RLIF reconsidering QNs

[screeny]

Colin Love wouldn't recognise strategic thinking if it engineered an enveloping pincer manoeuvre, interdictied his lines of communication and took away his operational centre of gravity.

FMD man, France is a must for the growth of the game.

And why consult with your mate Monie, unless you're going to say "mate, why did you change the whole f**king team you wanker?! You've ruined my QNs!"

 

[griff]

Including France in a 4N was much more a reactive knee jerk decision as it would be to reconsider their admission.

After all, all they are saying is that they might reconsider it. And of course they should reconsider it since everyone has worked out that France just aren't really that good at rugby league at the moment.

They should be playing regular matches against all the other test playing nations including Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand, but mainly playing against teams closer to their level.

 

[Spitty]

Sorry guys ut I don't see how France getting flogged 100-0 by Aus, GB and NZ in the tri nations is going to increase paticipation in the RL. If I was a young boy in France I'd rather aspire to be in the competitive RU side than the woeful RL side.

Lets not forget also that a Q nations would only mean 6 international games for France. Six 100-0 flogging every 2 months won't help the national side improve. Plus, if they're getting flogged every year like that are Catalan really gonna release there players for that. Ever Catalan player will suddenly have to have off season surgery on there broken toe nail.

 

[kiwileaguefan]

If PNG can keep England to 332 points and the Kiwis under 50 when they have played bugger all internationals in the last 8 years....just think what they could do with regular competition?

IMO PNG would have more chance of improving than France.

 

[marv]

Bull.
The Catalan side has no where near 14 imports.

where was the number 14 mentioned? its a fair call to say half the Catalan TEAM is imports a TEAM has 17 players not 28.

You need to remember most of the French squad have played more games this season than most RL players on the planet.

why? what extra games have they played very few of the squad would have played in the 2007 LER if thats what your getting at.

Most are new to full time professionalism and when you have been non stop for 10/11 months, it's going to take its toll, some might even call it burn out.

maybe that excuse would have been relevant last year, but with 3 years of professional experience under most of the catalans team belt thats a piss poor excuse.

They had their main hooker and halfback out and they were missing a few decent forwards, then there is the fact that they were using players from the local LER comp in positions that need specialists/full time Pros.

Yep, and as long as Catalans sign imports to play in these key positons without develpoing the French talent, France wont win jot. BTW the only forward missing to speak of was Ferriol, hes a big lad but a few forwards he is not

 

[marv]

Sorry guys ut I don't see how France getting flogged 100-0 by Aus, GB and NZ in the tri nations is going to increase paticipation in the RL. If I was a young boy in France I'd rather aspire to be in the competitive RU side than the woeful RL side.

Lets not forget also that a Q nations would only mean 6 international games for France. Six 100-0 flogging every 2 months won't help the national side improve. Plus, if they're getting flogged every year like that are Catalan really gonna release there players for that. Ever Catalan player will suddenly have to have off season surgery on there broken toe nail.

not only that, which is a good point, but the tri nations is a prfitable Rugby League exercise which commands respect around the world, its an Elite comp, adding a team the quality of France would do some damage I'm sure to the profitabilty of the comp.

As and example, If I could only go to England V Australia at Huddersfield or England v France at Wigan, for my 20 quid, which game do you think I'm gonna go to? a tri nations game with a sub 10k gate would be terrible too, especially when your watching one of the 4 best RL sides in the world get deccimated, keep the mid-season tests for now and by all means lets admit Toulouse over time, but ultimatly lets allow French RL to grow at its own rate, instead of rushing them on and god forbid - having no French clubs, because that would be a worst case for me, not this (fairly expected, by me anyway) poor world cup performance by France.

 

[Cheezel]

Maybe the team from pool 2 & 3 that makes it into the semi final should be included in next year in the quad nations. I would rather give France a few more years to develop and give another nation who's ready to step up the opportunity.

In saying that I do think France will play alot better at home. Based on the last couple of years they have not done too bad against Australia and new Zealand.

If say Fiji or Samoa stand up against Australia........include them next year. It will be great for the growth of the sport in those nations and might get players to stick by them long term.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

where was the number 14 mentioned? its a fair call to say half the Catalan TEAM is imports a TEAM has 17 players not 28.

28/30 is the number for a SL squad isn't it?

If they wanted, they could have a full French side every week.

why? what extra games have they played very few of the squad would have played in the 2007 LER if thats what your getting at.

Huh?

SL is longer for a start than the NRL, plus you can add CC games, pre season games and Internationals.

maybe that excuse would have been relevant last year, but with 3 years of professional experience under most of the catalans team belt thats a piss poor excuse.

Not really, look how NZ go when they lose a few key players, same with England.

