Up until the Four Nations Test in Melbourne on Sunday (31 October), England actually had a higher winning percentage against Australia; it now stands at 50 per cent.
But alarmingly, not only did they lose the game, they lost it convincingly against a team that was seen as below standard.
This English team needs to address this issue, and this comes down to the Rugby Football League, the administrators of the English game.
Gus Gould gave an easy way out for the English team to develop a stronger team: “Send them out here.”
The problem with that solution is this will develop a team where the first team is head and shoulders above the rest – eg European Socceroos versus A-League Socceroos. The other problem is that no NRL team would want English backs – which is their major Achilles heel.
Most believe the NRL is more intense because of the State of Origin. Also probably the amount of media attention they get. But the European Super League doesn’t have the media spotlight and this should not be a hurdle too hard to overcome.
The way forward in England may lie in copying and evolving the State of Origin with a ‘County of Origin’.
It has happened before, but it needs to be expanded. Yorkshire v Lancashire, the battle of the roses, is the old County of Origin, but expand it to Cumbria, another Rugby League heartland (and the most like the Queensland of old with all their players being bought by Yorkshiremen and Lanchashiremen).
This leads to more games, more experience, and more intensified Rugby League in England.
The Challenge Cup is good as it helps the lower grades see where they have to be to play in the top leagues, but it doesn’t help the top teams.
Another note is that England should play against the “Other Nationalities” – a team made up of all the non-English players in the Super League. This would be a great game as they have a lot of Aussies and Kiwis who are ranked above them at the moment, and would develop the French, Scots, Irish and Welsh (if all these nations got picked).
There is a northern hemisphere that plays Rugby League, but it needs some work.
England are the main northern hemisphere team, and they need to catch up with Australia and New Zealand before it becomes a Southern Hemisphere only game
Bam Bam
Roar Guru
Thats my hope mate, I was hoping the Les Catalans would try and snare Wayne Bennett for the 2012 competition by having an interim French coach for 2011 and then using Bennett while he is over there to coach the French like he did with the Kiwis for the World Cup.
Bam Bam
Roar Guru
Money does have a factor though Rob C, unfortunately for us Leaguies (and we are reaping what we sowed in the previous decades) we will lose players to French Rugby or Super 15, but we will still have our product, and Union theirs. And I respect both codes, they both have players that will run into brick walls to get their team and their fans closer to the try line. The truth is that both codes have a lot of work to do. The NFL breeds kids who are football players and athletes. Have a look at the USA Tomahawks rugby league team, they have a Hawaiian kid called Vaka who was a player for the Washington Redskins (NFL team), he is a monster and an athlete (he benches 102.5kg for 41 reps!!!), we don't have those players in either league or union. We need to develop players like this. Especially if these codes are meant to be fully international codes in the future.
Dave
Guest
look at him go. league is already the stronger product in nsw and queensland just as rugby is the stronger product in new zealand. if you thino rugby is boring in australia then league is boring in new zealand. rugby in australia is in alot more healthy state than rugby league in new zealand. cooper will find there's more money playing overseas and thats where he will go. might even consider playing professional in the french second division where some earn more money than the nrl. fact
Bam Bam
Roar Guru
It survived, an oversight by the HRM, they had already re-paid the debts last year.
Bam Bam
Roar Guru
Agree, mate, but I honestly believe the NRL are making positive steps forward. I heard the other day out of the major codes in Australia AFL has the cleanest and the NRL the second cleanest. The AFL was called the cleanest as it had less dramas to deal with and less drug incidents, the NRL was the second cleanest and 2nd best image as it cleaned up all the mess and stood firm on MOST of its standards with all players. I think the AFL gets away with the drug scandals as they have a 3 strike policy, but admittedly they don't get involved in as much stupidity as NRL players (or at least don't get caught doing it). So I think people are starting to look at the NRL as an organisation on the up. On a side note, look at the Gold Coast Titans, the players aren't involved in any discretions (that we know of), because they have an organisation that is built from players being role models. And everyone wants a role model, even if they don't admit it. Mind you, the GC Titans need to fix the debacle with the Titanium Centre of Excellence, and quickly.
