Yes it was a sad day. IMO should have been played in the north - after all that is where RL supporters are!

Good effort by the England team but IMO Carvell should be in the 17. Is Burrow out for the whole series? Not impressed with Chase.

The Aussies would probably have won anyway but poor refereeing and mistakes/discipline didn't help our cause.The Aussies prey on such and every time we oblige!

Peacock and Morley look past it for the international game for me. Chase has been poor and is not English, heighington not much if at all better than what we've got and is not English, yeaman poor today and has been tried at this level before. Put a infield to loose if chase does have to play play him in his normal role of 7 with widdop at 6 and possibly give McGuire a shot off the bench. Bring bailey in at prop alongside carvell for the two mentioned above. Let Eelam have a crack in the centre for yeaman and leave the rest as they are. Tompkins showed his class today, the wingers both looked strong and reed looks decent enough, back row is fine but maybe drop Wilkin and give a shot to someone like ablett, he's been mr consistent for Leeds

that today was aus on autopilot, thurston ok, lockyear looked bored.

as for the attendance simple, too expensive too far and not a prayer of winning!


for me, ditch 4 nations, and have four regions

england
nz
queensnsland
nsw

double header for 3 weeks an a final

id be there every week!!!

It's club before country for most RL fan including me, the franchising system has pitted clubs against clubs and RL has lost it comeradary between it's clubs supporters we once had and this has spilt over to international games. I remember going to wembley in 1990 beating the Aussies infront of alot bigger crowd than today's and there was a sense of something special we were representing RL as fans altogether. I didn't go today but international RL doesnt have be appeal it once had and modern day club rugby has damaged the game at international level in my opinion

great day that remember some of it quite well!!!!

found it hard today to get all excited, what with rangi and such, its just false, the nfl hasnt needed it to sell out wembley!
state of origin for the uk please, you know it makes sense.

Too expensive?

For me, ditch our sporting inferiority complex, ditch the whole chuffin charade, bring back GB, bring back test series, ditch franchises, bring back P&R, and give the game back to the people.

We're in no better position now, on the international stage, than we were 30 years ago, and the changes to our domestic game haven't made the slightest difference in that respect either.

on a more positive note though... ryan hall scored a brilliant first try. great finish.

Spot on the game over here actually went backwards for a while. That said I don't think the gap now is as large as we probably expected it to be. Pressure game next week v fired up kiwis will be the one where we find out what were made of

Firstly I never said anything about The game being played at wembley . I said about the small crowd. My point was it could have been planned better. More tv build up as bbc were covering it as well as sky, don't play amateur fixtures when an international is on as most clubs do trips etc. playing at wembley is good but needs to be marketed far better.

I think you make a fair point about the amateur games, but do you think it would have made a great deal of difference in this case? I get the feeling that people have lost touch with the whole international RL thing in general, but you have your finger far closer to the pulse than me here.

Thanks Rebel,

I think it makes a substantial difference, I can remember when clubs used to run two or three coaches to wembley. Often this consisted of several age groups, parents, partners etc. I just think it could of been planned much better. The PR has been poor as an example my mate rang today to ask if I was going to his firework display tonight, I said yes but would be after the rugby. His reply was what rugby is that?

I know it's a long process but maybe the RFL should work with clubs to offer some sort of add on for season tickets to say include play off games, grand final, internationals etc. or let people pay 1/4 for them etc. luckily I am financially stable but many people are out of work or had to take pay cuts so some sort of incentive or payment scheme may help. Other things like discount on hotels, travel if you book tickets etc.

On sky it showed the old tests from early nineties and it was amazing. I remember going as a kid in the eighties and buzzing at the atmosphere.

I know playing at wembley is awesome for our game but for people who are new to it or don't follow it, it doesn't look the most exciting sport with an empty stadium.

On another note the team did ok today considering we lost Ellis and graham and nearly westwoods head. I saw enough to book final tickets

That is exactly as I see it.

That was my first trip to Wembley, and what a day it was! I was also there 4 years later when Jonathan Davies scored that great try in the corner. I don't think those days will ever happen again under the current format.

Yes please !
I'd back what you're saying here 100%