter period of time so if that was played in the second half of the season then a 3 game roses series could be played in the first half. Besides which when people go on about mid-season internationals, it would be just as hard to cram them in.

One thing a roses series would do is give our game something different, unique from other sports in this country. Football and union don't have this kind of thing and so if we marketed it right then it would probably get at least a little bit of interest.

Of course another option to get playing representative football would be to have a 3 game exiles series. I think those games were hit by the curse of bad organisation that everything else in our game is. One positive for exiles is that it wouldn't be seen as old fashioned and backwards looking as some have said. Also bbc seem to be showing all England games so it would get some great publicity and showcase a wide range of super league talent. Would act as a marketing tool for our domestic game as well.

No , I would like to see England play more internationals. A break between rounds 1-23 and the super 8's would be ideal. England could go down under and play one test each against PNG, Aus and NZ. France, Wales, Scotland and Ireland could play tests against each other at home.

Exactly, we need to re badge it and hype it up into a big event like other sports do. Super league is no longer a game with consistent intensity, with the league based on depth of squad and how many players get injured these days its very much gone into mediocrity.

It might give us the opportunity short term to attract bigger sponsors, its needs proper planning and image otherwise the "cloth cappers" will just see it as another Lancashire v Yorkshire game with no interest and value. State of Origin is one of the best events on the sporting calendar for any sport, we just need the vision and commitment to emulate it in the right way to give it supporting and media attraction.

So with St Helens in Merseyside, Wigan and Salford in Gtr Manchester, Wire and Widnes in Cheshire, which clubs fans represents Lancashire? How far down the leagues do you need to go to find a club in Lancashire?

It's parochial, it's out dated, with the moaning that went with the Easter fixtures do you think clubs will back it? Nope.
We won't fill stadiums, it will die on its backside.

Why do we have this debate every once in a while, it's a dead concept.
East and West wouldn't work on reflection but it would be the best idea of the lot.
Have them play Wales, Scotland, France and use it as a way of section for the ENGLAND team. Even a West and East team would beat the lesser nations.

Just call it Easts v Wests with the pennines as the datum line. The title of the post is a bit "flat cap".

Don't have the magic weekend as an extra super league game, we should be play each side twice not a lottery 3rd game based on previous season position. In the 23 game stage its become an handicap these days.

Biggest problem is the amount of overseas players in super league so if its not reduced then we are looking at a couple of championship players.

Logistics seems to be the problem with any suggestion we have. The problem with a series like this or any midseason international is getting it to fit in the calender and getting coaches, players and fans to take it seriously.

In terms of being taken seriously, internationals are more likely to achieve this in a short period of time.

Ideally I'd like to see a mid season home nations tournament and then a GB tour at the end of the year. They'd have to be supported by both SL and NRL clubs in terms of releasing players and making it a regular thing, which in itself represents a problem.

Only the WAR OF THE ROSES will be inspiratinal enough for MARKETING purposes.

You could run it with Super League rules, ie, 5 none lancs or yorks players per team, so you can then put together the best players in SL pitting themselves against each other.

Other wise we play a game or 3 games with no value and no marketing and the clubs with the big English stars will just feign injuries to exclude them, once the main raft of english stars available are out then no one is really interested. At least the with 5 extras each team you can pick the Sandows, Walshes, Fage's of the world etc and make the game more colourful and higher standard.

I don't see a problem with championship players playing. A little mix up will make it better for the audience anyway. Championship players will more than lightly try harder anyway along with players looking for an England spot. I say bring it back. No point in having Engalnd matches mid season due to the fact of Bennet being away with the Australian based players also unavailable.

That's the problem, we need to push for the clubs to take internationals seriously. NRL clubs already release players for their own international weekend (Samoans, Tongans, PNG, Fiji) would it be a stretch to get the ones eligible for home nations released?

I agree on the championship players BTW, they all gave the Catalans SL players a game in the European cup last year.

Yep. Firstly, even if the intensity in SL were very high, unfortunately very few people really care about the clubs in SL. They're not relevant to them, they have no affinity to them and no real reason to support or follow one or the other. Yorks & Lancs is much more easily identified with. As for those who say people won't follow Lancashire, take a look at recent Lancashire v Yorkshire T20 games and their attendances, people the other side of the Pennines don't seem to have a problem following Lancashire in the right circumstances.

As said, it has to be done properly or there's no point, but then that could be said of any initiative.

I tend to agree with the Roses concept being a bit old fashioned.

What I'd prefer to see, is a complete three weekend mid-season break for both the NRL and SL.

This three week break would become the 'Summer International Break'. The Aussies would play their 3-game SOO series. NZ/PNG/Tonga/Samoa/Fiji would all play three tests against each other, and have full access to their NRL/SL players. England/Scotland/France/Wales/Ireland would play three tests, with the NRL based players and coach able to travel.

Other sports have dedicated International weekends where the domestic competitions take a break. Every country with a representative RL side should be playing matches these weekends and have full access to players.

I don't have a problem with the league continuing whilst the internationals or Roses comp is on, just that all players have to be made available. If they're not then they won't be picked for end of season internationals.

This would be great except I highly doubt the NRL would agree to a 3 week break. They are more likley to agree to release Aus internationals for 1 week and NZ internationals another week. Super League could take a break and Eng go down under and play a mid season game against each.

Sadly Eng playing and beating other home nations with ease isn't going to achieve much, those nations need to play competitive games against each other.

So questions.

What's the format: Yorks v Lancs, East v West?
When do we fit it in: Mid season break, during the weekly rounds?
What's the purpose: Growing the sport, a way of selecting for England/GB, money maker for RFL?
Will the clubs buy into it?
Will the players buy into it?

Let's be realistic, it's dead in the water, we can't promote it, we can't sell it and not enough people that matter will buy into it.

Would i go? East v West i would.
Yorks v Lancs.....I'm from Cheshire i couldn't give a monkeys about Lancs.