Tex Evans Thigh

That might be a record for most cliches in one post, if not, very close to it, well done!

Reasonable amount of actual knowledge extrapolated out.

SL head coach: 80-250k extremes (120-200 more typical) SL assistant: 30-80k (40-60) SL staff/specialist: 20-40k champ head coach: 20-60k champ other: 5-25k champ and lower having part time staff mainly would keep the average quite low.

Well it’s worse than that, it’s like not picking anyone from any Queensland teams if we’re using your analogy. The whole thing needs ripping up and starting again but it won’t happen.

Exactly, I think both teams have basically put out what they have. There's no resting of players and we could see similar teams if they both make the final, which is why I expect both teams to go at it and try and make a statement.

They don't have much choice and there are a couple of injured players in the 19 who won't figure.

Not sure who is claiming this but it is absolutely not true! There are some good Union players playing League in the US and some basic ones as well. I'm not well versed enough to be able to compare the different levels in each country but we see some good players.

Theyre certainly making an effort and making it worthwhile, hence why we and a bunch of other teams are making the effort at short notice. Pretty promising outlook I would say. The big question is how do they convert this to competitive fixtures next season and further down the track.

Teams clock off and move on after the last game. I'm taking my team up there this week and it absolutely isn't anywhere near our proper team, we havent trained since early august and 5 or 6 have never played League. I'm giving you some insight into what is actually happening. Toronto aren't getting full teams at their peak, whereas they have all the advantages you listed. Not sure I agree on point 3. Go down and play DC or Jacksonville in June when theyre in season and have home advantage etc and see how that game pans out. There are a lot of players who've got excellent union pedigree and plenty of league experience in the US, you're just not seeing any really well prepared actual teams come up, which is to be expected for exhibition games. Feel free to come and say hello next saturday.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Toronto just played Boston (a patched up Boston with players from other teams) on September 2nd. Boston's last meaningful game was in July. They didnt play their dead rubber with Delaware on August 5th and sent about 4 or 5 guys to play in the grand final curtain raiser on aug 12th, the rest of the team was Brooklyn squad players and a few other lads from other sources. This wasn't even a real game. So even if you count the Aug 12th game as a real game (is wasnt) then they are 3 weeks out of season and agreed to play on a weeks notice after DC pulled out, in reality they were 5/6 weeks out of season and only had about 7-8 actual Boston players in the team. Even if DC had played, they would have still been 3 weeks out of season. It would be virtually impossible to play in season, because the teams are...well playing their own season. The games against teams in season would have been by-weeks. I think the Copperheads one is an example. This isn't a dig at the Wolfpack and I'm not saying they aren't a good team or they wouldn't beat these teams in any other circumstance because they are a good team and probably would win most of the time, but don't kid yourself that these are the best versions of the teams they are playing.

Teams out of season, traveling a fair distance for a drink up. These are exhibition games and Toronto have a good bunch of players from the region. The visiting teams are typically patched up and can’t really be bothered but are getting a free trip to Toronto.

Watching some old internationals and it really was the peak of our game. We had it in our hands, proper international games where the home commentators are so biased because it means so much. The damage has been done by NRL bosses and poor development by the game over here but I never realized how much the Australians thought they were being cheated as it was happening. It’s shocking that we gave this away.

he was sacked, I think MC has been waiting for this for a while as he was popular with the fans and players but performances have steadily got worse. Fordy is a smart coach and probably what's needed for the playing group at this time. Whether it's successful ultimately, who knows but there have been a lot of warning signs with Long. I think MC has made the right call, hopefully it pays off because he deserves it for the effort and investment he's made over the past 15 years.

Every other sport stole the term 'derby' from us, so it's fair game for me.

Same but a bit crapper.

It's not always easy but I've never heard anyone suggest anything like that. There are plenty of soccer fields that have adequate dimensions as well as a good amount of union fields.

I wasn't really close enough to it to comment in any meaningful way but I think essentially the teams in the north didnt think the changes to the USARL operations were significant enough or tackled the main problems. By the same token, to answer you second question, I don't think you will see huge differences but then that is subjective. Ultimately, we need more teams, more people playing the game and some consistency in the competitions and teams that take part. There seems to be plenty going on in the west cost, mid-west and canada and both the north and south are back up and running so it's trending in the right direction, we just need to be realistic about what is achievable near and longer term.

RLU i.e the North East isnt under the jurisdiction of the USARL for many reasons. Growth at the moment for everywhere in the US is playing games and picking up the pieces of the NARL debacle.

The teams in the North East, DC, Delaware Brooklyn and Boston in the RLU league. We arent formally associated with the USARL but there is a cordial relationship, one example being a North v South game which will take place July 1st.

We kick off on June 17th

Get France to annex Australia? Get all fertile women in France to breed with a Tongan?

In the immortal words of Mick Morgan, "That's typical o'worrhe is!!'

If Qatar make it financially appealing then it might sway the board but it would surely need to be a very enticing offer given the other many downsides. South Africa is a non-starter and should remain that way. We have no presence there and very little hope of establishing one. A New Zealand led, pacific hosted comp would be my preferred option. NZ has the infrastructure and a population that is aware of and interested in the game. It also feels an opportune time to boost the game there and potentially aim for a 2nd NRL team. If Fiji can legitimately support some games, along with PNG and maybe Aus, you could have a nice balance. 2 groups in NZ (including NZ, Samoa and Tonga) Have PNG host a group and perhaps the other one in Aus/Fiji, or some combination of this, e.g.: Group 1 (New Zealand) - NZ, Tonga, Qu1, Qu2 Group 2 (Aus) - Aus, Lebanon, Italy, Greece Group 3 (Fiji/NZ) - Eng, Fiji, Qu1, Qu2 Group 4 (PNG/NZ) - Samoa, PNG, Qu1, Q2 Maybe even have a game in Tonga and Samoa, how awesome would that be. Have the QFs spread and then semis and final in NZ. Some combination, with Aus marginalized and the focus on NZ and pacific islands would be a great spectacle if it is possible to pull off.

The sport at international level (and many other levels) is a shambles. Whether this is unfortunate and can be blamed on the French government or not it doesnt detract from how tin pot we are. Disappointment after disappointment.

Comfortable Leigh win on their way to a top 6 spot at the end of the season.