Yep, and as long as Catalans sign imports to play in these key positons without develpoing the French talent, France wont win jot. BTW the only forward missing to speak of was Ferriol, hes a big lad but a few forwards he is not

Hey, I said they need another team and I also have mentioned they need to get French guys in playing half, full back, hooker and some big fast outside backs.

The team under performed, but some people are going way overboard about it, they are building for the future and it started a few years ago, give it some time.

What they don't need right now is people rubbishing them and Colin Love and others forgetting about them.

Patience is needed, the game we follow is Rugby League, not Soccer.

 

[Spitty]

If say Fiji or Samoa stand up against Australia........include them next year. It will be great for the growth of the sport in those nations and might get players to stick by them long term.

I really wish that this was true Cheezel but I really can't see Jarryd Hayne, Feleti Meteo, Michael Jennings, Tony Williams etc continuing with there respective nations if the chance to play Origin is on the table. NZ also have a high turn over of players so if your eligible for them you could get selected at any time.

The Samoan team is made up of guys that've played their fair share of tests for NZ so they'd be the most likely to continue after the WC. I think it's also interesting that a lot of there players are Super League based so there's a strong case to have them play some tests in France and England, similar to what the Socceroo's often do with the EPL players.

 

[marv]

28/30 is the number for a SL squad isn't it?

If they wanted, they could have a full French side every week.

Thats right but if you read the post properly he said TEAM and the Catalans TEAM has up to 8 Australians in it in any given week. He did not say the Catalans squad has 14 imports which is what you seem to think, it seems your doing that Knee-jerk, we couldnt possibly criticize anything remotly French or Catalans Dragons thing you do an awful lot.

SL is longer for a start than the NRL, plus you can add CC games, pre season games and Internationals.

In saying the SL is longer than the NRL i see what your saying, my mistake, I thought you were talking about the year round rugby thing that a lot of the catalans side had to endure whent they first entered SL from the LER.

on a pedantic note Les Catalans only played 1 pre-season game and one more international than Aus so lets discount those.

Not really, look how NZ go when they lose a few key players, same with England.

with all due respect usually the Kiws and England arent playing Scotland or Fiji, France were piss poor and against England in both recent mid seaon tests and coulndt beat the worst Kiwi side for years.

Hey, I said they need another team and I also have mentioned they need to get French guys in playing half, full back, hooker and some big fast outside backs.

You did say they needed another team, not that it would have made a sh*te of difference, as Toulouse would have signed Australians in the positions that France have struggled to fill, until Catalans fill the key positions with French players France wont win jot.

The team under performed, but some people are going way overboard about it, they are building for the future and it started a few years ago, give it some time.

exactly what I have been saying for the last couple of years, dont rush another team in SL, dont rush the French into the tri-nations, lets not get carried away with the thrid place finish, I'm gald your finally coming round.

This should be a wake up call to all folowers of French RL for the future that here is massive amounts of work to do, not in setting up new pro clubs, but right at the bottom of the pyramind

What they don't need right now is people rubbishing them and Colin Love and others forgetting about them.

yeah lets pat them on the back and say well done lads, its ok some more Austalians will be eligible next year, as for forgetting about them they shoulndt even have been considered for the tri nations, never mind forgetting them.

Patience is needed, the game we follow is Rugby League, not Soccer.

Patinece is what i have been advocating since the notion of another French club was mentioned, not sure what relevance soccer has to this conversation, however

 

[Cheezel]

I really wish that this was true Cheezel but I really can't see Jarryd Hayne, Feleti Meteo, Michael Jennings, Tony Williams etc continuing with there respective nations if the chance to play Origin is on the table. NZ also have a high turn over of players so if your eligible for them you could get selected at any time.

The Samoan team is made up of guys that've played their fair share of tests for NZ so they'd be the most likely to continue after the WC. I think it's also interesting that a lot of there players are Super League based so there's a strong case to have them play some tests in France and England, similar to what the Socceroo's often do with the EPL players.

You make a valid point. That's why these players should still be able to play SOO and the match payments for the smaller nations should be on par with Australia (Funded by the RLIF).

The sooner the RLIF draw a line in the sand in regards to switching countries etc and provide ongoing internationals for the developing nations with comparable match payments, the better international league will be.

 

[Perth Red]

TBF France has had some pretty poor results all season. The Les Cats influence isn't strong enough yet to influence the national team enough. Personally I wouldn't bring them in till 2010. Don't know why Love is even commenting, it won't be his decision. You'd think he would have enough to talk about with THIS tournament, never mind the next one!

 

[pcpp]

It should definitely be a Four Nations.

However every year there should be a qualification process to decide the final spot. It gives 'second-tier' nations competitive games and a set international schedule.

I posted this in the other thread:

Have a two week or so break after the NRL and Super League competitions and have players from France, Wales, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and PNG play for a spot during this period.

