21 replies to this topic

[DiddyDave]

England coach,Steve McNamara,was on the Footy Show last night to say how he`s looking forward to seeing how the Aussie based Poms are playing out here. Well,two of the Burgess brothers,Sam and Luke,are out for several weeks with serious injuries,the other one George,plays for Souths reserves,so he won`t be interested in watching him. Gareth Ellis broke his foot the other day,so he`s out for weeks as well,so that leaves McNamara to watch Heighington,Graham and Widdop and that`s it as far as I know,so why he couldn`t have seen them play on the telly like everybody else,I don`t know. Wonder how many more free loaders made the trip?

[BASKET CASE]

To be fair both Ellis and Burgess got injured just last week He might have already got the tickets.Have no problem with going out there watching players on the box is no way to get a true picture of how lads are playing.Would imagine with Widdop playing at 6 for the Storm that's were most of his interest will be I would think

[Anita Bath]

To be fair both Ellis and Burgess got injured just last week He might have already got the tickets.Have no problem with going out there watching players on the box is no way to get a true picture of how lads are playing.Would imagine with Widdop playing at 6 for the Storm that's were most of his interest will be I would think

Do you honestly believe these free loaders book cheap economy airfares like you and me!!!!! The idea that he and his pals would not be able to cancel the airfare/hotel had me wetting myself. This is waste of money as DD suggests.

[Bedford Roughyed]

To be fair both Ellis and Burgess got injured just last week He might have already got the tickets.Have no problem with going out there watching players on the box is no way to get a true picture of how lads are playing.Would imagine with Widdop playing at 6 for the Storm that's were most of his interest will be I would think

Mcnamara was at the Souths Vs Tigers match so saw them get injured.

He was at the game when Heighington went off injured.

Widdop must be hoping Mcnamara does come to see him too!

[Ex-Kirkholt]

Mcnamara was at the Souths Vs Tigers match so saw them get injured.

He was at the game when Heighington went off injured.

Widdop must be hoping Mcnamara does come to see him too!

Glad to see someone knows the actual facts.

Bet Canterbury have got James Graham wrapped up in cotton wool

[DiddyDave]

Well,McNamara told Brad Fittler at the Souths/Doggies game that he was in Oz to keep the relevant players "up to date" on what`s happening with the England team,something he could`ve done over the blower or by e-mail,so it has me scratching my bald pate. Still,may as well do what rest of the heirachy do in these sorts of things,but just think what clubs like Hornets could`ve done with the money that`s been spent on this little soiree.

[Pugwash]

McNamara can't even see that he's missed a trick in not picking Ryan Atkins who is under his bl00dy nose at Warrington! So exactly what a long aeroplane trip to Oz will do I don't know.

If you ask me, the guy couldn't pick his nose with directions and a ******* map!

Pugwash.

[D1029]

Lets hope he sees Widdop as the stand off not converting loose forwards to the role which i can see from my comfy sofa on Tv.

[Anita Bath]

Lets hope he sees Widdop as the stand off not converting loose forwards to the role which i can see from my comfy sofa on Tv.

Lets hope he managed to get to townsville (side trip from the reef) and see James Tamou swat aside Widdop on his way to a try this weekend. It had Australia v England written all over it, whether you saw it from the comfort of an executive box or watching on TV from afar.

It would be good to know what his expense clim is for this trip and how that compares to the weekly income of a championship one club.

All for the good of the game!!!!

[ornit4ever]

Perhaps some-one will explain how the hell does the national coach assess the players that are based down under.........ask the clubs respective coaches, watch DVD's of the games, pick them purely because they play in the NRL etc etc?
As regards the expense of this trip, if we all got off our backsides and filled the stadiums when England are playing, there would be more money in the coffers of the RFL. Remember last seasons four nations?

[Anita Bath]

Perhaps some-one will explain how the hell does the national coach assess the players that are based down under.........ask the clubs respective coaches, watch DVD's of the games, pick them purely because they play in the NRL etc etc?
As regards the expense of this trip, if we all got off our backsides and filled the stadiums when England are playing, there would be more money in the coffers of the RFL. Remember last seasons four nations?

Yes I remember it well, and the one before, and the one before . . . . etc - lost them all and I have paid money to be at many of them. I was 2 the last time we beat Australia in a home series. I am now approaching retirement!!!! Lets not criticise the fans for not turning up - blame the players and management for not doing then job.

[Pugwash]

Yes I remember it well, and the one before, and the one before . . . . etc - lost them all and I have paid money to be at many of them. I was 2 the last time we beat Australia in a home series. I am now approaching retirement!!!! Lets not criticise the fans for not turning up - blame the players and management for not doing then job.

