Always watch the NRL been a newcastle knights fan right from the start of there exsistance there team of the mid 90's going into 2000 was brilliant with the johns brothers Robbie o'davis matt gidley Big Paul harrigan, but over the last 5 or 6 years had some tough times but this season got a good squad together good coach and have gone from bottom of league over last few years to getting a top 8 play off spot this season but looking at there position in league at moment they are gunna get a very tough game in play offs as it stands they would play melbourne and they are on fire at the moment, but state of origin is a totally different kettle of fish it is outstanding the pace of the game is unreal the hits are bigger if any of you have never watched it then you don't know what your missing

But will he be a Trinity player if he does? When he seemed to be a cert for England GB a couple of seasons ago, you always had that feeling that someone like Makinson or Charnley would get the vote. Now Handley or Grace (GB) would probably be favoured. I somehow seem to think we may be seeing the last of TJ in a Trinity shirt this season, as I see him as an assett that MC will be willing to liquidate.

if TJ as any sense hel be out of there at the end of the season, he’s had some bad injuries and if he can get under a coach who can guide him he can kick on again.

Aussie RL has been streets ahead of us for nearly 50 years. We got very close to closing the gap in the early 90's but since then forget it.

It's all in the way the game is run IMHO. From grassroots to the very top. RL in the UK does have numerous disadvantages to the Aussie game and we must recognise that. We will never have the cash or the regional dominance to be like the NRL. However, you can't help but think it could have been so much better.

Of all the problems we face, two remain self-inflicted.

1: The total lack of any genuine pathway between Amature/Junior club RL and the Pro-clubs. Years of petty warfare between the 2 have destroyed the game at the grassroots level. BARLA and junior RL has far too many petty parochial people involved, some clubs are little more than playthings for extended family mafias.

2: The above sounds bad and it is but compared to the grasping self-aggrandising pillocks that run much of the pro game they are positively saintly. Short-termism doesn't even come into it, some of these people can't see beyond the next victory and the underserved sense of self-satisfaction they get from it.

Sort the above and the rest will follow, we will always have limitations but we will be a lot closer to the NRL than we are now.

That's one of the things that has warmed me to MC, I think he sees this and has tried to be honest and play with a straight bad. Sadly I fear he's had enough now and who can blame him.

British RL has been a kitchen sink drama for years, it's an black and white like the film Sporting Life, the NRL is Technicolor 2020.

sadly I think it might be too late the amateur game is a total mess, sadly we are simply not producing enough quality world class players. If teams like west hull are struggling to exist and your losing teams in Castleford and Wakefield at a pace then sadly the writing is on the wall. We’ve also got Cumbria where it’s going to the brink. I think we had chance to build under the franchise system but clubs still squandered money on old overseas players when we could of developed many of our own.

I too like the Raiders style of play, even got me a Raiders shirt to sit among all my Trin ones

I still think it's in Tom's hands. When fit he is regarded as the competitions No1. finisher by many of those who's opinions matter.
Opposing fans use Tom as a vehicle to undermine Trinity by repeatedly suggesting he move on. The longer he stays here the more it gets right up their crack. I love it, long may it continue.

The biggest problem is in Australia it is looked on as a national sport, in this country it doesn't get a look in. Yesterday the BBC showed 2 challenge cup matches but this morning didn't get a mention on the news. I am afraid we are first and foremost a football loving nation and rugby league will never get the same crouds hence the poor revenue.

Watched in the days 50s60s when Great Britain were the tops was at Bellevue saw the great battle when trinity beat a full strength Aussie team gasnier and wells in the centres and a powerful pack hammered by turner and co nowadays the Aussies are fitter harder and faster than us I rate Johnston highly but all the aussie sides have big fast wingers and I feel he would struggle to dominate over there

it does help that we have so much money invested in the game over here - makes everything from the top down more professional on and off the field
I actually think super league is much more enjoyable game to watch in terms of attacking rugby league

but a good NRL game is edge of your seat stuff,and the build up in the media gets everyone excited ,its on the front and back page which you just don't get in England.

Pecking order is something like

Football
Cricket
Horse racing
Golf
Athletics
Women’s football
Rugby Union
Darts
Boxing
NFL
F1
Snooker
Rugby League/ Netball =

I have been a season ticket holder at Penrith for the past 20 years and before that was a Cronulla fan for the 30 years I lived near there. Having previously watched the game in England for 20 years I always loved to see English players come and play here. Dave Bolton was the first player I saw out here at Balmain in 1969. He won the GF with them that year against Souths.