Been in Wales for the weekend so I have only just heard about this, not even seen the full game yet.

Seriously gutted.

this

Precisely. We could sign anybody and they could get injured in the first minute of the first game (Luke Davico). It's a chance for somebody else and there's a reasonable run of games for them to bed in

What you are forgetting is he didn't get injured playing in the competitions Wigan are involved in or playing for NZ. Had he done so then I would agree with your point. Had Sam got injured playing for the Barbarians at RU I would have been equally furious. Any situation that results in a player lost to the team in a meaningless game has to be questioned.

Let me ask you a question. Do you think Finch should play in the next Exiles game?

Exactly. It's a contact sport, every time these guys play they know there is a chance they could get injured, it's just really unfortunate for Tommy that he did.

I wonder if Shaun Wane might try and pursuade Paul Deacon to come out of retirement. Seem to remember Rads doing exactly the same a few years back. Dont forget he and Finch were the half backs this time last year for us. Am sure Deacs would jump at the chance if asked.

I suggested this on another thread and would really consider it a good option also he can take the kicking responsibility from Josh

Sam Powell just tweeted me back saying he's back playing in a couple of weeks. He could come into the equation?

This is one of the big problems with RL.

These games are designed to improve the England team for the international game. Sadly, by the majority, the international game is seen as meaningless. They'd rather get back to their petty inter-club bickering.

If anything Leuluai should be chastised for going into the tackle like that. He only has himself to blame.

How did it improve England though?

I hate criticisng it, as I can see what the RFL are trying to do is for England's benefit, and if they sat back and did nothing, we'd all be slaughtering them for allowing the Aus/NZ dominance of international RL to continue without any effort from us to stop it. We weren't getting much of a test off France so I can see why they altered it, but do we honestly believe that non-event benefitted England's chances in the World Cup next year?

We saw an England squad filled with proven International failures, while players who might have learned something to benefit them watched on Sky, and an Exiles team that were completely disinterested.

I went as I liked the theory of the concept last year, and only didn't go then because I'm fed up of going to Headingley all the time. But after that on Saturday, I'm not ever going to one of those pointless non-events again.

Out for 8 weeks, wane has told Wigan evening posts Phil wilkinson

In theory it should help England for the reasons you've stated. The fact that it's a poor England squad is Mcnamara's fault rather than the RFL, although they did ultimately appoint him.