Absolutely, and while they're on about it they might like to explain why England are playing their opening match in WALES!!!!!!!!!!

If the RFL want bums on seats they should consider putting games on in the areas where the bl00dy fans live instead of making them spend shed loads of dosh on petrol and hotel bills etc. They have only just come to their senses about the Magic Weekend and brought it to Manchester giving more fans the chance to see some games if they can't afford expensive trips to Edinburgh and Cardif on dole money and tax-credits!

It's also very interesting to see how all the SL clubs are rallying around to save Poor Old Bradford, what were they doing when Hornets, Doncaster, Oldham, Whitehaven etc, were going to the wall.

COULDN'T GIVE A MONKEY'S - THAT'S WHAT

I'll be doing everything I can to make our World Cup tie a success but after that I doubt there will be much more I can afford.

Pugwash.

[ornit4ever]

So Leigh Sports Village, DW Stadium, Galpharm Stadium etc are not "In the bloody heartlands" then just where are the heartlands?

We cannot fill stadiums, that are on our doorsteps, for international matches....FACT.

I do agree entirely about the Bulls situation but thats not relevant to this thread is it?

[Anita Bath]

So Leigh Sports Village, DW Stadium, Galpharm Stadium etc are not "In the bloody heartlands" then just where are the heartlands?

We cannot fill stadiums, that are on our doorsteps, for international matches....FACT.

I do agree entirely about the Bulls situation but thats not relevant to this thread is it?

After over 50 (thats FIFTY) years of failure I wouldnt expect we could fill a phone box to watch. Even the old farts at the RFU havent managed that length and level of mediocrity, and there are more than three teams playing RU at the international level.

Bulls situation is not as irrelevant to the thread as you suggest - this was a model franchise with years of success - and then they turned to . . . . . .

[roughyed48]

Lets just pick 13 aussie players who qualify under residency and have done with it eh?

[ColDale]

Absolutely, and while they're on about it they might like to explain why England are playing their opening match in WALES!!!!!!!!!!

If the RFL want bums on seats they should consider putting games on in the areas where the bl00dy fans live instead of making them spend shed loads of dosh on petrol and hotel bills etc. They have only just come to their senses about the Magic Weekend and brought it to Manchester giving more fans the chance to see some games if they can't afford expensive trips to Edinburgh and Cardif on dole money and tax-credits!

It's also very interesting to see how all the SL clubs are rallying around to save Poor Old Bradford, what were they doing when Hornets, Doncaster, Oldham, Whitehaven etc, were going to the wall.

COULDN'T GIVE A MONKEY'S - THAT'S WHAT

I'll be doing everything I can to make our World Cup tie a success but after that I doubt there will be much more I can afford.

Pugwash.

In fairness, none of those sides have gone to the wall. They've come back, ignored the debts and have carried on regardless. No one wants to see sides disappear, but as we've seen in football over and over again, there is never an obligation to pay your way, because administration is the easy way out. Am sure had we not sold the likes of Craig Dawson, Chris O'Grady, Matty Done and Scott Wiseman in the past twelve months, then we may well not have been lucky to be just 24th. The grounds remain the same, the players remain the same, the kits remain the same, the fans remain the same, there's just the odd tweak here and there with the name, and a token points penalty. As for Bratfud, I'm sure that the other SL clubs are purely acting out of self interest rather than genuine concern for them. If Bradford were to go (and I dont believe there was ever any real threat of them going), then the other clubs would lose a fixture and the subsequent gate receipts / TV monies.

[DiddyDave]

This coming Friday,April 20th,the Kiwis take on Australia in the annual Anzac Test,are England in the near future also playing a Test? My point being;is McNamara over here looking at players for this imminent fixture? If not,the next time his team run out will be the end of season Four Nations competition that is over 6 months away. Even more baffling then,isn`t it,that he`s in Australia sounding out players? Probably got nothing better to do,but when you`re actually employed for only about four weeks in a year,I suppose the boredom must be extraordinary. Oh and by the way,last week he was at an Aussie Rules match in Melbourne,don`t know how many eligible Poms were playing in that match,but it can`t have been many!

[ornit4ever]

Just to create a different thought on this topic, does the Aussie coach go scouring around New Zealand, Tonga and Fiji for international players.

Tony Williams has played for Tonga
James Tamou is a Kiwi
Akuila Uate is a Fijian


Just a thought

Edited by ornit4ever, 16 April 2012 - 11:35 AM.

[Anita Bath]

If he did he'd never see them, they play in the NRL. And were only selected for Australia after playing with NRL clubs.

Does he ever come to UK to watch the many aussies playing over here?


I hope he doesnt charge his ticket for the Aussie Rules game to his RFL expense account.

[roughyed48]

Get Malcolm Reilly back !