I am sorry Spelly but if you think England have any chance of defeating the Aussies you are deluded. I fear it will be a total embarassment. There are very few if any England star players about now. Even when we had a reasonable side in the 1980s & 90s we could get nowhere near them.The major financial resource of the SL, no matter what size, is Sky TV. This money tree is withered and dying with the UK game becoming ever more reliant on private funding.
The future of the professional game is now dependent on this.
The Vegas extravaganza is the NRL dipping its toe into a 'world' connection with the UK game becoming less attractive as a growth area. They have expanded the Southern Pacific countries standards where we struggle to help founder clubs in our own country.
*Much may depend on the 'Ashes' tour to convince the public that we are still competitive at an international level, but I can't see Sky being moved to up their bid tbh.
*Everton sold out, Headingley sold out (both long since) with Wembley looking like a more than decent crowd too. All three are live on the Beeb also, which is great exposure for the game we all love.
As I've said a million times, I'm the eternal optimist (and I know it's a long shot) but if we can finally come out on top of the Green and Gold Machine in a series this time, it could be the shot in the arm RL needs.
Comments like "The sport's on it's ****!" "Rugby League is dying!" abound, and I'm the first to admit all is not well, but the chance to silence the doom mongers is just around the corner! I for one can't wait, so...............
COME ON ENGLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS - I wonder if Prisoner is going? 😀
Geoff - I'm a Swinton fan, so optimism is built into my DNA!
Oz will be short-priced faves, I've no doubt at all about that, but I'll proudly be there at all three (not holding my breath about bumping into Prisoner though 🤣) to support my nation, at my game!
I watch a lot of NRL football, and the quality in depth there is more than obvious. Walters will have the headache of who to leave out! But If we're at the top of our form, we could just spring a surprise!
Spelly.
Just received this from Aus Super League clubs in line to 'benefit' from NRL expansion side Perth Bears - Serious About Rugby League
Just received this from Aus Super League clubs in line to 'benefit' from NRL expansion side Perth Bears - Serious About Rugby League
One year contracts?
This might attract the younger players who currently have no family ties, but...........
Will a guy who has a wife / partner, and kid(s) want to up sticks for just one term?
Will moving to the other side of the world, and having to negotiate change of environment, language, school for the little 'un(s) for a mere twelve months be tempting?
I would imagine "If the money's right!" is one positive, but, if I was a family man, I'd think twice at least, if my agent phoned me saying "Les Cats want you for a season. Do you fancy it?"
Spelly.
How many PNG etc players are here on a trip away from family in the southern hemisphere?
From hints in reports - trips home for the birth of a child etc there are a few. The pay packet covers that!!!!
Simply traveling to Perth or Queensland is a long journey but wouldn't require a wholesale move!!!! Its a bit like working on an oil rig or in the Pilbara in Western Australia. Trips to the family home are infrequent but become the norm.
I suggest that the NRL are looking at widening the game worldwide tbh. Their involvement in the Vegas effort is all part of the process.
How many PNG etc players are here on a trip away from family in the southern hemisphere?
From hints in reports - trips home for the birth of a child etc there are a few. The pay packet covers that!!!!
Simply traveling to Perth or Queensland is a long journey but wouldn't require a wholesale move!!!! Its a bit like working on an oil rig or in the Pilbara in Western Australia. Trips to the family home are infrequent but become the norm.
I suggest that the NRL are looking at widening the game worldwide tbh. Their involvement in the Vegas effort is all part of the process.
Some good calls there mate!
If the guys Perth are looking at, are Brisbane / Sydney-ish based, there's a journey of around 2,500 miles to make, so it's hardly equates to being (say) a Chemic this year, and a Lion next!
So if they're going via Perpignan, it'll mean upping sticks again, and finding another new school for the kids.
Yeah, they could leave their family at home, live in "digs" for twelve months, but is that good if the youngster is continually asking her / his mam "When is daddy coming home?"
Personally, if it were me, I'd prefer to flit just the once, rather than twice, and at least the language in WA, is the same as it is in QLD / NSW.
As I've strongly argued on other threads, I welcome (and always will) the likes of the Dragons, and Olympique to our game, but to fly from the other side of the world for just a single season deal, does neither the club(s) nor player(s) any favours.
From where I'm sat, it just seems short-sighted, but....................
As in many times in the past, I could be proved wrong!
Spelly.
I guess if you were a player with a family, you'd leave them in Syd/Bris for 2026 whilst you went to France, then moved the family to Perth for 2027. It is an upheaval for families.
I'd expect the Perth team to get an initial bounce with Big Mal being involved and some high-profile recruitment happening, once the novelty has worn off they might struggle. There is obvs no grassroots RL in WA, there is some Union. There is a precedent for this, the Western Force RU started OK then folded as player and fan interest waned. They're active again now but there isn't a massive Rugby vibe in Perth. That could change of course but there still isn't a massive vibe in Melbourne and they've been Champs countless times.
The Perth attraction is more TV games, with the addition of the Western time zone.
And of course the Western Reds had a go in the 90s, bit of a different landscape then though.
A bit of light viewing !!!!
But there is a world of difference in player attitudes and lifestyles from the UK and Aus. Give lads a big enough pay packet and they will do whatever it takes!
Just wait and see!
And of course the Western Reds had a go in the 90s, bit of a different landscape then though.
My mate who now lives in Sydney, lived and worked in Paris about that time, and I well remember watching PSG v Western Reds with him at the Charlety in the World Club Comp, or whatever it was called.
Finished 24-0 to the hosts if memory serves.
Spelly.
A bit of light viewing !!!!
But there is a world of difference in player attitudes and lifestyles from the UK and Aus. Give lads a big enough pay packet and they will do whatever it takes!
Just wait and see!
Very interesting watch mate!
Brought back a load of memories!
But as you say, let's wait and see eh?
Spelly.
Well I think our biggest problem in the game is that we are too insular
we do not see the bigger picture - I welcome a London team but not going into SL as an ‘independent choice’
every team should earn its way into the top league, whatever it is called
london have been going many years, starting at Fulham with a lot of ex Widnes players, great crowds to start with and the wheels fell off
not the first London team either - spelly May recall tooting and Mitch am and another, along with London high field ?
Cumbria has been ignored for many years - they have a great amateur set up
the game is in real trouble now, but the plaster of the ashes tests will sort it all !
The truth, however unpalatable, is that the rest of the country don't care about Rugby League.
However, we care to view the 'bigger picture' you can't force people to watch something that they are clearly not interested in. And no amount of fiddling around the edges will change that.
I look at it like this; if somebody built a Premiership football stadium outside of my house I still wouldn't go. Why? Because I don't like football and I am not interested in it, and no amount of jiggery pokery would suddenly make me think otherwise.
And it is the same with rugby league, however much we crave it to be loved like other nationwide and worldwide sports such as football, cricket or rugby union (sic).
Regarding London (and I am aware of their history); two years ago I actually felt sorry for them having been completely shafted by the RFL and the IMG fiasco. After achieving promotion fairly and squarely by winning the Grand Final, they were then denied a fair crack by being told that they would be out of SL the following season no matter how well they did.
How I wished they'd gone on to win the SL Grand Final that season!
As you say, the game is in so much trouble now, and the sticking plaster approach goes far beyond the Ashes series.
I am actually embarrassed now, at the number of overseas players and coaches that dominate the premier competition in this country, and any 'neutral' fans must be thinking is this sport incapable of producing any decent players or coaches of their own?!!