Corey
Guest
Union. Even though some Cymru would say soccer, but the Media over there is definitely Union orientated.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Not another comedy routine rl is dead and dying,full moon around? Not related to Stephen Jones perchance? Don't know what you are smoking,but for a start go to the official RFL website and their 2009 report as a starting point-re participation,annual profits,TV ,schools growth,growth in registrations ,womens rl,the list goes on.I am sure having the largest schools rl comp(carnegie) in the world ,with close to 30,000 participants in 2010,is a sign of a sport in decline.Read it all, now,we may as well all shut up shop,the oracle has made his pronouncements. That is correct they moved to summer ,which turned out to be a the right tactical move.This has opened up opportunities for new RLC clubs being formed,in former non rl heartland areas.A fair number of people playing in these conference teams are either union players,new to any rugby game,or players who have moved from the north and reside in these areas.Jiunior teams have also formed as a result. Obviously Sport England thinks committing nearly 30 million pounds to rugby league is just plain fun,for doing nothing.Nothing that is except the game being involved in growing at a rapid rate grassroots development throughout the country.At the same time ru received only a million or two pounds more . Yes the money is in soccer and ru,but the numbers of rl players driting to union is a mere trickle. . I further suggest you have a chat with Hetherington of the Leeds RFL,who has the union team in his basket also.He has stated to all and sundry rl is the areas bread and butter from a rugby perspective,and will always be,but there needs to be the use of the ground facility for 12months of the year.The Leeds ru helps fill that void.Slowly shifting LOL and some ru supporters are slowling shifting to rl,using that logic. Jeeves some things just make my day,pass me another pimms.
jus de couchon
Guest
League will always be a strong traddition if it doesnt have pretensions of expanding beyond the M62. It reinvents itself like an aging rent boy unable to see the crumbling reality that few care. ESL is run by fantasists held hostage by their own hype who dance like whores to Skys next whim.
someone
Guest
Hooplah By the sounds of it you make it sound Rome is burning metaphorically in regards to League in there respective heartlands it will be fine.
Hooplah!
Guest
In England, you leagueies have to face facts. Union and soccer are wiping out League even in the heartlands. They did an NBL/A-League and shifted to a summer season because the writings been on the wall for decades. Super League actually saved the sport there. The problem in England is, the BIG money is in union and soccer. League has crumbled. Forget about it, it is a lost cause there you cannot reverse history. Remember it was only the small towns in the north that played it in the first place. Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool etc.. are soccer towns. The big clubs, like Wigan, St. Helen's, Bradford, Leeds etc.. are slowly shifting into Union.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Just a further note on the Crusaders-sat 6/11 to respond to the deadly duo ,who in a lather gleefully predicted the demise of the club. Troubled SL club Crusaders say they have avoided the threat of a winding up order from the tax man. " Our solicitors have informed us HRMC have made an application to dismiss the winding up order,which was due to be heard on Nov10,said club chairman Ian Roberts. They are doing this because we had already paid them the amount in question. It was an old debt which has already been paid,and the order was down to a missunderstanding. There will be a hearing on Nov10,but only to dismiss the order. Roberts added"we are still looking at the current position of the club and howbest to take it forward.We once again thank the fans for their continued support and patience and a further announcement will be made in the near future". As the saying goes "thank you linesmen,thank you ballboys".
Rin
Guest
Ha ha the fastest growing sport in Europe, i have never heard so much ...... but then again if you had a 1000 player before and now you have 2000 players it has gone up 100% but thats cause the base at the moment is so low!
Rob C
Guest
You have no idea of the big picture Nut... I think if Super Rugby was to get anywhere near the money you are spruising it might want to consider building the games profile in Aus and maybe getting enough interest where it might get shown live on free to air. Don't hold your breath though because it was taken off free to air for a reason. It is boring and there are superior products in Australia in Rugby League and AFL. This is a FACT! Union will do well to remain a competitive force in Australia post the next NRL tv deal. Just ask players like Quade Cooper where their loyalties lie post World Cup. This is a FACT. The future for Rugby in Oz is a niche sport where it will have its hard core fans and win occassionally. Much similar to league in the North of England but on a much smaller scale. This is a FACT.
