2025 Ashes Tour

[Ride the Lion to Zion]

Yeah ok mate, I should have said it was a stupid statement I guess

The strength of Tonga and Samoa is everything to do with the NRL. Every player in their squads were developed through NRL pathways. Those guys would be playing Union if it didnt exist.

Of course if we applied your logic, the NRL wouldnt exist if Captain Cook didnt settle Australia before the Dutch did

This is just tilting at windmills. Very reductive tilting at windmills.

My reply was to a post urging the English to establish a Northern-Hemisphere version of the Pacific Championship.

Governing bodies for the sport of Rugby League cannot control demographics. The NRL were gifted the benefits of significant Pasifika migration. No such luck for the RFL. Therein lies the difference.

Pertinent proverb - "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear"

 

[Perth Red]

It was a correct statement though.

You argue the point of everything, when's the last time you agreed with someone on here or even hit a like?
Your team won a grand final, your city got an NRL team and on every metric the game is kicking goals, there's so many good things in the game to discuss, so much positive things are happening that we all agree are moving the game in the right direction... Most of it is in your direction! I'm assuming you were just at a full 50k stadium for an international...
Yet here you are complaining and arguing the point of everything.

You even told us that you complained about the 6 agains to everyone around you before the game started.. f**k me.

Seek help.

Not its not, its an opinion, and when you look back at England performances it would be stretch to say this is the worse England team ever. 2000-2010 we lost every game against NZ and Australia and got a number of hammerings. 2019 was a disaster of a tour. Id rate the sides of those eras far worse performing than what we've seen from England in last three years.

The rest just more gobby waffle from you. Put me on ignore if you dont like my contributions.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Not its not, its an opinion, and when you look back at England performances it would be stretch to say this is the worse England team ever. 2000-2010 we lost every game against NZ and Australia and got a number of hammerings. 2019 was a disaster of a tour. Id rate the sides of those eras far worse performing than what we've seen from England in last three years.

The rest just more gobby waffle from you. Put me on ignore if you dont like my contributions.

I was agreeing with him about you arguing in an empty room...the irony.

 

[Perth Red]

I was agreeing with him about you arguing in an empty room...the irony.

so you agree with him that this is the worse England team ever? Its not even close.

 

[Taking The Two]

Yeah, apart from the games we won against Australia and New Zealand, we lost every one.

20-12 vs Australia at Huddersfield, 2001
16-10 vs New Zealand at Wigan, 2002
22-12 vs New Zealand at Huddersfield, 2004
24-12 vs Australia at Wigan, 2004
26-24 vs New Zealand at Wigan, 2004
38-12 vs New Zealand at Huddersfield, 2005
23-12 vs Australia at Sydney, 2006
20-14 vs New Zealand at Huddersfield, 2007
44-0 vs New Zealand at Hull, 2007
28-12 vs New Zealand at Wigan, 2007
20-12 vs New Zealand at Wigan, 2009


So, yeah, apart from all of those ELEVEN victories over Australia and New Zealand between 2000-2010, we lost all of the games we played against Australia and New Zealand. If you’re going to try and make a point, it’s usually a good idea to make sure the point you’re making is correct. If you’re not, you must be prepared to look like you have a severe brain injury.

 

[adamkungl]

When you win the first 2 Origins , do you give everyone a go??
If we want Internationals to be respected, you don't run a B team..
I could forgive slight tinkering but if you hook Cleary and lose a test match, you should lose your job.

I'm not necessarily suggesting they make every possible change, that was more an illustration of the side they could name to maximise minutes.

On the other hand, there is a World Cup next year and this is a free shot. There will be no guarantee the first 17 is available next October-November and there will be no other opportunities to blood players.

 

[adamkungl]

so you agree with him that this is the worse England team ever? Its not even close.

The 2000s team had a couple of wins and the 2010s team was playing an immortal-tier Australia.

I think the closer result is more a reflection of Australia being worse than England being better. The current England team lacks a real forward leader/enforcer and despite a pretty hot backline on paper so far they haven't delivered a try.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

This is just tilting at windmills. Very reductive tilting at windmills.

My reply was to a post urging the English to establish a Northern-Hemisphere version of the Pacific Championship.

Governing bodies for the sport of Rugby League cannot control demographics. The NRL were gifted the benefits of significant Pasifika migration. No such luck for the RFL. Therein lies the difference.

Pertinent proverb - "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear"

Again, you're being very reductive in your suggestion that the NRL has just sat back and all these polynesian players have just fallen into their laps.

The pacific nations are strong not only because of the Australian based players but because of the ones in NZ. The NRL had the foresight to put in a NZ team years ago that has paid dividends in developing young polynesian kids into quality RL players. Id not call that being gifted anything.

