whoever wanted to stump up the cash to pay for it?
or maybe a random draw?

On a more serious note, the difference in class is astounding, saints were poor yes,but they didn't give in and certainly out the effort in, but the roosters looked to have 2 or 3 more gears to use, it was almost like watching professionals v amateurs at times.

And Saints did, so what's the problem?

As for the random draw, sheesh... I look forward to Wakefield vs South Sydney next year.

Heavens forbid, the thought of my Whipping boy rabble taking on the likes of the Roosters doesn’t bear thinking about.

I don’t think we can judge the series until Sunday night, St’s were pretty poor, but they’re still one of the best teams in S.L.

On a lighter note, did anyone catch Keiron’s post-match assessment?

Yep. I'm hoping it was a cack-handed attempt at keeping his players from getting too down about it. For he really believes what he said then Saints really do have problems. If it was an attempt at managing emotions he needs to get a lot better at it.

I think Super League stands to gain a great deal from it.

We haven't had the opportunity to see our non-champions play against the NRL and its highlighting how far behind our game is compared to theirs. It's showing that we need to up the ante, up the salary cap, find greater investment, put more focus on training and developing the Youth, find out how to train half backs in this country and implement a strategy to catch the NRL up.

We need to wake up and strive to improve from the top down in Super League, not from the middle up. And unless we keep playing these NRL sides we will just keep forgetting how far behind our league is.

It needs to keep happening annually and I hope it does even if it's just as a reminder of how hard we need to keep working to improve.

That was not a potentially dangerous tackle! He tackled the back of the knees where the joint bends, the same as opening a door isn't bad for a door's hinges!

they can't do any worse though? at least if AN other team get walloped then you could use the old, "it's to be expected", saints are one of the sports top teams, do we really need to put them to the sword every year?

There is no format of this were we dont get results with a 26 point differential. Its really not a big deal. It is in fact exactly the same result as when the roosters knocked the bulldogs out of the play offs last year, nobody is arguing to scrap the NRL playoffs or that canterbury shouldnt be involved.

Only in RL would we see the same people arguing that we shouldnt have more games between SL sides and NRL sides AND that more games between SL sides and championship sides will be the silver bullet that solves all our problems.

interesting fact, there will likely be two 20k+ attendances in these three games, there were zero 20k attendances in the super 8s or play offs and the middle 8's attendances arent even worth comparing to even the lowest wcs attendances.

This is exactly right AND it is even the worst case scenario, which highlights the utter nonsense of arguments against the WCS. At the very worst it shows us where we are and stops those deluding themselves that the SC doesnt have an effect, that the lack of prioritisation for youth development doesnt have an effect, that the lack of investment in training facilities doesnt have an effect, that all the things the NRL do, that we dont, doesnt have an effect.

This is exactly right AND it is even the worst case scenario, which highlights the utter nonsense of arguments against the WCS. At the very worst it shows us where we are and stops those deluding themselves that the SC doesnt have an effect, that the lack of prioritisation for youth development doesnt have an effect, that the lack of investment in training facilities doesnt have an effect, that all the things the NRL do, that we dont, doesnt have an effect.

While I agree crowds have been relatively good, you have to wonder if the games continue to be walk overs how much longer crowds will hold up, for example I can't see Saints fans rushing to buy tickets next year if they make it given the drubbings they've had.

If we are to continue with the format maybe Champions, Cup Winners (Grand Final runner up if they are the same) and a volunteer/invited guest will keep things fresh, for example Hull, Huuds, Catalan or Cas might fancy a crack at it and it gets a whole new fan base involved in the idea.

On the plus side, Saints were significantly better than they were last week and you could argue that Salford are better than the Roosters

The one certainty with these game is that, the English clubs need to be at the top of their game to have any chance and Leeds are some way off their best at the moment.

Wigan have the best chance of restoring some pride , Leeds, who are a shadow of last seasons side could get done by 50 points.
The main event will be nothing more than a training exercise for The Cowboys.

the format should be changed. it needs to be bigger and make more sense.

But there will be walkovers, and there will be comfortable victories, but the facts are that whilst Saints we smashed by souths, 38-12 is a regular result, its not a huge defeat and the other two games we had were veryclose.

I called for one invited team as soon as the expanded WCS was announced. Think Catalan vs an NRL team would be amazing for Rugby league in Europe.

All this talk of scrapping it because the results have not been great is silly. The NRL teams love coming over. The clubs are making money from this but as usual some fans think because super league is losing in individual matches that we should just abolish it.

Madness!