was shocked to see vella only got 2% of the votes to be honest!
Cracking idea, provides a much bigger test than a french match , but fireworks there will be indeed and aplenty i am sure.
guys coming to the ends of their careers wanting to prove it at the highest level just one more time and all that!!

some lash up afterwards as well

Not sure it does mean little. I could easily become our version of the state of origin going forwards, and as long as the English side is selected in future based on this as a trial game i have no problems.

I fully understand some fans view around injuries, and Prekkie has been mentioned a couple of times but that's a rare one off for me.

If that is the intention of it the it puts a different slant on it for me, but wasn't that what they tried to do with the "war of the roses" but it never really took off?

Yeah i agree,would love to see this game take off and maybe become our version of State of Origin,eventually turning it into a 3 game series.

I can see there being alot of fan interest for it aswell...certainly more than a non event that was the france game.

Yorkshire v Lancashire never really had the intensity for me. The biggest problem was that players were allowed to pull out through made up injuries and then still be in contention for the national side. It needs to become the pinacle of a players career to represent England v the Exiles and if it's badged in the right way it could become just that. Should put our players through a far better test.

Agree wholeheartedly with that sentiment but I'm not entirely convinced it will become that sort of SoO equivalent, for example the English exiles over in Oz who wont be released for the game will still be in contention for the national side unlike SoO so wont that diminish it's credibility?

Yeah thats a grey area. In Oz any player playing in the UK doesn't get picked for their national side. Would it benefit us to say that anyone playing in Oz becomes out of contention for the England side?

Full back
[iBrett Hodgson 48%[/i
Brent Webb 42%
Brett Kearney 7%

Wingers
[iJoel Monaghan 39%
Pat Richards 39%[/i
Francis Meli 16%
Amos Roberts 6%

Centres
[iMatt King 36%[/i
George Carmont 29%
[iIosia Soliola 25%[/i
David Howell 6%
Amos Roberts 4%

Stand Off
[iRangi Chase 87%[/i
Brett Finch 13%

Half Back
[iThomas Leuluai 64%[/i

Hooker
Danny Buderus 72%
[iMichael Monaghan 28%[/i

Props
[iWillie Mason 37%
Mark O'Meley 21%[/i
Kylie Leuluai 17%
Tony Puletua 16%
Ray Cashmere 4%
Jeff Lima 3%
Michael Vella 3%

Back Row
Craig Fitzgibbon 16%
Clint Newton 15%
[iLuke O'Donnell 15%[/i
Steven Menzies 13%
Ryan Hoffman 11%
David Fa'alogo 10%
[iDavid Faiumu 6%[/i
Ben Galea 6%
Glenn Morrison 5%

Loose Forward
[iCraig Fitzgibbon 32%[/i
Steven Menzies 17%

Is Richards going to be fit?

Good to see Tommy L has only 64% in what appears to be a one horse race too

richards played 20s last week and will play on fridday for wigan agaiant catalan so yes but isnt matt king out for the season?

Glad you mentioned that... dream team amended.

I think it would benefit the credibility of the Exiles game as an England call-up test, but not necessarily the national team itself. That being said it wouldn't automatically weaken it either, but traditionally the English players in Oz are a couple of our best current crop whereas the Oz players in England tend not to be; would that cease to be the case if the selection criteria was based on a SoO style Exiles game/series, keeping our best talents here? Although I would love to think so I cant see it because of the financial incentives of being good enough to play at the top level down under.

so the RFL have organised a game that will put key players at risk mid season - great idea! NOT

I assume the RFL are paying their wages, insuring them, and insuring the clubs against loss of income if a key player gets hurt?

no the rfl have put on a great game and concept that alot of fans will look forward to and credit the rfl to trying to improve the international game makes alot harder though when fans just moan about things.

Doh! And I picked him for the Exiles too!

What happens in the NRL if a player picks up an injury in a SOO game?

Do the NRL pay their players wages and insure them?

I meant adding Richards into the dream team... I too picked King in the Exiles!! Not sure why he's even named in the new 34 man squad if he's out for the season.

so, if Fitz, O'Meley or Briscoe get a season ending injury you'll be happy?

this is a money maker for the RFL, nothing to do with improving the game.

my england team so far obviously no aussie based players
1.tomkins
2.mcgillvary
3.bridge
4.watkins
5.briscoe
6.brown
7.brough
8.morley
9.sinfield
10.graham
11.westwood
12.tomkins
13.oloughlin
subs
14.roby
15.crabtree
16.farrell
17.lms

I'm sure a number of us haven't forgiven them for what happened to Preckie (edit - the RFL, not Fitz, Shrek and Tom!

). The England team need game time together (esp as Macca has changed the squad so much) so it's a tough one. Games against France are normally no more than training matches, so something needed to be changed.

Not one single FC fan will be happy if one of our players gets injured. This may make some cash for the RFL but as a concept i personally think it's fantastic and it could be the single biggest step forward in our international game for a number of years.

of course we woundt be happy with a player getting injured thats any player but injuries happen and if a player was to get injured in the game then sh%t happens and move on, players get injured in state of origin but that dosent ever get mentioned. instead of fans picking little things to moan about the game just support it as its a great concept and will be a great occasion. yeh the rfl will make money from and so they should but it is to help the england team and to have a higher profile match well done rfl

The way to improve the England team would be to have a better coach than Fatnamara and make a real effort to reduce the number of overseas players.