Based on the performances of NZ, Aus and now Samoa, I’m expecting a loss against Tonga.
it’s sad how much we have regressed since the 70s we haven’t competed consistently, I do wonder what changed. Prior to 75, we had the better of Australia but since then, it’s been miserable.
Probably why England are trying their best to pick a team of NRL players 🤣, Jack Charlton has nothing on McDermott.
England Tonga should be a competitive game. I wouldn't write off England, we still have some good players. Whether we're a good team, time will tell.
That said, having seen a bit of Samoa this morning, remember years ago when they used to say that the Aussies could pick 3 or 4 teams to beat us? Well that's what these Samoans and Tongans could well be!
@Spike, Jack Gibson and Aussie coach who was at Parramatta changed the game. He went off to study American Football defence patterns and systems and got into Sports Science. In effect he started the replacement of natural footballing talent with what the NRL has today , large physical specimens who are extremely fit @nd who okay to prescribed game plans in attack and defence. At it’s best it is very good to watch (State of Origin: the recent Oz v NZ MATCH) but most of the time it’s predictable and boring and has very nearly got rid of all natural talent by coaching, diet and set planning for players to follow.
In my opinion the best team to ever play the game were the 1982 Australian touring team - they were, basically, the cutover from the old to the new style of playing and they had the best of both worlds - great natural footballers (like Brett Kenny) and emerging very fit, and athletic athletes (like Wally Lewis).
the administrators of the game in England just stood by and watched and trued to cherry oick from the Australian game which didn’t work without the underlying graft. Widnes in the 80ks were superb by British standards but we were playing an old style, lead by Dougue and even then we were no match for the Aussies.
‘Trued’ was meant to be ‘tried’ 🙂
And ‘oick’ was meant to be ‘pick’ stupid iPhone keypad 🙂🙂
@Spike, Jack Gibson and Aussie coach who was at Parramatta changed the game. He went off to study American Football defence patterns and systems and got into Sports Science. In effect he started the replacement of natural footballing talent with what the NRL has today , large physical specimens who are extremely fit @nd who okay to prescribed game plans in attack and defence. At it’s best it is very good to watch (State of Origin: the recent Oz v NZ MATCH) but most of the time it’s predictable and boring and has very nearly got rid of all natural talent by coaching, diet and set planning for players to follow.
In my opinion the best team to ever play the game were the 1982 Australian touring team - they were, basically, the cutover from the old to the new style of playing and they had the best of both worlds - great natural footballers (like Brett Kenny) and emerging very fit, and athletic athletes (like Wally Lewis).
the administrators of the game in England just stood by and watched and trued to cherry oick from the Australian game which didn’t work without the underlying graft. Widnes in the 80ks were superb by British standards but we were playing an old style, lead by Dougue and even then we were no match for the Aussies.
| 1978 | Oct 25 | Australia | L | 10 | - | 11 | Widnes | 2 - 7 | R. Moore | Naughton | 12,202 |
The last time a non international team beat Australia
and did not do too badly last time the teams met
| 1990 | Nov 18 | Australia | W | 15 | - | 8 | Widnes | 10 - 0 | J. Kendrew | Naughton |
14,666 |
the games bteween
| 1982 | Nov 23 | Australia | W | 19 | - | 6 | Widnes | 10 - 4 | J. McDonald | Naughton |
9,790 |
| 1986 | Nov 12 | Australia | W | 20 | - | 4 | Widnes | 8 - 2 | G. Berry | Naughton | 10,268 |
Just for interest
D Laughton was Head Coach for all 4 games
Mention has been made of the '82 Aussies, and yeah, what a team that was!
They were just on a different planet, and (as ever) I was at all three tests, but.................
Precious little has changed since!
All our points on Saturday came from NRL players.
We've not won a series over here since '59, and that was before I was watching the game! Since then, all there's been is an Ashes win over there in '70, and the World Cup, via the back door in '72, so...............
For over half a century, we've been chasing shadows, and we're still as far away as ever!
What's the answer? As I've said many times, i wish I knew!
Spelly
After watching the opening fixtures of the world Cup i think we will struggle to see off PNG. France will put up a fight but the game the week after will show how far we've come.
I think we will win both games but lose out on head to head - we lost to Tonga who will beat lebonon ? Next and play a game against Samoa who will have won 2 by then, so we finish on 4 points - same as Tonga, but head to head means we are out
what a great competition !
similar to the fixture make up of this seasons championship - farce
We are never going to do anything at International level with our top Clubs being allowed to have more and more overseas players in their teams.
Did I hear a statement correctly that St Helens will have TEN overseas player in 2027?
I watched the last World Cup semi between Australia and New Zealand at Elland Road and its the best game I've ever seen live in terms of both speed and quality. Thst first game between the 2 in this World Cup was amazing as well.
England will stick 40 to 50 points on France, PNG is a 50/50 game, expecting a narrow win and then we are out.
For all the hype over Tonga and Samoa, I expect the Aussies to put 50 on them when they meet later in the comp.
The answer to improve the game in this country is money combined with effective leadership to get more of the top athletes in this country taking up RL, at the moment its just no worth it. You would be better off taking up darts, and thats not a joke! Will it change? Probably not.
Did I hear a statement correctly that St Helens will have TEN overseas player in 2027?
Castleford were the standouts for me last season. Am sure I counted 9 or 10 out of a starting 13 a couple of times.
It needs to be revised down to 3 IMO. That way, the clubs will invest in their youth set-ups.
@owl If you remember in 1990, for some strange RFL rule, we weren't allowed to play Offiah, who was involved in the Ashes series, and played Harvey Howard on the left wing. HH ended up with his career at Prop!!!
Paulie xx