Brian Carney made a suggestion on B'n'A last night. He suggested that England play the Knights. The Knights will want to beat the 'first' team because they have a point to prove. It could be seen as a trial game for the World Cup. the only trouble with this is getting the clubs on board and with the current club before country attitude in our game I can't see it happening any time soon.

Sad isn't it?

Money is the only way to motivate these players to be desperate to pull on the jersey. Money Rugby League doesn't have.

Did Gelling ever play 1st grade for the Roosters?? Thought he only played Toyota Cup??

he never played 1st grade at the roosters only Toyota Cup

Thought so. Aren't the Exiles supposed to be the best Ex NRL players in SL

Good God!!!! And sky want to build this game up as the British Origin? I'll eat my own if it's going in two years.

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