I wouldn't want Joel as captain either, they both have the same problem.

Dont think I mentioned Joel....

The trouble is, there are only three (if we include England) top international teams in RL.

Then only a couple of other 'credible' teams - France and PNG - with their own nationals making up most if not all of the team.

I am sorry to say that all the rest is a sham. Hardly any players in the Welsh, Irish, Scottish (and other) international sides actually belong to those countries, and no qualification rules can disguise that fact. That makes it hard for those teams to have a real identity for the fans, however serious and committed their players are.

It is also true that players (as in the Darrell Goulding example mentioned) only play for the minor countries as a second choice, if not picked for one of the big three. So playing standards suffer.

I always found it cringeworthy, for example, to hear a player like Keiron Cunningham described (usually by daft Eddie on Sky) as a "Welshman." Is he eck as like, no matter how proud he may be of his heritage and how keen he may have been to play for Wales.

I know country-hopping occurs in other sports, including soccer, but it's nothing like as bad, or as contrived, as in RL.

Three top teams out of how many that actually play the sport? Compared to some other 'global' sports, that's a decent percentage.


Are you sure about Wales? I agree about the other two, although there are many countries playing with genuine bona fide players.


Agree 100%. It's a real bugbear of mine this. The RLIF need to grow a pair and stop players doing it. Unfortunately until the ARL/NRL show the RLIF some respect and the RLIF becomes THE world authority, it sadly isn't going to happen.

Is teh game going to grow in the Celtic nations by having ecah team as 90% Australian? We moaned and groaned about Fa'asavalu, so no chance the Celts will come out and support them.

Also can't believe we are wasting money on the Celtics, the RFL are slitting money 5 ways - England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France, would it not be better to just have GB and France, and split the money 2 ways??

Also agree in the GB>England debate, as a kid I wanted to play for Wigan and wear the white with a blue and red chevron of Great Britain. England doesn't bring out the same passion.

What a joker. Nobody is questioning his aggression, competitiveness etc.

Joel doesnt throw the ball away in dissent and moan to the referee, Graham does. HTH

Darrell Goulding is in line to start on Saturday, rumour is Ryan Hall is out.

For once the 'rumour' say the right thing. Hall's defence on Sat was shocking.

Hall is injured, and if he was fit he would have played Saturday. Agree about his defence last Saturday tho, shocking.

Goulding has impressed me greatly this season, far more so than Hall, so I'm happy to have him in the side and all the best to him.

What a turnaround in fortunes for the lad - a nice "keep working and don't give up" story.

He's certainly not let anyone down at Wigan and I do think it shows that you don't need a 'marquee' winger to score a hat full of tries.

I hope so.

1st try, worth a £2 - a Sam Break, Lockers Pass and Goulding finishes.

A try made in Wigan.

e.g. Ade Gardner.

Maybe they could do that with a Magic style weekend of internationals over three days.