What I don't really understand is why this concept is being introduced around the same time the RFL are reducing the oversees quota. Couple that with the NRL SC increase and the depth and quality of the Exiles are going to be drastically reduced. If this had been brought in 5/10 years ago imagine the players that would have been avaiable.

I also don't get why a 2 game series has been decided on. They've given the 1st game its own weekend and then squashed a midweek game in on top of that. The RFL should have continued with 1 game a year until a full on 3 game series was feasible. What good is a 1-1 draw to anyone! The crowd for the Hudds game will be shocking, it'll be lucky if it hits 8k IMO, which is beyond embarrasing.

I think the squads named this week are the death of the concept really. It's a shame because I believe it could work but not in the current set up of superleague and the challenge cup. The games are too close to the semis of the cup and players are being asked to play too many games.

We should-

Cut superleague to 12 teams

Cut the play offs to 6 teams

Move the challenge cup final to early may

Keep the Magic weekend at the Etihad as a 23rd fixture

Play 2 exiles games on stand alone weekends in June/July so they're both after the cup final but well before the business end of the play offs

Bring back GB as a team once every 4 years to tour Australia and NZ

All pretty simple and logical steps in my mind.

Can't argue with much of that, like I said above I'm not sure what a 2 game Exiles series acheives. I'd also have a top 5 rather than top 6 for the playoff format.

You should NEVER be paid to play for your Country.


England v England Knights is actually a cracking idea but it would be difficult to market it I think. I mean, as an England fan who would I support? Most 'fans' go to a game when they have an affiliation towards one side as opposed to as a neutral. I think I've only attended around 6 games that haven't involved Wigan and 3 of them were finals.

The Exiles concept is superb imo but it doesn't get the right marketing or respect that it should do. The management should state that it is the ONLY way you will be picked for England in the big tournaments. If you pull out and then play for your club a few days later (as James Roby did last year) then you don't play. It worked in origin and it will work here. Too many players disrespect the National side.

Well two pages in and I might be the first.

Well done gelling.

He ain't half as bad as some make out. Real potential and is performing well out of position.

If i go out and buy a can of Fosters i might even get picked for the Exiles

You should get your head tested first though

For signs of life? ... i'm screwed then

Actually the Exiles squad isn't that bad

They could line up as:

Hodson
Robertson
Millard
Moon
Monaghan
Dureau
Dobson

Kafusi
Lestrange
Faimu/Failongo
Menzies
Manu
Soliola

Fully motivated they would give it a fair go.

If i was a winger or centre, i would not want him running at me. Big and strong and helps the forwards.

Made me laugh but the way things are going it may well come to this. The whole concept is finished and is already not even serving the purpose which it was already set up for. The RFL may as well pull the plug now.

Or just market it properly

Its nothing to do with marketing. The whole concept is flawed and no matter how much marketing you use you cant polish a turd.

The squads for the 2nd game are woeful, the Exiles players dont even want to play in it as it means nothing and very few that do actually give 100%. They are not even representing anything and are playing for a made up concept that means nothing to them. This automatically takes away many of the so called benefits that it gives to the England side. McNamara says it is to give players a higher level of game but this is also false because he has already picked a more development team for the 2nd match and so it is no higher test at all, I would expect Wigan or Warrington to beat either of those squads easily. The concept really doesnt have a single thing going for it and is only going to get weaker in the coming years. The standard of Exile player has declined since last year and is going to decline markedly next season. When the new NRL TV deal kicks in it will then decline further. The concept is doomed and is a complete waste of time.