England warns, Crowe goes, SBW's problem

I'm based in Auckland and I reckon as a one off they'd fill Eden park, maybe not every year though.

G’day Andrew, I became a RL fan after leaving Victoria in the late 1960’s to work in the UK. As a result I became a big fan of British style RL. I was always disappointed in the decline in British RL, during the 1980s and 90s. However, still travelling to Europe for work I have been able to get in just a few SL and lower comp games in England, France and other European Countries. I amazed at the resurgence in RL, in France, since the political screws were removed in the 1990’s, and other European Countries and was amazed to find out that the EEC is now funding RL growth across Europe. Not many people understand that the political discrimination was still occurring as late as 1998 in France. In watching the SL games I find I have not been able to agree with the likes of Gould and his cronies as to the difference in standard between SL and NRL. Different style of play but there is not that great a difference in standard. The fact that Leeds are the WC Champions indicates that the standard is better than Channel 9 will admit. I rather pleased that another commentator has recognised that for the first time in a while the English have a side that will give Australia and New Zealand more than a run for the money and I have already put a bit of money on England winning the World Cup. The RFL have spent a considerable amount of time, money and other resource in junior player development to build for their future and this approach is now paying dividends. As for the shoulder charge, it is like boxing, you enjoy it but you know secretly down deep that it is not such a good thing. Playing in Rochester in the early 1970’s I was hit by a pearly of a shoulder charge. I can’t remember anything about it and had several cracked ribs. I retrospect my wife says I still showing the after effects. A very different game to the VFA I played in my late teens and early 20s. I still don’t know if banning a legit shoulder to the chest and upper torso is bad or good. I take on board what Spiro has written but I banning this defensive move could result in a casual approach to defence, the attacking side, which is the opposite to RL throughout the years. CQ

Origin is a NSW/QLD thing. I still think it has to expand one day, involve the Kiwis and Islanders somehow. One for the commish to sort out. In the meantime the games we should be selling to Melbourne, NZ or any other city for that matter is internationals,Allstar games, Trail matches or even Toyota cup origin under 20 or junior Kiwi.Joeys matches. A rugby league nines tournament would also be a good showcase for Melbourne Perth or Adelaide. We also have World cup games to sell in 2017. So Melbourne wont be missing out like they are trying to make out.

Yes AR really!!!!.The previous admin worked on a year to year basis.Fans at least the ones I know, want some sense of certainty.That was not always forthcoming with the old NRL. BTW I defended the old NRL when I felt it necessary and was sniped at on this board for doing so ususally by flag wavers.And I will crticise the ARLC if I deem it necessary. I love it(the ARLC) no more than you love the AFL admin, I don't call myself rugby league. AFAIK the moves that the commission have made to date, I happen to agree with and they take their time.If they decide to relocate the Sharks,or Souths I will be the first to hit the phones.If they ignore the bush re development ditto.If they pay lip service to Intnl tests ditto.If refereeing has not improved ditto.If they make decisions on the run ditto. My reasons for believing this 5 years program was better than the past ,and yes it is not perfect, nothing in this life is:- 1) It creates certainty for the majority of fans in the heartland states. 2) There will be a game in 2015 in Vic.It is not as if there won't be live SOO games in that state,there will be and they will rate their you know what's off. 3) Provided the code gives more funding to development in Victoria I don't have a problem. 4) It maximises revenue and bums on seats for a code ,that has been starved of it, in the past. 5) 5 years is not an eternity,and the whole set up could change in 2018 6) the decsion was not made in haste,and in the end the highest bidder and majority of fans were winners. No your suspicions are wrong as usual. There are NRL games planned already each year for Perth,they are not missing out on a rl fix,and at present they would need a stadium of 50,000 to make it a financial success IMO. NZ .We have tests,Warriors games and an occasional Sydney club team play over there.The Storm play fortnightly in Melbourne,get packed houses week in week out. There is nothing wrong in having All Stars or tests in Melbourne in alternate years.Both involved many of the best. One thing rugby league has, is plenty of offerings for the sport starved .

