England vs Samoa Series

[N2022]

18 hours ago, The Rocket said:

 @Sports Prophetwe may soon end up having the best of both world`s : 

From today`s SMH.

 

V`landys joined NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo for a two-part interview on Nine’s rugby league program on Monday night to discuss all the big issues in the game.

One of the code’s major talking points is the blueprint to get from 17 teams to a 20-team competition in the next eight years.

V’landys believes a 20-team competition could result in a shortened season, with emphasis to be placed on growing the international game and a potential standalone Origin period.

“That’s the ambition – to get 20 teams,” V’landys said.

“If you don’t have ambition, you shouldn’t be there. Our ambition is to make the competition as fair as possible. The draw would be fantastic if everyone played [each other] once, so you need 20 teams for that. Talking about conferences and all those sorts of things is part of the process that we’re going to go through with the business case.

“[The players] are going to be playing less football because at the moment there are [27] rounds. If you go to 19 rounds you’ve got all those weeks we can do other things and that’s where you can fix your problem with the State of Origin.”

Usually if he says it, he means it.

 

 

 

I don't follow NRL closely, but the impression I get from some of their decisions is that international teams in RL are way, way down their list of considerations. Is there a danger they are proposing the 20-team, 19-game regular season model just to have a massively bloated play-off set-up? e.g. 16 teams in it and 4 groups of 4 before SF, even QF? A 3-game series for grand final? And for the semi-final? A 5-game SOO? An All-Stars game in China, Dubai, London, NY, wherever?  If so, the time freed up for internationals might be minimal.

[Anita Bath]

1 hour ago, N2022 said:

I don't follow NRL closely, but the impression I get from some of their decisions is that international teams in RL are way, way down their list of considerations. Is there a danger they are proposing the 20-team, 19-game regular season model just to have a massively bloated play-off set-up? e.g. 16 teams in it and 4 groups of 4 before SF, even QF? A 3-game series for grand final? And for the semi-final? A 5-game SOO? An All-Stars game in China, Dubai, London, NY, wherever?  If so, the time freed up for internationals might be minimal.

They could have 17 teams in the play offs but Wests Tigers would still find a way to miss out.

[Sports Prophet]

On 24/09/2024 at 06:51, The Rocket said:

 @Sports Prophetwe may soon end up having the best of both world`s : 

From today`s SMH.

 

V`landys joined NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo for a two-part interview on Nine’s rugby league program on Monday night to discuss all the big issues in the game.

One of the code’s major talking points is the blueprint to get from 17 teams to a 20-team competition in the next eight years.

V’landys believes a 20-team competition could result in a shortened season, with emphasis to be placed on growing the international game and a potential standalone Origin period.

“That’s the ambition – to get 20 teams,” V’landys said.

“If you don’t have ambition, you shouldn’t be there. Our ambition is to make the competition as fair as possible. The draw would be fantastic if everyone played [each other] once, so you need 20 teams for that. Talking about conferences and all those sorts of things is part of the process that we’re going to go through with the business case.

“[The players] are going to be playing less football because at the moment there are [27] rounds. If you go to 19 rounds you’ve got all those weeks we can do other things and that’s where you can fix your problem with the State of Origin.”

Usually if he says it, he means it.

 

 

 

Im glad you posted this as I’ve just watched Monday night’s 100% Footy and the episode would have passed me by otherwise.

I found it really interesting where Peter said the it’s the NRL Commission’s objective to “make the Kangaroos jersey the pinnacle” for an Australian player.

Added to your point about fixing “the Origin problem” (I would like to know what he thinks the problem is), perhaps the RLC are actually willing to realise the potential of the Kangaroos jersey, given profits don’t need to be passed down to NSWRL and QRL for international fixtures.

[ghost crayfish]

On 25/09/2024 at 04:01, N2022 said:

I don't follow NRL closely, but the impression I get from some of their decisions is that international teams in RL are way, way down their list of considerations. Is there a danger they are proposing the 20-team, 19-game regular season model just to have a massively bloated play-off set-up? e.g. 16 teams in it and 4 groups of 4 before SF, even QF? A 3-game series for grand final? And for the semi-final? A 5-game SOO? An All-Stars game in China, Dubai, London, NY, wherever?  If so, the time freed up for internationals might be minimal.

Those diabolical fiends at the NRL with their strategic long-term planning and generally good results, we cannot trust them!

Seriously, the ideas you have just listed honestly sound like the sorts of things Super League would try a couple of times, execute poorly, then abandon.

