GeordieSaint

We’ll have to disagree…

Not directly linked to SL but very interesting direction from the NRL if true… Stand-alone Origin Series is sweet music to the ears of an internationalist like me…

That’s a difficult one. It needs to be somewhere that people actually visit already. City Centre like Leeds for example. I personally would put it near RFL HQ near the Eithad in Manchester.

For starters, pace… we are really lacking in that department in the backs. But most importantly, the spine is also a critical issue that has not been resolved. Who’s the stand off to support Whitby? Sailor or Lomax are not the solution. Hooker… who replaces Clark when he’s injured? I am also very uncertain about Wingfield/Shorrocks at LF. So I think we will struggle to create and break the better teams down again like this year, regardless of Rowley’s improved tactics.

YESSSSSSSS!!!!!! Another ticket thread to track…

Ufff that’ll go down well. Saints’ recruitment has been genuinely poor this off season. Not a single issue seen last year resolved IMO.

Insularism… protectionism…

Thanks. Whilst I understand its importance, that’s absolutely the wrong place for a museum.

I really like your posts. Pretty accurate in your analysis IMO when it comes to the game’s target audience approach. Couple that with important issues like governance, and player development etc is not far off a far more balanced and effective approach to move the game forward beyond this repetitive vicious circle it finds itself in.

Where was this due to be based?

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Martyn’s view above is a key example of issues within the sport. No responsibility. Blame others - with the Aussies being an easy target; as is RU or the ‘Establishment’. Our poor image as a sport in the UK is entirely of our own making.

I thought we were soundly beaten in the Series, largely due to our inability to create any attacking structures that troubled the Aussie defence. But I’m absolutely with you; I actually don’t think the Aussies have a multitude of gears to go up to a much higher standard than they did. If they do, they’ve not shown it in a long time ie when was the last time they destroyed a top international side? The difference in the two sides was pretty much down to 4 players: Walsh, Munster, Grant and Crichton. No other Aussie players massively outplayed their England counterparts IMO. Not even Cleary who I thought didn’t look particularly dangerous (I have seen a lot of criticism about him from the Aussie press). I am absolutely certain the Aussies can improve. But we all know England can as well.

In general, the sport is unprofessional. Top to bottom. It is insular. It doesn’t like outsiders - a bit like the communities it is widely played in. It has a big chip on its shoulder to real change. Until the sport takes change seriously, it will always be a niche, unprofessional sport frowned upon by ‘outsiders’. You could help by some strong journalism on the real issues the sport faces.

This is my personal favourite for the highest priority issue.

2 x annual windows - 3-week mid season and then in the Autumn. Major tournament every two years involving multiple teams… Smaller quad-side tournaments in the other years or the odd 3-game tour. Easy!

To be absolute clear again, you are right. I think it’s my own apathy to all things British RL at the moment that makes simply go meh at this important issue…

You are right. But after yesterday and the last 3 weeks, I think its lower down my own list of things I want sorting by the sport in the UK.

Jeez… League Freak talking some sense… Clearly more issues to solve than what’s listed there. But he’s not wrong.

Willie Peters.

The cap amount is pretty meaningless as an individual metric. Increase it here and basically we pretty much pay the same players more. That’s not the solution we desire. It’s a much much wider issue that needs addressing.

The issue of form vs experience debate is an interesting one. People were incredibly vocal that Burgess and Lewis should be involved due to their club form. Neither worked (for different reasons). Litten did. None of Young, Johnstone or Lees were particularly in great form but absolutely worked. Welsby didn’t. I’d argue there needs to be a balance between form and experience. The same with younger blood. This Series, we didn’t get any of it right - and that’s a leadership issue. It is also something the Aussies have consistently done well blending youth, experience and form into the team. Ultimately, I think if England had gone with just form, they’d still have lost.

Very good post. The powerbrokers here don’t have a clue how to fix this - and in some cases, probably don’t want it to change as it would affect their slice of the pie. Insularism. It kills the sport’s ability to move forward here. The whole sport in the UK (with the French included) needs a root and stem change to how it is governed, played and developed. And it should have started after the 2nd Test defeat. But nothing will happen. Insularism.

To play devil’s advocate, Williams was easily England’s best half in Game 1 and did set up at least two chances we didn’t finish. I’d say that probably counts as England’s most creative half so far in the Series…