Round 1:

France v Wales [two legged]
Samoa v PNG [elimination]
Tonga v Fiji [elimination]

Round 2:

France v Wales [two legged]
Winner of Pacific Matches playoff

Final:

Winner of European and Pacific matches playoff for the final spot in the Four Nations.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Thats right but if you read the post properly he said TEAM and the Catalans TEAM has up to 8 Australians in it in any given week. He did not say the Catalans squad has 14 imports which is what you seem to think, it seems your doing that Knee-jerk, we couldnt possibly criticize anything remotly French or Catalans Dragons thing you do an awful lot.



In saying the SL is longer than the NRL i see what your saying, my mistake, I thought you were talking about the year round rugby thing that a lot of the catalans side had to endure whent they first entered SL from the LER.

on a pedantic note Les Catalans only played 1 pre-season game and one more international than Aus so lets discount those.



with all due respect usually the Kiws and England arent playing Scotland or Fiji, France were piss poor and against England in both recent mid seaon tests and coulndt beat the worst Kiwi side for years.




You did say they needed another team, not that it would have made a sh*te of difference, as Toulouse would have signed Australians in the positions that France have struggled to fill, until Catalans fill the key positions with French players France wont win jot.



exactly what I have been saying for the last couple of years, dont rush another team in SL, dont rush the French into the tri-nations, lets not get carried away with the thrid place finish, I'm gald your finally coming round.

This should be a wake up call to all folowers of French RL for the future that here is massive amounts of work to do, not in setting up new pro clubs, but right at the bottom of the pyramind



yeah lets pat them on the back and say well done lads, its ok some more Austalians will be eligible next year, as for forgetting about them they shoulndt even have been considered for the tri nations, never mind forgetting them.



Patinece is what i have been advocating since the notion of another French club was mentioned, not sure what relevance soccer has to this conversation, however

In your opinion mate.

 

[jim_57]

I think France are in by far the best position for growth, next year they will have 2 full time teams, they already have a great core of great young players to build around (Bosc, Mounis, Fakir, Greseque, Duport, Baile etc.) and ofcourse they potential to host profitable games which gives them a big tick ahead of Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and PNG. Also let's not forget a it's country of about 60million from memory so alot more potential money/support.

 

[marv]

It should definitely be a Four Nations.

However every year there should be a qualification process to decide the final spot. It gives 'second-tier' nations competitive games and a set international schedule.

I posted this in the other thread:

I see your point and i can see some merit in the idea, but when promotion and relegation is'nt deemed fit for any of our top club competitions anywhere in the world, having P+R in IRL would throw up the same questions as it did in the SL. Say France did qualify for the 4N, got dicked, finished bottom and got relegated, then say Samoa did the same thing next year, got dicked finished bottom..............

I agree there should be a set IRL program, but P+R from the 3N is not something I would advocate, maybe see how the franchise system goes in SL and possibly apply a similar thing.

 

[deluded pom?]

If I could only go to England V Australia at Huddersfield or England v France at Wigan, for my 20 quid, which game do you think I'm gonna go to?

After yesterday, the France game. At least we'd be in with a shout. :sarcasm:

 

[marv]

I think France are in by far the best position for growth, next year they will have 2 full time teams, they already have a great core of great young players to build around (Bosc, Mounis, Fakir, Greseque, Duport, Baile etc.) and ofcourse they potential to host profitable games which gives them a big tick ahead of Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and PNG. Also let's not forget a it's country of about 60million from memory so alot more potential money/support.

I agree with you 100%, I have always said France is the biggest area for growth, I just think its too soon, too soon for Toulouse and too soon for France in the 3N.

France should continue to play England mid-season, they should be playing Wales reguarly, they should be playing Tests against Aus and NZ when England play in the 3N, they would still continue to improve, without the massive glare of the 3N.

 

[marv]

After yesterday, the France game. At least we'd be in with a shout. :sarcasm:

you reckon :sarcasm: :lol:

 

[Jimmy The Judge]

Let's take emotion out of it for a sec.

If France cannot even compete with Fiji after France having a game against Scotland and Fiji playing their first game then they do not deserve to be in an expanded 3N. It may only be one result but it is a telling one.

All of France's players are full time professionals in ESL. The Fiji team has 4 regular NRL players and the rest are lower graders and bush league players. I want to see France be more competitve for sure, but you achieve it through junior development (more players) and coaching systems (better skills). Near half the Catalan team are imports.

Do not forget, unless Scotland thrash Fiji this Wednesday, France has already been eliminated from the tournament. The idea of a combined Pacific Islands team competing in an expanded 3N is just a novelty. 3N has been successful thus far so it is not necessary to meddle with the formula.

Totally untrue. Of the French team from Saturday, only 10 are full time in ESL and 2 of those are nothing more than squad players