[Mojo]

 

 

Imagine posting this and tagging the Samoan Rugby Union team instead

[Click]

3 minutes ago, Mojo said:

 

 

Imagine posting this and tagging the Samoan Rugby Union team instead

How can it not be corrected after being up for almost 12 hours 

[Sports Prophet]

5 minutes ago, Mojo said:

 

 

Imagine posting this and tagging the Samoan Rugby Union team instead

Bottom of the barrel stuff right there

[Damien]

7 minutes ago, Mojo said:

 

 

Imagine posting this and tagging the Samoan Rugby Union team instead

Maybe they are just trolling because the Samoan RU team had to cancel their tour because they couldn't afford it.

Yes I know its wishful thinking that the RFL were that clever.

[Sports Prophet]

4 minutes ago, Click said:

How can it not be corrected after being up for almost 12 hours 

The comments on there are punishing as well  

[StandOffHalf]

2 hours ago, Mojo said:

 

 

Imagine posting this and tagging the Samoan Rugby Union team instead

Amateur hour from England RL...

[Hopie]

Maybe if we also moved the game to twickers and wore the RU kit we could attract a crowd?

[Sports Prophet]

1 minute ago, Damien said:

Maybe they are just trolling because the Samoan RU team had to cancel their tour because they couldn't afford it.

Yes I know its wishful thinking that the RFL were that clever.

In other good news  

This one passed me by unsurprisingly. Makes for good reading for RLs growing ownership of the Pacific.

[ATLANTISMAN]

Noticed the GB lion logo there hope this is not a forerunner to dumping England.

Nothing would surprise me though the sooner the RL Council loons are dumped the better.

Quite obvious who is calling the shots 

[JM2010]

Does anyone know how many tickets have been sold so far for both tests?

[Leyther_Matt]

30 minutes ago, ATLANTISMAN said:

Noticed the GB lion logo there hope this is not a forerunner to dumping England.

Nothing would surprise me though the sooner the RL Council loons are dumped the better.

Quite obvious who is calling the shots 

It isn’t the GB lion and it has been on some of the Oxen merchandise for 2-3 years now 

[Northern Eel]

On 28/09/2024 at 07:50, JM2010 said:

Does anyone know how many tickets have been sold so far for both tests?

Headingley isn’t looking too bad, with the usual RFL caveats about available seats. 

[Hopie]

The seats I would have bought at Headingley are available now, but I already bought mine elsewhere before they became available. The unreserved seating means you can't really tell how Wigan is going, probably lots of locals are eyeing Old Trafford instead, but one of the stands hasn't opened yet if I am not mistaken.

I have tickets for all four England internationals this autumn, 3 days of entertainment is a whole season for the international fan in England this year. 

[Archie Gordon]

6 hours ago, Hopie said:

... The unreserved seating means you can't really tell how Wigan is going, probably lots of locals are eyeing Old Trafford instead, but one of the stands hasn't opened yet if I am not mistaken.

...

If that stand doesn't open for an England international, it will be cringeworthy.

[Mojo]

Stephen Critchon not travelling to England because he's getting married. Reportedly Confirmed by the Samoan coach today

[StandOffHalf]

30 minutes ago, Mojo said:

Stephen Critchon not travelling to England because he's getting married. Reportedly Confirmed by the Samoan coach today

Oh dear. I thought they had moved the first test to accommodate his marriage.

His absence would be a massive blow to the series as a whole.

[Damien]

12 minutes ago, StandOffHalf said:

Oh dear. I thought they had moved the first test to accommodate his marriage.

His absence would be a massive blow to the series as a whole.

I don't think it is. Samoa still have plenty of stars and to most people Crichton is no different to anyone else.

[StandOffHalf]

2 minutes ago, Damien said:

I don't think it is. Samoa still have plenty of stars and to most people Crichton is no different to anyone else.

I think it loses quite some sparkle if he's not there.

He is a superstar and the guy who booted Samoa past England at the World Cup.

[Damien]

4 minutes ago, StandOffHalf said:

I think it loses quite some sparkle if he's not there.

He is a superstar and the guy who booted Samoa past England at the World Cup.

And many people won't even remember who that was.

It's one player, it's not the end of the world. Most people don't even follow the NRL that closely.

[Mojo]

11 minutes ago, Damien said:

I don't think it is. Samoa still have plenty of stars and to most people Crichton is no different to anyone else.

He's a big loss to the samoan team in terms of leadership and one of the cultural leaders. The thing I would be more worried about is his mates who might miss out because of the wedding. But from what I've heard of the rumors is that the Samoan coach said his Panthers team mates should be OK to travel

[StandOffHalf]

3 minutes ago, Damien said:

And many people won't even remember who that was.

It's one player, it's not the end of the world. Most people don't even follow the NRL that closely.

I suppose Tago at right centre and someone like Lafai at left centre would still be good players, if not possessing the star-power of a Critta.

Lafai's familiarity with English players and grounds could be a positive. He has been going really well over the last few seasons.