Looking at it like that, it's amazing that we would still have Mossop, Pryce, Marsh etc left over, meaning we could lose Roberts and Goulding too and still wouldn't really need to dip into totally inexperienced players.

I like this idea but I don't really see why they didn't have the foresight to plan it in advance so that there was a gap in the fixtures when it takes place so though no club is particularly disadvantaged. I can see this game really being one to watch if everyone is available for selection.

1. Pattern/Roberts (form a massive factor, one coming over from the NRL, the other coming off the back of an injury)
2. J.Monaghan
3. King
4. Soliola
5. Richards
6. Chase
7. T.Leuluai
8. Perry
9. M.Monaghan
10. O'Meley
11. Lauititi
12. Hoffman
13. Fitzgibbon

14. K.Leuluai
15. Buderus
16. Lima
17. Solomona

That team is roughly equal to England, and may even be better if the backs see plenty ball.

assuming we dont have 4 or 5 injured players ?

What? And everyone else is 100%? Are you the most miserable man in Wigan? You make me look happy. OK then...

Roberts
Pryce
Marsh
Carmont
King
Finch
Mellor
Prescott
Logan
Coley
Mossop
Hansen
Farrell

Tuson
Deacon
O'Carroll
Davies

Id take that side over most in SL

^ Assuming it isn't our internationals/All Stars that are injured.

Really, it's one round, I think we should be comfortable enough in our squad to play another team (minus their best players) for one round.

Exactly. That side above is missing Richards, Goulding, Gleeson, Fielden, Tommy, Sam, Joel, McIlorum, Hoffman, Lima and Lockers. If we can turn a side out like the one above then we should be able to cope for one game. Some players may even double up ala last season.

Why? Why will the "overseas all stars" put any passion or commitment into this game at all? Why will the English players?

As a fixture is means absolutely nothing. It is a contrived match with no history. The result will be meaningless and won't prove anything.

It's got to be the worst idea in the history of the sport.

As to the match v France being cancelled well we had better be expecting the Aussies to refuse to play us soon then. Playing France even if of little worth to us shows the game has an international base. Cancelling internationals for contrived fixtures does not. In RU Italy were whipping boys for years. They still are to a degree but they still kept coming back for more and more importantly no one was daft enough to ditch games v Italy because they were one sided. They could see the bigger picture. No surprise the RFL can't.

Dave

I think you underestimate professional sportsmen's attitude.


They said that about State of Origin.

I think I know exactly what professional sportsman's attitude is i.e. it's a job. And it takes a lot for it not to be just a job such as really meaningful games such as Internationals v Oz and domestically things like Grand Finals and in Oz the SoO.

These games they want to win. Made up games won't even come on this radar.

We could not even sustain a War of the Roses as the players never bought into the concept to treat it seriously enough. I really can't see selection for the overseas all stars being something overseas players here will strive for.



You aren't seriously suggesting this could ever be on a par with SoO?

We actually have an agenda in this country to [ireduce[/i the number of overseas players in the league and with recent changes to tax laws, the diminishing value of the pound v Oz dollar and the fact their salary cap allows them to pay more than ours it is going to be very hard to attract quality players over here in future IMO. It's a side we can have only of there are enough decent overseas players around and that is not guaranteed year on year.

Like Millennium Magic the RFL are barking up the wrong tree once more.

Dave

rlhttp://www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-warriors/warriors_back_all_stars_concept_1_2918819rl

Does Madge not know that DaveO says it will be a flop?

I just hope it's played at Widnes, Warrington or Leigh instead of Headingley.

Make it £10 a ticket and play it at the HJ, you might get close to a full house. Winning team share the gate receipts? 7k a man prize money might add an extra incentive.

Just a thought, with the new salary cap increase and all the other financial nonsense meaning less of the quality Aussie/Kiwi's imports coming over, is this a game they are hoping to promote now and turn in to an event people want to really participate in and feel excited about in a hope of attracting those that might not want to come at a reduced wage in an inferior league in the future ?