TS has said Ratch should be fine for Friday night.
Another reason to go.

I suppose a major factor in attendances could be how much interest there is from Aussie ex pats & students living in the UK. Has the series been advertised in universities & colleges for instance ? Ex pat interest could provide some pay on the gate customers.

I just don't see the big deal about your game and Wigans game to be honest. Sky keep barking on about it but they are basically just a friendly game and Imo a disruption for you both.

If saints wasn't playing for the WCC then I'd not want us to play in the world series. It's just pointless and could be costly if any injuries occur.

I don't think the Aussies want to be here either tbh as Brisbane only bringing 18 players over whicj just shows they ain't bothered.

Like I said, if we wasn't playing for WCC Id rather saints not be in it.

2 tickets in the west stand bought at £20 each... Bargain

Cool.

I don't disagree that is is an exciting opportunity to pit ourselves against Aussie opposition and I don't disagree that it is right to support the team. What I do disagree with is, as a season ticket holder for over 30 years, I have been priced out of my own seat on this special occasion and had to relocate to the South stand. I was there at Wilderspool when there were only 3500 of us hardy souls supporting the team and lets be fair some of the entertainment served up was rubbish. For this reason I don't really think I owe Mr. Moran to fork out the £45 for my regular seat.

£45!!! Really ?

I am a bit surprised on your comments, your posts are generally well balanced and thought through.
The issue here is not the individual game itself, but the prospects of getting an enlargened WCC going. RU profits considerably from international matches which rake in huge amounts of money. Cricket only survives over here because of international games and receipts. So we badly need international matches to bolster the finances of the game. These matches have only come about because several club chairmen went over to Oz and pleaded with them to give this format a go. If it is successful and they see revenue can be earned from it, we have a chance to grow the competition and make it more meaningful.

You have to remember that Oz clubs don't view the current WCC particularly seriously. It interferes with their pre-season and they come over here only only partly match fit. If they did decide they wanted the trophy / title, it would be a long time before we saw an English club winning it.

So let's just enjoy the novelty of playing an Oz team, support the WCC, and hope it fires some enthusiasm for more games against Oz clubs.

I can see that this is a stepping stone towards having a bigger greater WCC challenge like we did early in super league (it was awful) but personally I'd rather not play it as its pointless to Wigan and Warrington. Only takes few bad injuries and a sending off and your season could be up in the air. Don't forget. It's the top 4 this year and a few losses could prove costly.

I'll watch all the games and I hope all 3 beat the Aussies (even the pies) but you get nothing for a win so nothing to gain but everything to lose.

You are quite correct, a few injuries could be very expensive for Wigan and Wire. So why would the club chairmen wan't to risk it ? After all, all SL chairmen are pretty renown for looking after their own interests at the expense of both other clubs and the game in general. It doesn't make sense does it ?

Why are the dragons and Broncos actually in it ? The dragons didnt make the play offs and Broncos went out the play offs at round one ?

Because they volunteered for it. As I have already explained, the Aussies don't take the WCC seriously as far as they are concerned it's charity work to support their international board commitments - to show willing.

So from the 6 teams in the World Series, only saints, Wigan and Souths made the top 4.

It's a shambles. If it's to be done, it should be done proper. Teams volunteering to be in it is a joke.

Broncos asked to be part of it and then only bring 18 players and leave a host of good players in Oz.

Total waste of time.

Shane Richardson sends his regards.