New Zealand pip England as Lady Luck strikes again

You and write in a style similar to an individual, with a host of different personalities, who sees it as his duty to denigrate Rugby League on as many Rugby League forums as possible. Like many who follow Rugby League here and abroad, I am tired of the factless and distorted statistics that are used in attempt to annoy Rugby League supporters. If you actually followed Rugby League you would realise that the diatribe you written is grossly inaccurate to where Rugby League is played. You have no interest in Rugby League, so why do you plague Rugby League forums. Please desist and write within the forums of the football code that you follow. Thankyou. Is this polite enough moderators?

But seriously Sleiman, how can you have " disdain for the Origin and its effects on the public imagination " when the current makeup and the quality of International Test matches are nothing more than " Country of Origin" pick up games comprising of NRL players ! There is no difference here to the 'State of Origin" format, but without having the same local interest ! Lets face it, the Australian NRL is world Rugby League. Our game is little different to the AFL on an International level. International Tests are simply exhibition matches for the code just like the AFL's annual muck abouts with Ireland ! Test matches will never offer anywhere near the interest to the NRL world than the State Of Origin or an NRL Grand Final. Rugby League will remain a popular football sport in pockets of Australia , the North Of England, and some rejects from NZ Rugby. Expansion of the game is nothing but a pipe dream, and the game will do well to survive the onslaughts of the AFL and A-League to even maintain its present level of public support in Australia.

England had their first and second choice hookers unavailable in Roby and McIlorum; their World Cup second rower, Ben Westwood unavailable: and their best half-back, Danny Brough, Yorkshire born and bred, plays for Scotland after failing to see eye to eye with the coach. And, oh, for a Sam Burgess... However, I simply can't agree that the vast majority of this England squad, which is based in the Super League, is not up to NRL level. How do you work that one out? The vast majority of the Samoan team are NRL players and they were defeated. Australia's line-up, consisting wholly of NRL players, won in what the Poms see as controversial circumstances. And against the NRL-drenched NZ, England refused a kick at goal to tie the score to try and go for the win. These players are all NRL level. And there are plenty more in the squad, and sitting at home in England, who are good enough too. England were far too conservative against Australia. That's where this competition went away from them. This was the opportunity they have been waiting for - and they blew it.

Not quite right. The Poms had Roby, Lomax, Westwood and Shenton (injured on tour) out.

Lady Luck or not it doesn't disguise the fact that with the Roos and Kiwi's having so many 1st choice players unavailable for a range of reason this was Englands best chance to make the final and win it- they failed to even make the final- England had one player unavailable only i understand Sam Burgess - one has to say that the ESL comp which made up the bulk of the English Squad is not NRL level.

We need more internationals origin only dominated league due to Australia having no competition in league that time maybe changing the more Australia loses the bigger international league will get .the kiwis still look form team

games like that make you wonder why anyone still watches, let alone plays rugby union.

Now I can empathise as to why Basil / Glen / Whatever thinks that the 20m restart after Inglis or Hall grounded the ball last week was correct. I just thought he was being cheeky. Now I can also see why he also felt Jennings had control of the ball when he crossed the line as well. I can sense the fear in his posts now. Thanks

Sleiman I admire your commitment to International League. But I feel you are me, back in 2008. After the Kiwis won the World Cup, I felt that this was it. Finally International League was going to take-off. The nations involved would head home, push for their own domestic competitions, and would come back stronger and better than ever. But here we are in 2014 and what has changed? There are very few games played and Tier 2 nations only really play when the World Cup rolls around. Is it any wonder that players of PI heritage choose not to commit to them, when they rarely ever play? But this also applies to Tier 1 nations. With Australia certain to win this afternoon, when are England going to play their next Test match? I think it is in 12 months time. With that kind of of progression, I imagine International League will hit it's straps around 2143. The job ahead is huge. And involves getting professional competitions in more than 2 countries. People blame Origin and the NRL. I blame the RLIF.

The Poms have certainly been impressive and have all the ingredients to keep up the challenge for League supremacy over the Roos and the Kiwis. Great pack of forwards, classy halves and speed & size out wide. Possibly their defence close to the line has been their Achilles. Maybe Matt Parish could get a job offer from them as his work with the Samoan team defensively has been outstanding. Gotta love your League in mid November!

Basil or Glenn or whatever, My Union mad son-in-law tells me that you now appear prominently on their Roar pages, writing complimentary words about Union. That is fine, so how about staying on the Union channel and support that code and politely leave the Rugby League pages to its supporters. Is that polite enough moderators?

Best four nations tournament to date and a great advertisement for rugby league and the international game. The human aspect of the game (referees) will always lead to some controversy but then we are human and by nature are fallible. Let's move on with the game onto better things perhaps a two tiered 6 nations with relegation that would give the top 12 nations a meaningful format to compete.

More to the point alot of kiwis out as well for one reason or another -SBW,Sam Moa,Kasiano,Frank Pritchard,Jarred Hargraves, Robert Tuvesulia Sheik, Sam Mckendry. Some big boppers and a truckload of talent out, so some good kiwi depth. Big Guys like Konrad Hurell are ready soon too, what a talent he is, has as much talent as Taumolo. - Jason Taumulo (Size of Big Mal,side-step of Brad Fitler, work rate of Nathan Hindmarsh) the kid has it all.

Yep. The game is so valued by the TV rights holder, they're going to show on delay into Queensland

Is it just me or does origin in the last few years lack the big forward power . Whenever you watch NZ v Eng, there is heaps of forward power in abundance. When you have massive forward packs, it then allows the back lines to have enough space and start attacking. Whenever Australia or origin is played, it seems to be dominated by mobile packs with second rowers becoming the go to men. It is all well and good to have edge backrowers, but they won't provide the necessary go forward with which a prop forward provides, hence the lack of space and attack with both Australia and origin. I just think Australia and origin football lack the size of the big men. Also of course, origin is dominated by WWE rubbish. Origin is overhyped, while NZ v Eng play the game with more purity. Basically, NZ and Eng are playing the sort of game us league fans feel in love with the game in the first place. Australia and origin style football is boring.

Agree fully, the NZ-ENG matches of late have been wondrous to behold. Likewise with AUS-NZ & AUS-ENG it'd be good if every 4th year that 3 game series could be a regular event.

When responding with tl;dr during an argument, it means that the user in question wants to win the argument by stating that what the other person is saying is so worthless it's not worth reading. But by evading the argument instead of confronting it directly, it becomes obvious that the user got owned. tl;dr "too long; didn't read." 1. The inability to accept, understand or pay attention to information when not separated by a header. 2. The ability to arbitrarily read 400 small posts but not a long one. 3. A sign of ADD or lack of reading capability. 4. A very cheap response and an indication of lack of wit. 5. 90% of the time: A lie. 6. A desperate attempt at a comeback used by people who just can't think of one. 7. Usually used by people who've been torn apart verbally but want one last attempt at looking witty. 8. Total failure at #7. 7. A sign that, not only is someone too lazy and stupid to read but, clearly, too lazy and stupid to even type out four words indicating such. 9. Collect every "tl,dr" post online, and you'll have a good estimate of the number of lazy idiots on Earth, who currently have Internet access. 10. Should really be: "Too Lazy, Don't Read."