The start of this thread shows why I'm starting to get fed up with our game

Perfect warm up match against opposition who could be tough at a ground where only a few thousand will be enough to make a noise. Brilliant

Just wish I could attend it

First ever England Vs Italy RL game! It's just good to see different opposition for a change! We all want International Rugby League to expand and grow, so games like this can only be a good thing! This could be a real fight of a game and hopefully we could look for this fixture for warm up games in the future! Anyone think Italy will just roll over are wrong, there's some great, experianced players on show!

Is there a minimum number of players from their domestic competition that has to be in each team's squad for the RLWC?

I don't think so, IIRC Tonga or somebody went to court citing player safety concerns from pitting amateurs against full-time pros. In any case don't see why such a rule would be necessary. Nations should be allowed to pick the strongest available squads from eligible players.

As someone who followed the Rep of Ireland to Stuttgart in 88, Italy in 1990 and the USA in 1994, I am all for the strongest possible squad being picked

Problem is, when Samoa and Tonga faced off in April, of the 34 players on the squad lists, 5 were actually born in either Samoa/Tonga and at least one player was already a senior cap for another Nation.

Petero Civoniceva, Akuila Uate, Lote Tuqiri and Jarryd Hayne have all played for Fiji AND Australia at Senior level.......the qualification laws need tightening up IMO........If Hayne isn't picked for Australia this year he will probably run out for Fiji...and that's farcical situation IMHO.

But why is it? The possibility that this can happen within the rules presumably means that elite players eligible to represent minnows like Fiji can do so, without forever forfeiting their right to play internationally at their true level. Hayne turning out for Fiji can surely only be good for the game, both in Fiji, and in the wider picture.

Depends on how you want to grow the game as an international sport, but being able to switch countries at top level makes the game look shoddy IMO.

Whilst the game as a professional sport only has 30 clubs, then it's no surprise that 90%+ of the players at the RLWC will come from the 2 main countries, but if we want the game to truly grow, then I suspect that GB, Australia and NZ would be better playing a Tri-nations whilst the rest of the countries together with maybe U20 teams from the big 3 play in a tournament.
Italy, Fiji, Tonga or Samoa are all capable of an upset at the RLWC because they are packed with Australian/New Zealand born NRL talent..... without that NRL talent they are nowhere near..... but in reality, it is still a question of whomever wins the England v Kiwis final will play Australia in the final.

Are you sure?

Hayne will be a certain selection for the Kangaroos.

England v Exiles was "sold" on the basis as being Englands last warm up game before the World Cup. (Can we sue the RFL for mis-selling?). Maybe, just maybe, after that game they realised that:-
a) the game was a training session, not a warm-up and
b) recent performances and games have highlighted just how wrong the coach got his squad selection.

The game against Italy had been agreed months ago, which does make a mockery of the 'last chance to play together before the World Cup' marketing ploy - but in fairness, the RFL need to use every option available to market the exiles game, as shown by the poor attendances for it over the past couple of years.

For what it's worth, Italy is a much better preparation game than the Exiles.

It's not even comparable. Italy are a legit team, the Exiles were a contrived rabble.

How many times will this "legit team" have fielded the line-up likely to take on England, out of interest?

It's probably his fault TBH. Pizza could be involved after all.

I don't know because, surprisingly, I can't see into the future and tell you what the Italy line-up will be. They'll probably have played together about the same amount of times that the England side on the day will have.