Please don't confuse this Exiles match with international RL.

Simple facts:



SOO has replaced international competition in Australia - although I don't believe that was the initial concept. They used to be just as fired up to play GB and the games were just as intense. Origin is now the only representative competition the Aussies take seriously (even though Queensland win the bloody thing every year).



Club rugby is seen by fans as being more important than international rugby in this country because hardly any of them were born the last time we beat the Aussies in a series or a WC. That's it. Also, the synchronisation of seasons when we switched to summer rugby saw the death of tours. Tours were what it was all about and playing the Austrlians 3 times and playing club games. I saw the Kangaroos play Leeds in '82, it was a massive event, it generated huge interest in the internationals.



It's a circular problem - club rugby priority and the use of vast numbers of imports for success reduces our chances of winning against the Aussies, and not being able to beat the Aussies means we focus on the club game and lose interest in developing an international side.



As for the concept of playing "exiles" - I don't see a problem with it, the Exiles team on paper looked just as good as the England team. The problem is that England are so awful at the moment that you knew it was going to be rubbish to watch. Which it was, truly, completely dismal in every possible way - far too many to go through here, I can't be bothered.

we can't put one decent england team out, let alone two teams for lancs against yorks

The green and gold was once the pinnacle but sadly it seems origin is now the pinnacle for players. Remember that money plays a huge part in this.



The tours are long gone. Australia don't want them although I don't know why England didnt tour nz this year. New Zealand were happy to do it!

If fans up north don't give a toss then why not play both games down south where there are decent oz/kiwi communities. At least it might generate a bit of rivalry/atmosphere. Just a thought.

Found it flat, doesn't help that Bananaman is in charge picking a side that just doesn't stir the soul.

Lancs v Yorks thats right lets go back to the M62. That should keep Skys viewers in the other 95% of the country interested



Have you not noticed that players from outside of the "corridor" are now playing the game!

I think RL here has too much of a habit of trying to chase desirable, but unrealistic outcomes, instead of looking right in front of their noses at the things that work and building on that. In our case, it's the passion for club rugby.



People will always find it hard to get excited about a game with a contrived team, and the exiles concept guarantees a contrived team. It's nothing at all like SOO. Kids grow up wanting to play SOO and represent their state. Who grows up dreaming of playing for the exiles?



The only sensible idea I've heard from the RFL recently is the desire to expand the WCC into something like the Champions league. It's a shame we gave up on this after the debacle at the start of Super League. It doesn't have to be too hard. Two groups of four, two aus, two Europe in each, coming from top four from each league, so that we don't have the super league dross anywhere near it to embarrass us ( not that we can guarantee our top teams won't get hammered either, but hey ). Travel is kept simple by each team going over for their two away games in one trip.



Needs a big sponsor with a big prize on day one otherwise Aussies won't do it.



Getting some good competition going between clubs, passionately supported, will hopefully also reinvigorate the desire to see GB vs Aus.

Successive England coaches have bellyached about the lack of time they get with the squad, hence the introduction of the mid-season game, first against Australia (too embarrasing), then France (too easy) and the ETS squad sessions throughout the year. The made up concept of the Exiles is the RFL's attempt at a 'Goldilocks' solution - not too easy, not too hard, and keeps the England coach from bleating. It's a match of convenience, but one they haven't managed to sell to anyone but themselves.

Lets have 3 games east v west and the winners ofthe 2 games to take on the exiles

I don't think it was a success as it was just like a training exercise?

I was only hoping none of my teams players got injured and that other teams did (sic i know) but thats all i felt about this game as it means nothing?

England should have been playing France

It was embarrassing.