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Over 1300 at Workington- well done to Workington with the crowd and the result.

I agree it should be the IRL or the nations involved organising these games. Are the NRL allowing this though? The IRL are hampered and hamstrung at every turn and the NRL waste no opportunity to put every other RL body in their place, whether that is the IRL, a World Cup, the RFL and NZRL over mid season tests or arranging NRL internationals for Tonga without asking them and preventing them from arranging their own own. It is the NRL that benefit from the international games it organises. It is the NRL that sells them as part of its TV deal and benefits from sponsorship, government funding, any grants and ticket sales. It is the NRL that furthers its brand and solidifies its stranglehold on the international game through doing this. The NRL being the ones to pay the players, after receiving all the benefits, is just another form of control.

I think the crowd was 12,385 at Warrington which is about 1,900 more than last season. Well done wire.

Not when its in the NRL's interests to do so. They belatedly see the international game as helping them grow the sport in Australia, but its in their interests to have competitive opponents. It's closer matches that generate interest. Makes perfect sense for the NRL to level the pay playing field to help Tonga and Samoa have stronger sides. It helps grow the NRL.

We need to forget about the season so far Our season is now 4 games long 2 at home, 2 away We need to reset, take stock, focus Cut out silly penalties, total control the set of 6 after scoring, bully teams, build pressure rather than trying to score off every play, line defence needs to be rock solid We've to lose the swagger of "simply turn and win" and "if you score 4 we will score 5" Away games need the same intensity as home games, relentless, unforgiving, turn the screw on the opposition, and grind them down. Force mistakes, force errors, capitalise when given easy possession, beat NWC & Hunslet and we're almost over the line, these 2 games will be very difficult, we snooze, we lose... 4 games that's all We've not lived up to expectations away this season and I'm sure the coaching team would agree with that.. 320 minutes of lean,mean, killing machine needed COME ON RAMS

What because Bradford are ………… still 5th but behind Sheffield instead of Fax?

Let’s hope the issues get sorted,International RL can’t afford to take any more hits.

Are these the same players who benefit from the Sky NZ $14 million per year broadcast money ?

The contempt you have for players asking for a share of the money their work creates is quite remarkable.

They’d be a fair few from West Cumbria in the crowd,Wath Brow & Cockermouth played a U14s final as the curtain raiser & Whitehaven usually take a decent following to Newcastle.

There was the north east junior finals on before the match cup and plate for under 14s and 16s, a few looked to have stayed after that. Plus a strong travelling support from Whitehaven. Thunder are generally good at having something on before the match.

Its one of Whitehaven's closer away grounds/cities (and nicer ones once there) to travel to will have helped. Not sure if Newcastle had a promo or something on though for home fans.

WOW after todays drubbing of Halifax.

Worth noting that this innings saw Harry Brook hit his thousandth test run from just 1,058 balls - a world record in this format of cricket.

NRL players from the Tonga and Samoa sides, so it’s no different to Australian players being paid from the NRL TV contract. The amount we’re discussing is chicken feed in the context of the TV deal, so in no way are the players foregoing pay.

NRL rep round said it all. Very well said, Damo.

No need for it and IF you do need/ want to drink fair enough but at least behave. I know there's plenty who have a drink and do behave its always the minority.

If you know anything about the IRL you'd know this is completely out of their league. They are almost incapable of even the very basics.

Today (in this video) Shaun Wanes says "at the World Cup in 2026 in New Zealand" . Does he know something that we don't?

There are so many stooges in the Australian League media who blindly back either their buddies in the NRL or their paymasters.

Looks like Hull have paid off Josh Griffin to allow him to take up a two year deal at Wakefield. Yet another old boy coming home.

1284 for Newcastle vs Haven. From memory, Newcastle have been getting in the 600s at their last few matches. Can anyone explain this sudden spike?

Fair play to Woakes. Proved me wrong with the bat there.

Great, must be some positive stuff going on there.

All 3 tests have swung back and forward between the two teams over the course of the match and could've realistically been won by either team even going into the final session.

Never a moment's doubt. Erm.

I agree Fevrover but the nice weather does bring out the bad behaviour in some people. In England it seems a badge of honour to get plastered and act a fool, and then get a Stoned Island badge from their mates. Even some of the language and comments made by certain Saints fans was in poor taste on Friday, but people found it funny. I don’t mind people swearing, but not when it’s every other word when little children are around. I always think of them being the type who’re dragging little Brooklyn & Chantelle around town yelling at them all the f-ing time.