The RFL has had a real opportunity over many many years to establish a foothold in France, Scotland and Wales and they have squandered every one of them. Thats got zero to do with migration of any particular ethnic group

 

[Northern]

Despite the result, loved the experience at Everton. I don’t mind a grind. I know, I’m old. Think picking Headingley was a mistake. I know quite a few who missed out on Everton, couldn’t get to London & missed out also on Headingley. Although I don’t like Elland Road, think they would have sold near to capacity. I think they underestimated the pull of a Kangeroos tour. Look at crowd for WC semi v Kiwis few years back. By the way, one the finest games of any sport I’ve had luck to witness in the flesh. The sporting public out there want it. Just look at attendances and tv viewing figures. As of the games themselves, England have been very poor in attack no doubt, but look at some of blow out scores in origin, etc. We’re not a million miles off but need more exposure to Southern Hemisphere teams.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Hinds

Despite the result, loved the experience at Everton. I don’t mind a grind. I know, I’m old. Think picking Headingley was a mistake. I know quite a few who missed out on Everton, couldn’t get to London & missed out also on Headingley. Although I don’t like Elland Road, think they would have sold near to capacity. I think they underestimated the pull of a Kangeroos tour. Look at crowd for WC semi v Kiwis few years back. By the way, one the finest games of any sport I’ve had luck to witness in the flesh. The sporting public out there want it. Just look at attendances and tv viewing figures. As of the games themselves, England have been very poor in attack no doubt, but look at some of blow out scores in origin, etc. We’re not a million miles off but need more exposure to Southern Hemisphere teams.

Hindsight is a beautiful thing, the same is happening in the Pacific championship..
We've underestimated the strength of the international game across the board.

hopefully this is leading to a great turnout and profitable WC.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Just hope we see an actual 10m enforced this week

actual line markings would be a great place to start

 

[titoelcolombiano]

RL drawing big crowds for international tournaments in four different countries and getting great TV ratings in Australia, England and presumably NZ, PNG, Samoa & Tonga. Kangaroos consistently out rating the Wallabies. We need to have more belief in the international game.

 

[undertaker]

Despite the result, loved the experience at Everton. I don’t mind a grind. I know, I’m old. Think picking Headingley was a mistake. I know quite a few who missed out on Everton, couldn’t get to London & missed out also on Headingley. Although I don’t like Elland Road, think they would have sold near to capacity. I think they underestimated the pull of a Kangeroos tour. Look at crowd for WC semi v Kiwis few years back. By the way, one the finest games of any sport I’ve had luck to witness in the flesh. The sporting public out there want it. Just look at attendances and tv viewing figures. As of the games themselves, England have been very poor in attack no doubt, but look at some of blow out scores in origin, etc. We’re not a million miles off but need more exposure to Southern Hemisphere teams.

Rugby league Ashes opener draws in bumper BBC viewing figures

The opening Test of this autumn's rugby league Ashes has pulled in strong viewing figures on the BBC despite a one-sided outcome.

www.loverugbyleague.com

BBC's bumper figures for second Ashes Test revealed in full as numbers rise

Saturday's second Ashes Test between England and Australia, shown on BBC One, drew a bigger audience than the first seven days prior.

www.loverugbyleague.com

 

[undertaker]

RL drawing big crowds for international tournaments in four different countries and getting great TV ratings in Australia, England and presumably NZ, PNG, Samoa & Tonga. Kangaroos consistently out rating the Wallabies. We need to have more belief in the international game.

I want to see the Kangaroos play a minimum of 5-6 tests/year. However, the only way that is going to happen - outside of years when the World Cup is held - is if the NRL season is shortened from 24 to at least 22 games per team (like what it was in the pre-NRL era) in 2028, when the next tv rights deal commences.

This would open up more opportunities to play tests during the season (which hasn't happened for the Kangaroos since the 2017 ANZAC test), since there's limits on how long a post-season tournament can go for due to an increase in the minimum rest period the RLPA mandated for NRL players around 2016/17.

 

[undertaker]

I want to see the Kangaroos play a minimum of 5-6 tests/year. However, the only way that is going to happen - outside of years when the World Cup is held - is if the NRL season is shortened from 24 to at least 22 games per team (like what it was in the pre-NRL era) in 2028, when the next tv rights deal commences.

This would open up more opportunities to play tests during the season (which hasn't happened for the Kangaroos since the 2017 ANZAC test), since there's limits on how long a post-season tournament can go for due to an increase in the minimum rest period the RLPA mandated for NRL players around 2016/17.

Also, on this subject....

Yes, I was initially disappointed that the RLPA rejected the proposal for Australia to play a test against France after the 2025 Ashes (like they had in past Kangaroo tours to the UK).

However, a missed opportunity to play another test match was just before the Kangaroos left to the UK. They could've easily scheduled one vs New Zealand, Tonga or Samoa before the Pacific Championships began.

 

[Chins]

Also, on this subject....

Yes, I was initially disappointed that the RLPA rejected the proposal for Australia to play a test against France after the 2025 Ashes (like they had in past Kangaroo tours to the UK).

However, a missed opportunity to play another test match was just before the Kangaroos left to the UK. They could've easily scheduled one vs New Zealand, Tonga or Samoa before the Pacific Championships began.

Simply too much footy. Soild players who were in and out of grade all year cruising along like Dly Brown look amazing and beaten up superstars like To'o are flat as f**k

 

[Captain Apollo]

When's the Kangaroo team announcement?

If last week is any guide, it should be some time today (i.e. Wednesday).

 

[Captain Apollo]

Moses isn't a 5/8??

Really? I wonder if the Wests Tigers knew that considering he was at five eight with Luke Brooks playing halfback when they were at the club together from 2015 to 2017

 

[Manurewa_Marlins]

Really? I wonder if the Wests Tigers knew that considering he was at five eight with Luke Brooks playing halfback when they were at the club together from 2015 to 2017

Oh I meeemberrrrrr

 

[Homo man69]

Really? I wonder if the Wests Tigers knew that considering he was at five eight with Luke Brooks playing halfback when they were at the club together from 2015 to 2017

My reply was to someone who said that Moses is a 5/8 and not a half