It was a wonderful crowd.
In just a few years this fixture has really captured the imagination of the Polynesian and Melanesian communities in Sydney's west. Almost 1 in 10 of them were at the game and having a ball celebrating their culture and Rugby League.
Rugby League is rapidly replacing Union as the sport of the South Pacific, and all the rich ex-pat's who live and work in Sydney have a lot of influence back in the Islands, so this fixture is really spreading the word for the code very effectively.

Let's hope so. For all the criticism of the games' governing bodies, international RL overall has never been stronger.

Fantastic win for England yesterday,Surely we must fancy our chances of at least reaching this years World Cup Final
I hope that Heighington and McQueen dont make the World Cup squad as I don't agree with their inclussion,I would much rather see Currie,Bateman and Ward in there

Ryan Halls try took his tally to 32 tries in 32 Internationals which is some achievement

If we're going to pick Aussie players with English heritage then surely someone like Adam Cuthbertson would be appropriate, at least he's played a fair amount of his RL in this country. Either way I hope the 3 young back rowers mentioned above get back to full fitness, and are playing well in 5 months time.

Joel Moon could qualify as he has lived in England 3 years, we need a 2nd quality centre as well as Watkins.

He isnt picking them because they are australian, he is picking them because they play in the NRL, Bennett probably thinks Cuthbo retired.

He even said he would have picked George Burgess if available despite his shocking form

Lets hope the poor performances of McQueen Heighington and Tom Burgess and the good performances of Gale McGilvery and SO'L shows Bennett that the top SL players are still better than bang average players in the NRL

I can't see Bennett picking Cuthbertson - he was happy to let him leave Newcastle.

England played reasonably well, but we still look clunky and go through bad spells. Be very interesting to see how much difference Widdopp would make.

Even better if someone would accuse Cronk, Smith & Thurston of a crime as well! I thought it was a good game for England, My only concern is that the coach thinks the two average Aussies are a better choice than Taylor or Walmsley?

He didn't, he thinks they're better than other back rowers.

Pedantic? just because I know now't

How is it pedantic? Just because Bennett gives a debut to McQueen when Batemans out everybody loses their .

I do think its a bit rich to suggest that the most experienced coach around knows less about players than fans. I can't remember on here how often we've been told that GB/England's pack was somehow superior to Australia, only to see it demolished on the pitch.

We also don't know how much impact on Bennett's thinking the limit on players per club had, or how much he was seeking to widen the squad this time round. Any number of players might miss out on the WC through injury.

As it is, I think whilst England's performance wasn't totally convincing, the fact they reasonably easily beat a Samoa side packed with NRL players has made a few people here sit up. That's especially the case when you think we were without Widdopp and Williams, who could well have been the first choice halfbacks.

I think that he would have lined up with Widdop at Full Back, with Williams and Gale in the halves.

Be good to see Currie and Bateman come back into that squad

I also think this was plan A.

Widdop hasn't played FB for years and was the form halfback in the NRL prior to his injury a couple of weeks ago. Why would anyone have him down to play anywhere but in the halves?