The Partisan

FYI https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2023/11/21/kiria-ratu-stars-for-cook-islands-as-fiji-suffer-shock-defeats-at-pacific-games/?fbclid=IwAR047C0UDXKz0im2zjujvepn-OhVJubk-DHPGINgrLZkQ67UAr6Rx1Kt53E

Personally I like the idea and would like to see a PNG and/or NZ equivalent become a RL 'Development' ambassador for the Asia - Pacific region. Perhaps extend it have a tiered system across all nations but especially England, France, PNG, New Zealand and Australia. I go with teams not nations having a tier level. So Tonga's top squad of mostly NRL / SL players would be Tier 1 Tonga's best domestic competition players only would be Tier 4 or below. IRL to set criteria and eligibility for each tier. Ambassador team ... to play teams / nations deemed as Tier 4 or below. Ambassadors to hold clinics in playing, coaching, officiating and administration. ( E.G. France 'Adventurers' to African nations and developing European countries / England Community Lions to Americas and developing European countries) Invitational team ....to play teams deemed as Tier 3 / 4 teams. As above re clinics ( PNG 'Explorers' or NZ ' Trekkers' to Philippines and developing Pacific nations) 'A' team ....to play fellow 'A' teams or second tier deemed teams. Eligible to play Tier 1 Test teams also. ( Engand Knights v Lebanon Cedars) Test team ....to play top level representative teams from other nations. ( Australian Kangaroos v England Lions; NZ Kiwis v PNG Kumuls)

Been a flurry of Women's RL international games in the last month .... As the song goes " Sisters are doin' it for themselves "

Great observation. Can't say I hear too many people now saying they are off to PNG for a holiday. It ain't Fiji or New Caledonia!

So every game of the season will require travel. Home or away. I get the political drivers behind this and the enormous amounts of money being discussed but I just can't see this being a long term success.

Obviously next year there will major celebrations and media reports of the 70th anniversary just like there was for the 50th and 60th Would be nice to plan something for the 75th anniversary at least !

Any NRL player who has to relocate to living in Port Moresby may reap the rewards financially but their own and any family they have with them will have to accept the loss of freedom and relative safety. No more popping out to Bondi for a coffee or few late beers in a club. No more WAG's outings to swanky restaurants. No hanging out with your kids at a junior footy game. Gated and guarded community with no genuine connection between them and the team's fan base. Any player intending on taking the cash should sit down for a chat with one of many Aussies who live and work over there. It is for dollars only. Full stop. No quality of life and often on their own leaving family back in Oz. People who are in mining or corporate business or government deal with it as unknowns. For anyone with a profile - like a highly paid NRL player - they have a target on them.

Would a Triple Header European Internationals weekend (or weekends) work in the northern hemisphere? France v England in France in a three test series. Possibly one in the UK but not in the M62 corridor. For the other games of the day Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Serbia, Netherlands, Italy (?), Germany and others go through a selection process with criteria to meet to be eligible for awarding of a game v opposition of a similiar level. Possibly have something like... Weekend 1; In France ; Germany v Netherlands (Griffin Cup game) Serbia v Greece (Balkan Cup Challenge) France v England 1st Test Something similiar for weekends two and three. If game played in UK have Ireland v Wales and perhaps Scotland v Italy . Jamaica / Lebanon v Ireland and Wales v Scotland as an option if opening up to other NH areas. As an international rugby league advocate I am disappointed with the news re Samoa but as a game we need to accept the setback and achieve a comeback. In my idea the comeback embraces the new frontiers and their supporters.

Congratulations to England on the 3-0 whitewash. When was the last series whitewash by GB or England? Two games v Samoa in 2022 Three games v Tonga in 2023 Three games v Samoa again (?) in 2024 Should have England battle hardened for the Kangaroos campaign in 2025. Can't recall the planned year England and New Zealand to meet.

Going against the grain here and think Tonga will turn it on and put a stack of points on the poms. Bit like 2018 v the Kiwis. That game also played in Leeds. 15+ result. (I'm sure I'll hear about it if I'm wrong )

Technically challenged and not able to upload pics of the story. Will attempt again tomorrow when not half (closer to three - quarters !) asleep

TROY GRANT INTERVIEW Outgoing International Rugby League Executive Chairman Troy Grant answers all the questions about the International game. Did the last World Cup make a profit? Why was the 2025 World Cup in France cancelled? How will future World Cups work ? What is the future of the Women's, Disability and Wheelchair World Cups? Read all the details in the latest issue of Rugby League Review. In case anyone was interested in a read. Sorry can't find any link to a digital version. https://www.rugbyleaguereview.com/ Sample copy if never seen it before http://rugbyleaguereview.com/rugby-league-review-sample.pdf Hope this is OK here John. Different market to RLW I would think.

If England do take the series 3-0 that would have to be feat not acheived for many years by either Great Britain or England?

https://fb.watch/nROD2mBXxb/?mibextid=qvpqVa Games in North Qld locations. Should be a great experience for the players. .

Will have to find the highlights (if not full replay) of the NZ 'A' v Tonga 'A' game preceding this game. Much closer scoreline.

Hopefully some highlights pop up somewhere. As a long time international rugby league advocate I wish both nations all the best in advancing the game in their country and the continent.

