We need players from Down Under to represent the Aussies and Kiwis IMO or it has no credibility. A break away team from each nation would be perfect, in fact I think I’d prefer that now to an official U-turn happening. If over 75% of the players are happy to travel, then we shouldn’t have too many issues with them pulling together a couple of amazing sides, that would still be the favourite and second favourite to win the comp.

They’ve not half got some brass neck. Mal Meninga has come out today saying Australia and NZ need test matches at the end of the season

Convenient for them eh?

Proves it’s got nothing to do with CV19 and all about the NRL putting their noses back into place after having it adjusted by RLWC2021 board last week. They ought to be banned from international competitions for 10years. I hope Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, PNG, Cook Islands, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France and Jamaica mop up their star players. I genuinely pray the WC goes ahead without them and is the best one yet with star “Aussies” and “Kiwis” defecting to other nations.

Now isn’t the time for us to bow down to the NRL. Stand up to them. Go ahead without them. Stick it to them and do it with glee. I don’t even care if England win the WC or not at this point, I just want a superb tournament without Australia and NZ. I’m quite happy without their over inflated ego and self interest.

I think we have to ask ourselves, like David Mitchell, , who are the bad guys here? It's not really players in the NRL, is it, many of whom clearly want to play. At the end of the day, Meninga and most of the bosses down there want international football on their terms, when it suits them, and when they can conveniently fit it in around their comp and Origin. I wish they didn't take that attitude, and we could have 'proper' Kiwi and Kangaroo teams, but they do. If (and I still think it's a big 'if'), we can get serviceable 'unofficial' teams for them, it;s better than nothing, and the comp could go ahead. it's a critical time for international relations in rugby league.

When I first heard this news I was fully behind cancelling the comp.

I’m now of the opinion we go ahead with or without them.

The NRL need to understand or be taught that they are not all that matters in the rugby league world.

Is it going to be a devalued tournament? Absolutely, but it’s time to grow a pair and fight back.

I think that's the point, jonh. If we can get some serviceable Aussie and Kiwis sides into the comp, somehow, then, yes, it will be devalued a little, but I think it could, and should, go ahead. Lacking that, not really. It's starting to look that it may increasingly be down to what individual players down there want to do.

And that is exactly why they are better, because our own fans CBA to watch us.

If the viewing figures for Cas v Hudds, as you suggest, were of a decent standard then we would get a better tv deal. The more people that watch, the more companies want to advertise, the more expensive it is to do so etc etc.

Nah sod it. Lets watch our own clubs and sod the rest. No wonder players get booed playing for England.

I'm not sure what point you are making there, Egg Chasing. The NRL isn't better because 'English fans can't be d to watch SL', why should that have anything to do with it? As I said elsewhere, i watched Cas v Hudds, and quite enjoyed it. but the Canberra game I watched earlier, whist not reaching any great heights, was still a better quality contest, if it comes down to that mythical "if you had to invite a viewer who'd never seen rugby league before" argument.

Of course the quality is better. My point is that how is the game supposed to grow over here when our own fans cba to watch it?

If people tuned in for games on tv and viewing figures were high we would get better tv deals and could demand better coverage. Instead we get games moved around at daft times or shoved on sky sports mix.

You must be an absolute masochist or something if that's your solution. You can't be being serious surely?

So we now all have to be little bum buddies and watch RL all the time? I bet you're the type of guy who buys those half and half flags. Is this a new level of fan btw? Someone that has a season ticket & all the merch, is no longer the top tier. They've now been usurped by someone who watches all RL games on sky (but not the NRL obvs).

I think I'll just stick to watching stuff that I enjoy

When Australia and New Zealand can send teams to the Olympics and Rugby Union players to our country, it is simply proving that they do not want to take part in the event as they see it as a loss making venture in the present Covid19 situation of our country.

Fans will watch games they want to watch. Salford v (near enough anyone bar Wigan) on Sky doesn’t tickle my fancy. I can add HKR, Wakey, Leigh, Huddersfield into that too.

I’m a boxing, golf and cricket fan too. I don’t watch games there I don’t want to.

But by your reasoning we should all watch RL all the time as that will boost advertisements and money? You’re far off the money here.

Watching sport should be a pleasure, not a duty.

You’re spot on, and that’s exactly my position as a diehard RL fan.

Quite simply it’s not worth watching HKR, Salford, Huds, or Leigh vs anyone as it’s usually low quality fare in front of a trickle of a crowd, no spectacle atmosphere or event.

Sadly that’s what super (sic) league has become.
I love watching the game but I’m only interested if it’s the top SL teams playing each other. Otherwise it’s usually a non contest or pretty rubbish rugby....tbh games at the top of SL can be like that too, just less frequent and more often get a decent game.

Top of SL is just about watchable, bottom half is largely a waste of time. There’s only really 6/7 decent clubs, even then it’s miles off the quality of NRL

Easily, the best two games of last season were the two Wigan Vs Saints games. I'm saying that's as both a fan of Wigan and also a fan of what RL should be. If every game was at that level, then more people would watch it. It isn't and they don't.

If you ever want to know what's wrong with British RL then read this article rlhttps://www.seriousaboutrl.com/proof-the-salary-cap-works-41335/rl. I'm not a fan of Saints, but why should they suffer because they've built a decent side? Why should players be asked to choose between being part of a winning side, or a big pay day? Why is it seen as a positive that, as I said above, a team that played a part in two of the best game have to become weaker?

People question why fans like me don't like British RL. Well that article is all they need to read. The opening paragraph states that it was done prevent the team I support from being dominant. What more of a reason do you need? Fu to the rest of the clubs and British RL imo.

Couldn’t agree more with you, the article or afootingmiracle.

I don’t know if you’ve seen it but occasionally sky play retro games. The last (to my knowledge) being Wales v Aus in the disastrous 2000 WC, the one before that Wigan v Saints for the last ever game at CP and some retro GB games. They’re brilliant to watch and bring back some good memories (or not so good on the 2000 WC but that’s beside the point).

The point is is that these games were so much better then the current rugby being dished out. Better atmosphere, better styles and better all round players. The SL decline started when the RFL for some bizarre reason decided to bring the league down to Wakefield/Cas/Salford level instead of forcing those clubs up, or booting them out. Now we’re paying the price.

I want to love British RL, even more so as I can’t stand the NRL, but I just can’t bring myself to watch the aforementioned teams if Wigan aren’t playing. I’ll gladly tune in to Warrington/Saints/Leeds and sometimes Catalans but even then I’m far from “can’t take my eyes off this”. The quality just isn’t there anymore, despite what Sky and any other podcast other than ‘Out of Your League’ would have you believe. That contributes to falling crowds, viewing figures and ultimately funding.