Well hopefully Moran knows what he is doing on this one. But from the outside looking in we are paying the Aussies £175k for the privilege of playing a friendly game that could well disrupt our pre-season preparation by getting the team to 'peak early' in the season.

What are other peoples thoughts ?

Can't wait, rather be in it than not. Warrington v Brisbane Broncos at Halliwell Jones on a Friday night will do for me.

Should be able to get a big crowd for this one. Friday night at home to test ourselves against one of the biggest clubs in Australia, not an everyday opportunity.

Well if it's the Broncos then my Aussie mate will be flying over, so guess I'm going.

According to an article I read

Souths
Bulldogs
Broncos

Winners of each GF play each other
Losers play each other
Wire v Broncos.

Are we definitely featuring next year? It would be a fantastic crowd puller. Since the ground extension, I don't think we've yet had a capacity of 15000.

Now confirmed we are in as the 3rd highest ranked team this year. Bring it on.

Dates and ticket releases?

+1 More than just a great match I would think exchanging ideas, training methods and the like will come into it.

Because it's Brisbane it's actually become very very interesting, me and my mate (Wire and Brisbane) have this discussion all the time, guess we'll finally settle an argument.

Think Saints at home in the first season post extension got 15,000 or at least very close. If it was actually a game that was played with the possibility of us winning the WCC then it would be a nailed on sell out. As it is I think it will still be a good crowd with the novelty of seeing us play the Aussies. Fingers crossed for a sellout.

The series could easily be something along the lines of:

Week one - GF losers v 3 rankeds
Week two - GF winners v week one winners
Week three - Final

don't want to pooh pooh the idea already but I haven't been to a pre season friendly for ten years. If we are going to play this Broncos team :

1 Kodi Nikorima
2 Paul Byrnes
3 Tom Opacic
4 Jordan Drew
5 Jack Tuttle
6 Duncan Paia'aua
7 Ashley Taylor
8 Aaron Rockley
9 Jayden Berrell
10 Joe Ofahengaue
11 Brett Greinke (c)
12 Brendon McBryde
13 Jai Arrow

then count me out.........

If Wayne Bennett comes along for the journey and brings Sam Thaiday, Jack Reed, Ben Barba, Matt Gillet, Justin Hodges Ben Hunt Dale Coppley and Corey Parker etc etc then I shall be giving it whirl...

What's the point of these other 2 matches?
The WCC makes sense and I'm all for that, but the other two games?

If saints lose
If pies lose
If wire win

That's the point

I haven't been to a pre-season friendly in years, but I will be one of the first to buy a ticket for a match against a NRL side.

We'd be playing friendlies anyway, so much better to play a high profile and hopefully competitive match in front of a large, atmospheric crowd rather than a half-hearted encounter against Salford or Widnes.

Already looking forward to it.

Nice one Gary Hulse. Your spot on, 15000 v saints 2012.

Great news this. It would be great to see the ground filled and compare ourselves to an NRL club with them hopefully taking it seriously.