the reason the soo concept works over here is the fact that the players/fans and clubs put soo above their own clubs for the origin period and lose valuable players without too much complaint.the english mentality in most sports is put club first then rep footy, until that changes the yorks/ lancs or exiles thing wont work as intended
but having the game on a free weekend is a better idea than wed nights as per origin as it disrupts the teams for less games

SOO works so well because the fans and players are committed to their state and there is a rivalry between the opposing states.

If we had Lanc v York then would that be the case? I doubt it, maybe Yorkshire folk would have that relationship with their county, but would Lancashire? Is there even a team in the comp from Lancashire?

There is the problem, right there.

That club first mentality isn't going to change on its own though. Fans need a reason to start caring more about rep footy. It has to capture the imagination and provide exactly what the fans are looking for. It has to provide passion and excitement and give fans something that they can really feel a part of.

Games against France, Wales or the Exiles just don't seem to do that. The Lancashire v Yorkshire game didn't seem to do that either.

I go to watch Wigan every week because I enjoy it, because it stirs up the emotions, because it feels great to watch them win and because it makes me swear like a trouper when they lose. When England play these mid season games I feel ambivalent. When they play Australia or New Zealand the excitement is there.

I posted the following on the Wigan Forum earlier, and having attended tonight here are my thoughts:


"I can honestly say that I have never been more bored at a RL game than I was tonight. Forget Tommy's injury, these things happen but no-one gave a monkeys tonight. 11,000+ attendance? Do me a favour, RLF/sky lies - it was nearer to 7K. Mates turned enemies? Yeah right. The problem is you can't generate an atmosphere in the way they tried to tonight. I cringed every time 'we will rock you' crackled over the 1980's speakers in situ at Langtree Park.

I overheard someone in the beer queue tonight with a great idea. Bring back Lancs v Yorks, £2000 to each of the winning players and all supporters of the winning team get their money back along with a free ticket to a SL match of their choice.

Players have something to play for, i.e. money and and England shirt and supporters have vested interest as well rather than asking themselves what possessed them to turn out to watch such a pointless and boring game. I'm not sure of the economics involved but there must be a better way than tonight.

I for one won't be returning in the current format and the overwhelming consensus was that many felt the same."

Please don't confuse this Exiles match with international RL.

Simple facts:

SOO has replaced international competition in Australia - although I don't believe that was the initial concept. They used to be just as fired up to play GB and the games were just as intense. Origin is now the only representative competition the Aussies take seriously (even though Queensland win the bloody thing every year).

Club rugby is seen by fans as being more important than international rugby in this country because hardly any of them were born the last time we beat the Aussies in a series or a WC. That's it. Also, the synchronisation of seasons when we switched to summer rugby saw the death of tours. Tours were what it was all about and playing the Austrlians 3 times and playing club games. I saw the Kangaroos play Leeds in '82, it was a massive event, it generated huge interest in the internationals.

It's a circular problem - club rugby priority and the use of vast numbers of imports for success reduces our chances of winning against the Aussies, and not being able to beat the Aussies means we focus on the club game and lose interest in developing an international side.

As for the concept of playing "exiles" - I don't see a problem with it, the Exiles team on paper looked just as good as the England team. The problem is that England are so awful at the moment that you knew it was going to be rubbish to watch. Which it was, truly, completely dismal in every possible way - far too many to go through here, I can't be bothered.

we can't put one decent england team out, let alone two teams for lancs against yorks

If fans up north don't give a toss then why not play both games down south where there are decent oz/kiwi communities. At least it might generate a bit of rivalry/atmosphere. Just a thought.

Found it flat, doesn't help that Bananaman is in charge picking a side that just doesn't stir the soul.

Lancs v Yorks thats right lets go back to the M62. That should keep Skys viewers in the other 95% of the country interested

Have you not noticed that players from outside of the "corridor" are now playing the game!

I think RL here has too much of a habit of trying to chase desirable, but unrealistic outcomes, instead of looking right in front of their noses at the things that work and building on that. In our case, it's the passion for club rugby.

People will always find it hard to get excited about a game with a contrived team, and the exiles concept guarantees a contrived team. It's nothing at all like SOO. Kids grow up wanting to play SOO and represent their state. Who grows up dreaming of playing for the exiles?

The only sensible idea I've heard from the RFL recently is the desire to expand the WCC into something like the Champions league. It's a shame we gave up on this after the debacle at the start of Super League. It doesn't have to be too hard. Two groups of four, two aus, two Europe in each, coming from top four from each league, so that we don't have the super league dross anywhere near it to embarrass us ( not that we can guarantee our top teams won't get hammered either, but hey ). Travel is kept simple by each team going over for their two away games in one trip.

Needs a big sponsor with a big prize on day one otherwise Aussies won't do it.

Getting some good competition going between clubs, passionately supported, will hopefully also reinvigorate the desire to see GB vs Aus.

Successive England coaches have bellyached about the lack of time they get with the squad, hence the introduction of the mid-season game, first against Australia (too embarrasing), then France (too easy) and the ETS squad sessions throughout the year. The made up concept of the Exiles is the RFL's attempt at a 'Goldilocks' solution - not too easy, not too hard, and keeps the England coach from bleating. It's a match of convenience, but one they haven't managed to sell to anyone but themselves.

Lets have 3 games east v west and the winners ofthe 2 games to take on the exiles