But wouldnt St. Helens still be able to play the league game as they have a squad big enough to compensate ??



Or is there a rule somewhere stating otherwise !!!!!!!

Yeah, that seems to be the whole nub of the issue. As it's a glorified club game the RFL should have tried marketing it through clubs and offered people with season tickets reduced entry prices.

I used to like the Roses games but they didn't work as those that played for Lancs didn't seem to have as much pride in the jersey. When Peter Fox coached Yorkshire they were invincible.



Can't think of a sub-national concept that breeds the same rivalry as Origin that would work over here.

Roses games were quality for fans, it was great cheering on Yorkshire and the banter between fans! Now you mention it Yorkshire did seem to be more passionate about it then again maybe i'm just completely biased. WHITE ROSE, WHITE ROSE! Bring it back I say.

Ryan Atkins - dreadful down under last year. Would have given Welham a go despite being ginger.

Chris Bridge - average in a great club side. See Darryl Goulding.

JJB - done nothing for 2 years. Not big enough.

Jon Wilkin - how many times can he get thrown around at international level?



Would have picked McGilvary on one wing.

The disappointing thing about this squad is its predictability and conservatism.



He's picked players, as Tigertot, who have been tried and found wanting. JJB isn't going to ever be good enough to go up against the Aussies, and Ryan Atkins was in the RL press only this week saying that his form didn't merit being picked!



All in all not a squad to have me licking my lips in anticipation. I'd have sooner seen more of a blend, with some 'players for the future' given a chance alongside the experienced players. Foster and McGilvray are two obvious examples, but there are others.



Unlike some on this thread, I'm quite looking forward to this game. I think it has a bit of a novelty factor and I hope the players treat it seriously. Of course if some of the Saints players get bashed up then that's a bonus as well

I agree.



The England selections remind me of the days when the same old characters got selected regadless of their form. Seems Macca's no different to his predecessors.



I'd have been more likely to go to the game to see a few new faces like McGilvray, Lomax, Foster, Clark & Welham.

A Player is dropped after scoring [i[u[size=1504 [/size[/u[/itries on his last international appearance

Clubb seems to have sorted his defence out this year too but IIRC those 4 tries were against pretty poor opposition.

Standing tickets were £14. If you voted for the team, you got a discount code for a fiver off, meaning they were only £14. Well, £15 with the quid booking fee.

Going back to the days when we had Australian touring teams and most international games were played during the season (it's not [ithat[/i far back), there used to be a rule about clubs having more than (I think 3) players selected for international duty being able to call off league games which clashed with the international. I'd guess (but don't know) that the rule still applies, though whether this would apply to what, despite its international flavour, is really a domestic trial game is the point I was pondering.



Neither the size of the squad, not the number international players in it, made any difference to the club's right to call of a league fixture and virtually all clubs did.

Although you're spot on, even if they were allowed, could you see the Bulls/Saints game getting called off considering it's on Sky?