DoubleD

He sure was absolutely crucial during Canberra's late season losing streak

Firstly, I highly doubt a university, who announced their sponsorship 3 days before a series, have paid more than an established brand such as Ronseal. Secondly, brand affiliation matters a lot. I could go on at length, but it would take the thread off at a tangent and probably worth setting up a separate thread if you wished to discuss further

I still don't rate Cogger, despite some of the OTT praise he's had this year. I mean let's be honest, with the Panthers system and Cleary and Yeo as the main ball players, anyone could do a job in that supporting half. I doubt he'll get a look in at the Knights unless there's injuries

So we've gone from Ronseal as a sponsor for our national team to University of Central Lancashire . Says it all about the international game

I wondered that, it's the only ground which doesn't have it............yet does for Rhinos games. Very odd and irritating

Just like he dominated SL when he was at the Giants?

That couldn’t be further from the truth. Wighton got moved because the Raiders outside backs got decimated by injury and he is comfortable at full back and centre. The stats for when Frawley played in the halves are telling - they directly coincided with Canberras season falling apart: Performances without Frawley Won 12, Lost 7 Performances with Frawley in the halves Won 1, Lost 5 After the pummelling by the Panthers earlier in the season, Frawley got dropped in favour of Schneider. If Schneider had remained at the Raiders, there’s no guarantee that Frawley would have even played at the back end of the season when the Raiders season fell away

Miller should tear it up in SL and is certainly the most exciting signing

That’s not the case. Fogarty is the controlling half in the Raiders team

Frawley is an average journeyman who hasn’t been able to hold down a first team place at any of the clubs he’s been at. He will lead us around the park as well as Beau Falloon did. Our best hope is that Sinfield kicks on and can pick up the mantle

£325k a year plus a £200k fee is a lot by SL standards. The pressure will sure be on Croft. He struggled under the weight of pressure and expectation at a top club like Melbourne, it’s far from certain that he won’t again, particularly when he’s the main half. He won’t have Sneyd to lead the team around the park, allowing him to play a freer role

The off-season never fails to disappoint https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/dragons-playmaker-amone-found-guilty-of-hammer-attack-20231018-p5ed72.html

They did own Keighley’s as well, not sure if that’s still the case

Yeah I agree. They've got Moale and Iro coming through but they already struggle to compete and that will only get worse...........relying on 34yr old Takairangi as your half back. Don't see how they really fit into the Pacific Cup in the future, they will increasingly become cannon fodder. Ioka showed up well though

We're going over the same arguments here, so little point in continuing. International footy is the pinnacle of the game to me and so I will support wherever. People can choose how and where they spend their money. But if people think by not attending at the likes of Huddersfield will encourage the RFL to put a game on in London next time, they are sorely mistaken. Because there will be no tour next year. It will be binned to save costs

I agree, I'd prefer more exciting venues, but this was a series which was organised late, we don't know the availability and cost of stadiums. 40k turning up to a World Cup semi involving England at the Emirates was undoubtedly disappointing. The game has continually shot itself in the foot with regards to the international scene but people choosing not to support the international game is not going to have the desired effect, it will have the opposite and be counterproductive

It's called a hollow argument, well done for demonstrating my point 40k turned up to the Emirates for a World Cup semi featuring England. For a standalone game vs Tonga, the crowd would be less than this. Do you know which London stadiums were available and the cost? It would be a loss leader, as much as I'd prefer to attend a game there. International rugby just isn't attractive enough. Part of this is because we can't stick with a concept and the powers that be have messed about with the international game, treating with disdain as an afterthought. So we are where we are

Why would I have missed the bit I typed myself? Bizarre assertion It's a strawman argument. If people want to go and support their national team, they will make the effort. It's quite evident that most club supporters aren't interested in international rugby, which was also evident by the World Cup. So the self fulfilling prophecy will continue whereby we won't play any home internationals, bar the occasional game vs France at Leigh/Warrington

We’ve had people complain for years that we’ve not had any home internationals and that we play NZ too often. The first time a different nation tours for 3 matches and people find something else to complain about

You must have missed the bit I said “of course it’s one’s prerogative”

Of course it’s ones own prerogative. But those same fans can’t then complain about cuts to the game or no home internationals next year if the RFL can’t afford to underwrite them. It works both ways

Yes that’s what will happen, I’ve not received mine yet. It does state: If you have not received your tickets within seven days of the event, or within 48 hours of booking during the week of the event, please contact RFL Ticketing

This is my concern for all those moaning about the venues. The ramifications of not attending based on a dislike for the stadium choice and how the RFL have gone about this series are likely to have a significant impact. At best case, if we can’t fill these stadiums for the PI nations, it will make the RFL more risk averse in future and less likely to risk paying for a more expensive and bigger stadium (Wembley etc) At worse case, it will mean no Samoa tour next year and therefore probably no international footy, apart from a single France test. There will also be less money to go around the game in general with the cuts experienced only exacerbating. You reap what you sow

That's only one part of the equation

It wouldn't be, there'd be without doubt a rise in sales