paulwalker71

Middlesborough got 8,300 in a completely non-RL area, which was better than many of the crowds in so-called heartland areas. That included some of the games in Warrington - a supposed hotbed for Rugby League which was rewarded for pathetic WC crowds by being given the next England game

Exactly this I realise that decision was announced before he got the job, but really it's the EXACT opposite of what he's saying here. And he WAS part of the organisation when they decided to "undersell" this event

It's just so depressingly familiar, isn't it? Appoint the insider as interim, before later deciding he'll get the job permanently. We really don't want outside ideas and expertise, do we?

Has there ever been any analysis of why we've had a relatively recent history of clubs popping up in promising non-RL areas - and then falling by the wayside after a few seasons? It seems to me that before energy is invested into starting teams in places like Stockport (using the example on this thread, but plenty of other suggestions get thrown in) we need to understand what's needed to embed longer-term clubs. Is it a lack of volunteers? Lack of money? Lack of support from the RFL / BARLA? The need for other local clubs to play? I suspect it's a mix of those and many other reasons... Why do we never seem to be able to put down roots in these areas?

Great post. I'd go with that...

It would a shame if the Cook Islands got in again just by beating an African team. I went to see the Cooks in Middlesbrough, and frankly, they were a disgrace. I'd sooner see an African nation like Nigeria, even if they ended up getting hammered (which is what happened to the Cook Islands, anyway) Africa looks like fertile ground to develop - they should have a guaranteed spot. I think Nigeria or Ghana would bring just as much as a made-up team like Scotland.

No sympathy here for the club. Also, if £7500 is enough to "kill off" London Skolars, then they aren't a viable club anyway.

Added to my Wishlist

The groupings seem strange... Serbia and Spain are in Group A despite never qualifying for the World Cup. Yet Greece, who were in the World Cup, have been dumped into Group B. I thought were were all optimistic that Greece, with a genuine domestic league, was an area for development? Yet places like Ireland and Scotland, who have barely any domestic activity are ahead of them. It doesn't seem like development is being rewarded.

Awarding the game to Warrington seems like its rewarding failure after the past few weeks

It would be an interesting dressing room conversation if he went to the Roosters

With the number of international games we play, any bans will probably impact the next World Cup

Well, we'll have to agree to differ. The "disaster" you refer to is a game that literally could have gone either way until the last second. Would the 2017 WC have been a "disaster" if Tonga's last minute disallowed try had counted, and England had been knocked out in the Semis? Fine margins...

I don’t disagree. I wasn’t opposed to Wayne Bennett - but he didn’t really do any better. The issue is the number of top quality players we are (not) producing. Until that changes it doesn’t matter who the coach is.

And who exactly is a better option? We are not exactly bursting with quality English coaches, and when we tried a (decorated) Australian we fared little better overall.

Last night's game was, in effect, the "West Yorkshire" Quarter Final - it just happened to be at Huddersfield Two other quarters are over in Lancashire/Cheshire, and the other on Humberside. There would have been an outcry if one of the quarters had NOT been in West Yorkshire - "heartlands", "hotbed of Rugby Leagu" etc etc Where else would it have been? Wakefield? Castleford? Odsal? Yet another game at Headingley? The collective RL fandom of West Yorkshire-for whom the Huddersfield ground is very accessible- managed 8K to watch the best team in the world... The problem is wider than bashing Huddersfield Giants AGAIN

I was there. Really good atmosphere with the Tonga fans and loads of locals were overheard saying how much enjoyed the occasion Still, I’m sure you’d have preferred it at St Helen’s in front of 4000

Just back from The Riverside and looking forward to the naysayers eating humble pie about the crowd. 10k at Coventry and 8300 in Middlesbrough have given plenty of food for thought - especially as I sit down and see about 5k at Warrington. Just a shame the Cook Islands didn’t turn up…

8300 and change in The Riverside today

Here at the ground, and it’s obvious the locals wanted to get behind Cook Island But they just haven’t been at it. Pathetic in fact. That said, Tonga have been really good (although it’s a bit hard to assess with this opposition)

England will never play Lebanon without the co-operation from the NRL There's a limited amount the RFL can do when the whole team plays in the NRL

It seems disappointing that Australia drew a smaller turnout in the heartlands than Fiji vs Scotland did in an expansion outpost. Something has got badly awry with the planning for these group games.

Free Entry? Pffftttt ... who is going to pay for the petrol to get there Also I want free Brazilian Street Food ** moan, moan**

Classic TRL Forum A competitive game with France, some great tries, and 23K there - and people are piling in with the criticisms...

As an aside, I think France vs Samoa could be an interesting QF decider