From the SMH: www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/set- ... 1novz.html Second paragraph - Nigel Wood stating that there is no vacancy for the England job and McNamara is 1 year into a 2-year deal. Looks like it is same again for the Kiwis Series next year.

From the SMH: www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/set- ... 1novz.html Second paragraph - Nigel Wood stating that there is no vacancy for the England job and McNamara is 1 year into a 2-year deal. Looks like it is same again for the Kiwis Series next year.

Oh.

Any dates or venues announced for this second choice afterthought series against the Kiwis yet?

No?

No surprises there then.

I'm sure the powers that be will get round to it.

Eventually.

International RL - always an afterthought.

Sad but true. Any organisation worth its salt would be putting them on sale the Monday after the Kiwis win. Sadly, ours can only handle one competition at a time. Sometime in March would be about right. Let's get the World Club 'Friendlies' out of the way first.

You are of course very right. Now how about you go back to your Rugby Union board, now you have had your say.

No? Didn't think so. don't believe a single troll ever changed the world, let alone changed anyone's view on here. You remind me very much of Dutoni. Are you related?

There's some far more important Moonie Weekend fixtures to organise and announce first!

An announcement in March confirming international dates and venues is a reasonable guesstimate, though I wouldn't rule out an announcement as late as May immediately after the conclusion of the Moonie Weekend.

Retaining Steven McNamara was a good decision. He has introduced an exciting brand of rugby league into the England team this tournament, with rapid backline passing moves replacing the boring one off the ruck barging runs that achieve nothing.

He must have been inspired by watching the New Zealand Warriors, as well as the Sydney Roosters, play in the NRL. I do hope that he can improve his team selections now, and make James Roby and Darryl Clarke the alternating hookers, while giving the dynamic Elliot Whitehead real game time in the second row. Hopefully Jack Reed will also be available next year, to partner Daniel Sarginson in the centres. If those selection choices are made by Steven McNamara, then I am confident that England can be very competitive against a rampant New Zealand in 2015.

Good decision to keep McBanana as its too late to bring in an alternative coach. There where just a couple of positions that needed looking at, we can compete but we need a winning mentality, unfortunately you need to win big games for that, we are not far off but we need a couple of players to step up further to provide some inspiration for the rest of the team.

Id have to say that was the best kick and chase game Ive seen from England in many years. We normally give up loads of field position to poor kicks.

He needs to get some good results in the NZ series if he is to stay around for the RLWC. End of day it is a results game and we havent had results for a very long time. No trophies for trying!

on promotion, I really hope thye start up an England supporters club and book out one end to it at each ground. Get everyone in white and lets create some atmosphere. England Crusade!

Do you really need to know where these games are going to be played a year in advance? Is knowing that really going to impact your social life and your travel arrangements? If it were the world cup I would agree but this a three game series - first game will be played 2 weeks after the GF and the subsequent 2 Saturdays.

They need to launch once the season has started and fans have got back into a rugby mentality - March would seem a good time. Six months should be ample time to successfully promote 3 games.

I can live with McNamara for another year but there should be an insistence that he gets some experienced help alongside him.

He should not have the sole rights to selection decisions left to him either.

Name the venues now then those that find reason to moan about them can get it out of their systems.

Huge advertisements for Moonie Magic tickets in both League Express and League Weekly this morning.

No dates or venues for the Kiwi Series and no tickets on offer. Why bother striking while the iron is hot and fans are still enthused by the international series just completed? Way too sensible an idea that is.

And there you have it folks. That's how important international RL really is according to those who run the game in this country. It's over for another year. Back to being just an inconvenient afterthought, a dish best served cold and wet during the off-season.

When hardly anyone outside the game takes any interest in the Kiwi Series next year, let's blame Australia, or the national media, or the BBC or that dastardly Rugby Union who are out to get us at every opportunity. BOOOOOOOOO!!!

Now listen up Moonies! You are now ordered to forget about international RL. It's no longer important. It never was.

Get your @rses up to Newcastle in May for the Moonie Weekend. There's lots of special offers on tickets... a fiver off here, a groupon voucher deal off there... Cas V Wakey to round the mass wedding off... lovely jubbly.

GREATEST GAME... blah, blah, blah.

We'll beat NZ in the series.

Possibly.

The Kiwis don't always travel that well to the UK and have struggled on recent tours.

OTOH, England or GB haven't been able to buy a win against the Kiwis down under throughout the entire SL era. Played 10, Lost 10 is their record.