Exactly, they talk about helping the smaller nations, like Fiji and Tonga so why arent we playing one of them? NZ are playing Somoa...

Although it is good to see England have a warm up game down under, imo they deffinately need it.

Pointless, utterly utterly pointless.

Having a warm up game isnt, just the choice of opponent.

Why is it pointless? Maybe I'm missing something, but I just don't see how playing the NZ Maori will do us any harm? Touring teams have played club sides, county/state sides and president's/prime minister's XIIIs in the past as warm up games and I don't see the leap in difference here.

They have to give England a game that they are nailed on to win.

only a absolute tit would back PNG to beat us.....lmao


disappointed we are'nt play tonga as originally rumoured...though we are on a centenary tour and as i understand it we played a NZ maori side back in 1910 so it makes sense really

A NZ Maori Rugby League team first toured overseas in 1908 and played against England in 1910 - the first ever international match in New Zealand by any team.

I dont know if England will beat PNG as I havent really researched into their side or what steps they have done to improve their game since the RLWC.

All I do know is they were unlucky to lose in Townsville.


I hope your words dont come back to nibble your little pommie backside!

Hardly a tour as we knew them though 'spud is it? We argue long and hard about giving the PI nations (and others) more high profile international matches and then spurn the chance when it's handed to us on a silver platter. Only in rugby league.

i was in townsville and while it was'nt the greatest performance we were never in danger of losing it...

like i said on the VT...we could beat NZ and PNG but get flogged by OZ in the 4 nations and idiots like you will still say NZ are better than us and PNG were unlucky

Yes it would be great to play one of the Pacific Nations but Maori will have to do.

I suppose it will have to...............

Just a little word of advice?

You know those eyemasks they hand out on the plane along with some cheap socks and a tiny tube of toothpaste?


Next time you travel to Oz to watch England play remember to remove the eyemask you wore on the plane before you start watching the match.

I can get my head around that Cata but if it's such a milestone game then why is it a curtain raiser to NZ v Samoa ironically? England should be playing Fiji and Australia should be playing Tonga.

Its just a warm up game...nothing more, nothing less.

I just hope England dont use it as an excuse. England are pretty poor, we all know that.... but even Barry McKenzie realises they should beat an NZ Maori side easily.

What might happen is England pick up some injuries. Those Maori are pretty bulky units. I spoke to one once at a Wallabies v All Blacks game and he was wider across the shoulders than a Maloo Ute.

Then we will get all the 'We didnt beat PNG because *insert your favourite player here* was injured after being smashed by a bloke who was the size of a small continent' type posts.