Australian Schoolboys, Australian Schoolgirls, PNG Junior Kumuls, PNG Junior Orchids | NRL.com Junior Kumuls v Australian Schoolboys | NRL.com Australian Under 18 Schoolboys team announced | NRL.com Not sure if this is the actually team that played last weekend. Juniors start training – The National https://www.thenational.com.pg/juniors-start-training/ Junior Kumuls team. Not sure if they are in the U/18 category to be honest. Couple of Australian based players in there too.

So as the two main domestic competitions head for a finale and the international arena opens up, I thought I'd explore what everyone's interest would be if the chance to travel across the globe seeing new frontiers was made available to you. Picking a maximum of two nations from each of the below regions, which Rugby League frontiers would you like to visit to meet with local players, officials and supporters? And if so inclined, a short reason of 'why' you selected a / these destinations. (If preferred can limit yourself to 3 regions) Regions being; The Americas (Specifically - North, Central and Caribbean) South America Asia - Pacific Middle East - Africa Eastern Europe (including Baltic countries) Western Europe (including Scandinavian countries) (Is a bit of self -interest in here. Been lucky enough to see the game played on four continents so far. Plans for including RLWC 2025 in France as part of a wider Long Service Leave extended holiday scuttled, so considering options to perhaps visit some developing RL frontiers if the logistics ...and more importantly budget ... can be sorted out to see the game in areas unimagined when the first RLWC was held in 1954). I'll kick things off. The Americas (Specifically - North, Central and Caribbean); Jamaica. They have done so much on the domestic scene, and I believe have a genuine future. South America; Brazil and Chile. Main trailblazers in SA and could form a great rivalry if the game can continue its foothold in these nations. Asia - Pacific; Philippines and Japan. Phillipines has a presence in Oz with the heritage teams ...I'd like to see what's happening in the country itself. Middle East - Africa; Ghana and Cameroon Like what both countries have done in a very short time. Could be the key to expansion in Africa. Eastern Europe (including Baltic countries); Poland and Latvia. Been reading about them for years. Soft spot for the Ukraine RL as well. Western Europe (including Scandinavian countries); Germany. Would like to see if the seeds planted by the late Simon Cooper have grown. Nod to Norway too.

Had a little bit of spare time so thought I'd check to see if other sports have reduced their team numbers for a World Cup. Hockey (or Field Hockey) was 16 teams in 2002 for their world cup. 2 Pools of 8. This was reduced to 12 teams for the 2006, 2010 and 2014 events. 2 Pools of 6 Reverted back to 16 for the 2018 edition (4 pools of 4) Was 2 x 35 min halves if comparing endurance levels but now almost all internationals are 4 x 15 min quarters since 2019. So a precedent has been set in another sport. As most likely discussed elsewhere ...the number of teams depends if you want your sports world cup to be one of competition or celebration. Football (soccer) is possibly the only outdoor played fast moving team sport that can claim to do both. Namibia is in France at the moment for the celebrations. It ain't there expecting to be a dark horse. If Rugby League ran with a maximum of 12 teams 'World Championship' ...to determine a ...champion, but also held an International Rugby League Cup (no world reference) for teams below this 'top' 12 I'd be ok with that. The latter played a year after the Championship. Possibly even have a P & R system in place with guidelines and standards re eligibility strictly enforced. (For example, a player must have been selected and travelled with a squad to x amount of qualifying games for the respective competition). Rugby League 'wishin and hoping'

Not listened to this podcast yet but have taken in the International game edition. Being Brisbane based myself and an advocate of the game in emerging nations I'd love to chat with Lee one day. Long Service Leave planned to take in the 2025 RLWC now will most likely become a world tour of sorts and include a pilgrimage to some RL minnows I have followed from afar.

Yes was always concerning when supporters were using the abbreviated name and urging their team to increase their intensity with an increase in hardness. Of course, equally as bad when accused of getting to a tackled player late and delaying his ability to rise to his feet.

I think it is a fairly recent addition to the vocabulary. Less than 12 months maybe? Just another variation of the Broncs, Tiges, Dogs .... One syllable and easily delivered. Quickly recognisable. Titans shortened form was not a real socially acceptable form ...so didn't catch on

Game still suspended? Watching footy with some breakfast on a sunny morning in Brisbane may be the start of my day

Edinburgh Eagles have a great polo shirt ...ditto Liverpool Lions. Both conversation starters here in sunny Brisbane

https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2023/08/29/qrl-aligns-pathways-and-strengthens-community-leagues/ Not sure how the Academy system works in the UK or if every Super League / Championship club has a team but wonder if there could be an equivalent set up to help young stars progress in the UK ? https://www.4bc.com.au/podcast/full-show-29-august-2023-2/ Interview with QRL boss Ben Ikin if able to access. Probably closer the 11:00 mark than the indicated 10:00 mark. I'd imagine that a contributing factor to this change would be the case of a few regional based teams (e.g. Western Clydesdales in Toowoomba, Northern Pride in Cairns) struggling with player retention in the 20/21 age bracket. Mix of moving on to greener pastures or preference for playing for a local / home community club and being competitive rather than playing teams stacked with NRL development players. Both the Clydesdales and Pride copped some heavy thrashings at this age bracket.