londonrlfan

I hope they don't just suddenly decide France are automatic entrants, but it wouldn't surprise me if that happens. They need to play more and win more.

Australia lose by a record score, you'd think that'd grant a story. But Ryan Brierley signing a new contract is the headline. If it was the All Blacks, there'd be 10 articles about it.

Nothing on the BBC at all, weird.

Well done NZ. Always good to see the Aussies get a spanking! Shame England never beat them though...

I'd rather that than playing 3 games against Samoa in front of half empty M62 stadiums.

It would be great for France and Lebanon to get more games. But aren't France supposed to be playing WCQ next year?

Maybe not so much the Four Nations, but the sport desperately needs a second major international tournament.

Also, Sheffield are regularly ignored for England games in other sports, so why should RL not try and take advantage?

I always wonder if somewhere like Milton Keynes could be a good shout? A lot cheaper than London, and easy to get to from London and the North West. It's a area starved of any real top level sport or events. I realise the home countries is genuinely rah rah territory, but if we put the effort in, you never know. And I don't mean a one off WC game on a Monday night between two small Island nations most people haven't heard of. I'm thinking one England test every year for 5 years guaranteed. Something like that to try and build an audience.

The NRL must really hate Perth. There will be a team in Antarctica before there. In some ways, it's great news. Another country with a pro team, and one that loves the sport and has genuine development. If there could be a 24 man squad of fully pro PNG players, it would be a huge boost to the international game too.

It also begs the question of whether 3 test series interest modern audiences anymore. It's not the 1970s anymore, despite what the dinosaurs at the RFL think. A Four/Five Nations with England, Tonga, Australia, NZ, Samoa would've drawn more interest and bigger crowds.

And another excuse for the RFL to retreat back to the M62, even though that isn't working.

The dropping of London/Wembley was another idiotic idea from the RFL. But no surprise, sadly.

Tbf, Hull would've been a better choice than Headingley.

Cause the dinosaurs in charge still think it's the 70s and 3 match test series are the future, even though tournaments draw the most interest. We could've had a 6 team Continental Cup for example: England, NZ, France, Samoa, Tonga, Lebanon Let's be honest the Aussies would refuse to play, and it'd be a shame for PNG/Fiji to miss out, but that was more geographical based. Then a second tier tournament: PNG, Fiji, Italy, Wales, Jamaica, USA

I don't want a team of mediocre Aussies tbh. I hope our homegrown contingent aren't thrown to the wayside next season. I doubt we could find a better FB than Alex Walker anyway.

Games like this should be taken to the likes of Sheffield, Coventry or Newcastle. Internationals aren't well supported in the M62, unless it's Australia. This will now be used as a reason to only play internationals in the M62 sadly.

It's gonna look pretty silly when IMG are booting us out after we win the SL GF. But I'll take it.

Well done the NRL, about time something like this happened. But you know, in true RL style, it will be a one off and nothing will come of it.

Just back from Tunbridge Wells not too long ago, surely the poshest place I'll ever see us promoted again lol. It's going to be tough, but I'll enjoy the ride. Feels extra special having so many homegrown players a part of it too. As long as it isn't another 2014 again. We've got a much better base to build on than in 2019, but it's going to be tough to build a side. Just hoping we can find some extra investment.

It's completely unexpected, even more than last time, but as long as we don't embarrass ourselves and put up a good fight, that's the most we can ask for. We've done it the hard way twice, now no one can surely claim the RFL/IMG put us in the SL.

You have to laugh, they cut down the numbers because of 'heritage players', yet the Cook Islands get a stroll to qualification.

I understand. I feel similar, but time we had a new champion for a change.

Surely the Saints fans who were going to go, could still go anyway to cheer on Catalans?

Extremely tinpot and ensures new teams won't get to qualify, how boring. Greece and Jamaica were a breath of fresh air at the last WC.