This Is The Greatest Game Of Them All
Guest
If Super League got rid of the imports they (and the international game) wouldnt have much of a problem. I dont mind a Lockyer or an Inglis or a Slater going over there, but any less than that is a waste of time and money and opportunities for the english/european game. Super League would be better off signing our coaches, Wayne Bennett, Tim Sheens, Brian Smith, Phil Gould and our talent scouts. Can you imagine Wayne Bennett coaching the Celtic Crusaders or the Les Catalans Dragons to a Challenge Cup / Super League Premiership / World Club Challenge treble, now that would be good for the game.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
True Tah "The Storm is what is wrong with league in Australia"Because they had officials from that state, who organised the rorting of the system viz a viz salary cap,and maybe a couple of players (who knows) being complicit.News Ltd are teh ones putting money int the club,and when teh club gets stability it will be available for private investment.One name has already been bandied around. BTW the average Storm crowd for 2010,with the salary cap effect and nothing to play for was 14,670 in an AFL stronghold.So much for your 12,000 average punt.That average is probably around the Brumbies average in an area with a strong ru following.The Tahs should be condemned foir cracking only 20,000 in the strongest union state ,using your argument. You appear oblivious,in terms of having a Melbourne presence does for Tv ratings back to Sydney and Brisbane,and the effect of having a presence in the 2nd major city does for sponsorship.Ask the NRL,they will tell you. The point on Harlequins and one which you continue to ignore,everyone admits the crowds there have been ordinary.What people will not admit to is the fact,having a London presence has greatly assisted in growing the local game at grassroots level.That is having a flow on effect with growing numbers of these guys coming into the senior team. Wall Nut Got to laugh,a ru man comes on board Ï don't want to start a code war but...............as he lobs grenades in all directions.. Oh but it is really friendly fire LOL. .The fact you made those comments ,you have laid the groundwork for a code war.Let me say this and I don't want to start a code war(sic),but many of the ru clubs in the top level in France are losing money hand over foot. You carefully omitted to acknowledge the NRL will almost certainly be expanding in 2013,more money,more availability for players from both rugby codes. You no doubt have a hot line to JON,he made similar statement in 2001,prior to the RWC2003 WC,and has now egg on his face. I remember KOG with his all knowing knowledge of rl ,sugesting the Sharks were history and about to fold,or words to that effect ,and should relocate.That the storm should move ot Perth,no doubt to give the Rebels free reign. Might I reference the latest news re the Sharks from a union influenced newspaper http://www.smh.com.au/action/printArticle?id=2026840 Always work or live near the coalface,it helps.
Wall-Nut
Guest
I don't believe league in northern England is gone... It just has a niche, it's small but it's a niche. But let's face it, expansion is leagues devil word. It just doesn't happen. And over time as union grows and expands, it's going to cause havoc. Union players will in the future be earning around 5 to 6 million dollars a year in Europe. What would you do, play league for let's just say for argument sake $800,000 in The NRL or earn 5 million in Europe. Time is leagues enemy!! That is a fact. Super15 will lose players as well. But the difference here is, super15 and tri-nations is expanding, player payments will exceed $1 million. Players will leave super15 for 2 to3 year stints and come back for world cup. League only thrives in QLD and NSW. I so don't want to start a code war, the bigger picture is just clear to me. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
This Is The Greatest Game Of Them All
Guest
Exactly, they could play it at the same time as our origin series, we could watch QLD and NSW battle it out at Suncorp, and then tune in to watch Scotland and England smash the s#!+ out of eachother at Murrayfield. I think it would definately work, would also encourage (give another option to) players to swear allegience to their country of birth/heritage, instead of just playing for England.
M1tch
Roar Guru
English crowds are at a high, they have never had more juniors, tv ratings are good. England though are where NZ were 6-10 years ago. They have axed alot of older players for a young team, mainly in the backline and its going to take time. We arent like Rugby where you will play 8-14 tests in a year for the team to gell. Only 12 months ago they made the 4N final and were in it with 20 mins to go. They are building and its going to take time.
kovana
Guest
Corey. Honest Question. What actually is the national sport of Wales?
someone
Guest
Corey I enjoy both sports too but I'm sick of the death-riding league gets every time something happens to league it's the end etc. League in Australia went through the super league war survived somehow and is slowly rebuilding but for every one step forward it's two step backwards.