Dunbar

What a terrific interview with Anna Davies.

The Pacific Championship is being played according to the NRL and NRLW laws and interpretations of the game. I assume this means that the 2 point drop goal was also included. If so, with the NH internationals beng played at the same time, is this the first time we have seen Rugby League internationals being played with different scoring in games.

Nsemba for KPP. Marshall for Young. Thompson for Burgess.

This young generation of English players look very good.

Well, we all have different opinions. But I don't see the value in playing internationals at the same time as Origin and forcing players to make a choice. Not when we have seen that we can have really well attended and competitive internationals end of season. I would certainly be for mid season tests (i.e ANZAC day) but playing a Pacific Championship to run alongside Origin would just devalue it for me.

So no Australia in the Pacific Championship and no Origin players for Samoa, Tonga, PNG etc?

Terrific game this morning, loving how competitive the international level of Rugby League is at the moment. The Tongan middle forwards were inmense in the first half, Fonua-Blake and Taumalolo in particular.

I expect we will get more than the 11,000 average across those 3 games though.

Like the adverts... 'up to 100% off'

As regulars will probably know, I am a fan of Tom Burgess. But I think that England's game plan suits Thompson in the team over Burgess. England's defensive energy was excellent last week and in Lees and Havard they have two props who have very good engines and are good athletes - the energy to get bodies into tackles and manage the ruck. That energy fell away a bit last week when the two starting front rowers were replaced and Samoa started to make more metres with their sets and win more rucks - making them an attacking threat. The Grand Final shows just how good Thompson and Havard are - playing through the whole first half. I expect Thompson to start and so one of Lees or Havard to the bench (I would go Lees) and that will allow us to keep up the intensity in defence. Looking for an 80 minute performance from England this week, as I am sure Wane is.

There was some criticism when the squad was announced for the series about the age of some of the players. With no Hill and now Burgess, the average age of the middle fowards in the 19 (Havard, Lees, Thompson, McMeeken, Radley and Knowles) is 27 with only McMeeken turning 30 this year. I guess that means this group will be around for a couple of years - challenged by others no doubt. Although, if Burgess has a good year in SL next year, I wouldn't rule him out for the Kangaroo series.

So Marshall for Young is an easy swap and then Thompson for Burgess... although I expect Thompson to start and probably Lees to the bench. Other than that, will Nsemba and Currie get game time - I think Wane suggested yes.

Is that a euphemism?

Corey Parker suggests that the Samoan pushing his head into Lewis may have got a slap if it was him. https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/news-2024-corey-parker-siva-tau-comments-reaction-england-v-samoa-20241030-p5kmhr.html?ocid=Social-NRLFS&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3vO1M8aVv_VkK36szfEnqeuS_1m5v-2EAjmdYaKD4eJaCTJZZPsjn-YxY_aem_EwHSDTNm6_A933215pAlNg

Yes, it looked like a friendly greeting.

Just one? I would recommend @gingerjon take that as a win!

Let me stress, I have nothing against the traditional element of the challenge and it can be visually stunning and a great build up... it's not for me personally but I recognise it is excellent for the sport. But reaching the opposing team (England in this case) and getting to the point where you are pushing your head together and shouting is too much for me... stay 5m apart or so, you can still issue the challenge and look intimidating. Some people say it is welcome in this sanitised world but I think they do it because of the sanitised state of Rugby League... knowing it will not be anything more than show. Can you imagine that Kiwi in Lewis's face doing that to Jim Mills before a test. He would have been stretchered off before the game had even started.

We all have our own preferences.

Understood.

I know. Imagine if before a normal game of rugby one of the opposition players pushed his forehead into yours and screamed in your face... "it's just my way of welcoming you to the game mate".

Sure, I just don't like it when they get to the point where they are pushing foreheads into each other. I think when they get to that point they have gone past mutual respect and into intimidation. Just a personal opinion.

Not sure why you are saying 'grow up', it seems to have been a sensible and adult discussion so far. Anyway, one of the points being made is that the aggression is performative and it has moved from being a cultural element to being about two groups of players goading each other. If you are correct in saying that "players know it's going to happen and know they have to restrain themselves but also know they can push it to the limit for maximum impact" (and I think you are), then surely this is the definition of performative - all a bit WWE for me.

I wouldn't have posted if a thread hadn't been created but across the various teams and both codes I am not a fan. I am sure the players will stress how important it is to them culturally but I can't help but feel that they just want to look big and tough. It has become too performative. But it gets publicity and I guess that is a good thing.

Can't argue with much of that. But this is the Internet so I am obliged to. In all seriousness, the only point for me is the centres, I agree Wardle is world class but Farnworth is very special, he is as good an athlete as there is in world Rugby League right now and would be picked in any side, club or country. I would have Farnworth and Wardle with Newman as a very capable back up.

I thought Newman did ok. The one on one strip was a momentum change at that point but that happens to the best of players. Overall, I though he put his hand up for work ok and was part of a very good effort from the backline in brining the ball away from their own line. Their collective ability to use footwork to find a good carry and a fast play the ball was a huge part of England winning the ruck. This also helped the starting front row of Havard and Lees to put their effort into defence and we simply won the arm wrestle. A good game plan well executed in the main - we just need a full 80 minute performance.