I distrust the NRL almost instinctively. The monopoly that they are looking to further is a threatening, limiting poison on the multi-stranded prospects of the game outside Australian club and Origin football. I am fully with the RLPA and the players.

I think, regardless of the 7.5k average IMG have suggested at the top of their criteria, clubs like Warrington should be setting their own targets to get x amount of 10k plus crowds, and x amount of 12k etc per season. Its good to see such solid growth.

International board have no clue how to run the game. At least the nrl and players in the nrl wants to grow the game. International board are full of dinosaurs who's way past there time.

He’s been sold to Burnley by Manchester City after a season on loan at Bolton Wanderers

I just cooked a rump roast of... horse! The bit I had hot (with peas, Parmentier potatoes and onion gravy) was delicious, and there's plenty left for cold-cuts in sandwiches.

It seems a major issue is the NRL wanting to use NRL money to fund player payments for pacific nations international players. What a complete mess the international game is when the league in one nation is directly funding the players of other nations (against who that nation plays)

Maybe I'm just used to having a parent who would have forced me to go every week had I been unfit! No lie, he used to make me and my brother do 20 laps of the football pitch if he felt like we'd been too lazy in the holidays. You'd be put in care now!

I haven’t rewatched the Wire/Saints game yet, but yesterdays hot weather certainly got some of the unwashed dingalings attending the match. There is always a section of Saints fans who must get smashed well before a game. It comes to something when you can’t place a pint of lager on top of a crush barrier because you have had too much to drink. What a waste of £5.60p. The Wire fans who threw the flare, bottle, pint onto the pitch….why!!. Unless it was actually those football hooligans that quite a few RL fans like to blame for some strange reason.

It is. This is the final match though. These are the only two winless teams, so I believe the loser gets relegated.

Raining at the moment and while there is a sense of optimism amongst the fourth estate but I think an Aussie lead of 250 is a tough ask for England. I watched the Lancs TV Broadcast of their T20 quarter final loss to Surrey and was imprsssed byb the coverage which attracted 24,000 viewers. I am embarrased to write simply because Kent are the only county charging for a livestream which although I get free as a member is poor quality both in transmission and coverage. I will be raising this at the next members forum Pleased to note the mighty South group will be monopolising T20 finals day Back on the test match, If yuou are wondering why Jim Maxwell seems to be a watch NRL subscriber, I would point out that he did some work on the ABC with a certain Mike Stephenson before Stevo was summarily sacked because his English accent was offensive to Australian listeners....* * its been Grand now its Final pages 42-42 On the RL theme, Here is the young Ben Stokes at Wellington supporting The Warriors

A lot of people like to feel like they are part of a big event, it is an attractive part of any event. Its part of the reason why so many still go on about 37k at Central Park for Wigan vs Manly. Likewise, as with any stat, it can confirm or allay what people are already thinking - which is another thing lots of people like.

There may have been commitments back in the UK, such as working out her notice from her job, or something similar. It's less complicated for well paid full-time professionals to up sticks and relocate half a world away.

Why believe the rest of the article if you don’t believe that line?

The words of Gavin Willacy - a journalist How does he know?

Indeed and it is completely at odds with the approach that has been taken to grow the World Cup, going from 10 to 14 and then finally to 16 teams, which has long been the goal. Slashing the number of teams in half when we finally get to 16 has nothing to do with a strategy for growing the international game.

Mate.....the vast majority of international players will come from Australia. Like it or lump it any international development needs the NRL on board ....at least for now

Who cares what Australia do? Give nations consistent competition including against the best at World Cups and watch them develop. Instead it's the usual reactionary ###### from the international game.

How do you know that?

In this country, the casual sports fan gets sucked in by seeing the national team. I spoke to several non-RL fans who attended the first game v Samoa, and the group game with Greece, and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves and said they would go again. They never even mentioned that both games had been blowouts. Obviously, we wouldn't want blowouts all the time - at some point we'd want the challenge of playing some big guns, but lots of casual viewers are perfectly happy to watch England thrashing teams. The problem comes when we - Gerald Ratner style - slag off our product and tell them what they're watching is a load of rubbish. Rugby union never do that.

I don't know about others here, I can only speak for myself, but I get annoyed because it gives our sport such an amateurish image. No other sport chops and changes the format of its premium international tournament as much as we do.