NSW need to bribe a lot more Kiwis into turning out for them before they've any chance of beating QLD.



Go the Maroons

It was a fantastic game though!

I think they'll be pretty sore this morning after battering each other for 80 minutes.

Although I was pretty dissappointed with the amount of "Biff"

Wasn't the example above because all the same players stood watching because they were offside?



I was very unimpressed regarding the performace. No atmosphere poor attendance leaving it very flat. This is clearly a trial game which means nothing to the players and it clearly shows in the commitment and desire of the players.

I know the exiles were just playing exhibition stuff and goIng for offloads but they looked more of a team than England.

I haven't read the wilkin interview but my thoughts are if the players played like the game meant something the fans would follow suit. There was just no intensity to that game.

I know the roses games didn't improve the international scene but having attended both the roses games and the exiles game I know which by far had the better atmosphere

JJB was offside but the rest weren't and should of gone for the ball.

have

Jon Wilkin shouldn't be anywhere near an international shirt anyway.

If it was in England and one side hadn't won for 2 straight years (nevermind 7) we'd probably scrap it.

Plenty of people were willing to go to see international RL games when the meant something. They were usually always GB versus Australia Ashes matches or World Cup Finals before SL.



I was part of the record crowd at Wembley for the 92 WC Final. 70k were there. I remember being in the 46k crowd at Old Trafford in 1990 and the 50k there in 1986.



Bring the Ashes back and you revive internationals, eventually. I like the Tri Nations but it lacks the gravitas of the Ashes series.

There was a period I used to travel to every GB international. My brother in law and his mates always went as well and they were not weekly supporters - we all went to Old Trafford in '86. Summer rugby killed tours, and to be honest the difference between our "summer" and winter is now so negligable we really should consider going back to the old timetable (although Sky won't let us).

Exactly.



Until the game expands sufficiently (which it probably never will) the only internationals worth watching are [uGB[/u versus Oz or NZ.



Not many are fooled by the concept of seperate home international teams in a pretty pathetic attempt to justify a world cup competition





The Exiles was a bluddy stupid idea IMO. Never had any desire to watch a bunch of mostly second rate misfits thrown together to create a pseudo international. Barmy.



The Barbarians works because there is plenty of credible competition and this match then becomes an expected fun exhibition match with lots more risk taken to entertain. The Exiles sadly just becomes a joke.

Going off on a bit of a tangent. Does anyone else feel that it might be time stop playing these "internationals" and even the Magic Weekend at showcase stadia like The Galpharm. The performance of the England side last night was dismal enough without being constantly exposed to row upon row of empty seats - it doesn t exactly add to the atmosphere or to Rugby league's claim to be a major spectator sport and I m sure it just plays the hands of those who continue to see League as a joke sport.It would be much better to play these matches,where crowds of more than 20,000 cannot be guaranteed at smaller more compact grounds like HQ or The Stobart or St Helens new home.At least then it would look as if we have a reasonably well supported game which creates a bit of atmosphere.