"They made the decision,not for 1 year but 5.Thinking ahead,planning ahead ,that’s what I want from leadership." Really? I know you love the new ARLC, but you honestly think "good planning" is keeping 20 of the next 21 Origin games in Qld or NSW? I suspect if the ARLC had announced that 1 game a year would go to Melb, NZ, Perth etc...you'd be hailing this as "good planning " and "strong leadership". Am I right?

Melbourne also hosted an origin in 1990. Would have preferred to see 1 origin played at neutral venue every year. Could have gone something like this: 2013 - Etihad, Melbourne 2014 - Eden Park, Auckland 2015 - Etihad, Melbourne 2016 - New Burswood stadium, Perth Also I am disapointed to see the shoulder charge go. Hopefully Spiro's positive spin on the banning can come to fruition.

Andrew congrats, another worthwhile contribution to the rugby league sporting debate. The ARLC made a decision on the SOO.It was never going to please everyone,that's the nature of administration in sport. They made the decision,not for 1 year but 5.Thinking ahead,planning ahead ,that's what I want from leadership. No umming or agghing,considered choices and a decision made on facts,income maximisation and giving heartland the opportunity . England have promised so much in the past,I trust they can perform to expectations in 2013 in front of their home crowd.The experience no doubt of players coming to this country to hone their attacking and defending skills ,could be the X factor in achieving big upsets.More young French players should be given the same opportunity as the poms in this country.The French play with flair,but defensively need better patterns. Russel Crowe going.Earler than expected ,but hardly unexpected long term.The Rabbits now have a golden opportunity and with the quality of players on board,to bring membership up to much higher levels.They have a famous name with great traditions. People ,players ,owners come and go,nothing in this life is forever and clubs must have a Plan B as a backstop. The shoulder charge gone.IMO about time.The very first occasion a player is Kod by one and becomes a vegetable, whatever.as a result,the chances of kids playing the game at junior level with the soccer mums'influene will dwindle accordingly. Part of the rugby league is the tackle and how it should be effected,the most effective way to stop an attacker.A shoulder charge may look spectacular,but it is not always effective in stopping an attacker,if misstimed or misshandled creates a bad concussion not a good look,and a star player coiuld be taken off the field needlessly. The ARLC made a decision based on exceedingly strong medical advice.Do we ignore that and really get a player damaged,or do we teach players the right way to tackle ,as the game is hardly a dancing exercise, and full body contact has been part of the game before shoulder charge came into the picture. The commission made a decision(unpopular it appears) without fear or favour) but ensuring the safety of their players both in the short and long term.It took intestinal fortitude to do so,and they get a thumbs up from me.I dont want to hear and see players speaking like Ali in their middle years.

Australia are one of those sides - so much talent, what the hell is the game plan? Anyone could single handled dismantle the opposition. However like QLD this year, they were soooo sketchy, could well have lost against a team that one-by-one isn't as good, but played better together. It's important they play well as a team, I for one am hoping they play some internationals this year (I'm not into it enough to bother looking up all upcoming games for next year, hopefully there is a few)

Good stuff Andrew.....nice to see an article actually talking about the game without creating rumours or just plain hyperbole. Having the neutral origin venue every 3 years is a terrific concept and one i hope they keep....i found it odd that after 2015 all games look likely to be held in just Sydney and Brisbane until 2020. The current schedule is working well, even if it's not Melbourne there should be a neutral venue to kick off every third series. In regards to your comments about England, mate i think they are big chance at the World Cup next year.....every step they have taken since 2009 towards next year's tournament has been spot on and i think they will be peaking come this time next year. They still have the likes of James Graham, Jack Reed, Gareth Widdop, Chris Heighington, Sam Burgess and his Brothers to add to the team that dismantled Wales and France.....and to be fair to the squad that did take part, i think some of the names i mentioned will probably struggle to break into their best 17. All i can say is that i'm looking forward to 2013, huge year of Rugby League!

Can I just say how good is it that we are talking rugby league in late November! The greatest game of.all!