Re: Club or Country? : Tue Nov 14, 2017 9:58 am  

wrencat1873 wrote:

Have to say that the Aussie fans haven't done justice to the comp (again, because they know that they will win at a canter).
.

I hope the Aussie squad have this attitude too

Although they are favourites without doubt, I have seen better Aussie squads than this and they will have to bring their best if they are to get through NZ and England/Tonga.

Re: Club or Country? : Tue Nov 14, 2017 11:21 am  

Club first.
Then the game of rugby league in this country. I want the domestic competition to thrive, bigger crowds everywhere, bigger TV audiences, more media coverage, more sponsorship, more participation at all levels starting at the schools.
And if that means England's dismal record has to continue for that to happen so be it - though it would be good if they could win.

Re: Club or Country? : Tue Nov 14, 2017 4:34 pm  

Erik the not red wrote:

Club first.
Then the game of rugby league in this country. I want the domestic competition to thrive, bigger crowds everywhere, bigger TV audiences, more media coverage, more sponsorship, more participation at all levels starting at the schools.
And if that means England's dismal record has to continue for that to happen so be it - though it would be good if they could win.

I wonder if a WC win would go a long way to achieveing these aims, I suppose we'll after to win one to find out.

Re: Club or Country? : Tue Nov 14, 2017 4:41 pm  

Erik the not red wrote:

Club first.
Then the game of rugby league in this country. I want the domestic competition to thrive, bigger crowds everywhere, bigger TV audiences, more media coverage, more sponsorship, more participation at all levels starting at the schools.
And if that means England's dismal record has to continue for that to happen so be it - though it would be good if they could win.

A World Cup win, followed by some decent publicity would certainly help.
As it is RL is just a small northern sport that, apart from those already interested, just doesn't seem to have mass appeal and the playstation generation are killing participation in most sports. and RL is no different.

The profile of the sport has to improve or we will continue to shrink.

Re: Club or Country? : Tue Nov 14, 2017 4:49 pm  

Prior to Superleague it would have definitely been Country, now probably club because the international game has lost its stature at the moment. We've got too many overseas players taking key pivotal positions in super league that is diluting our selection for the same pivotal roles at english international level.
Until we produce our own 2 world class half backs we will always be bridesmaids in the international scene.

Re: Club or Country? : Tue Nov 14, 2017 11:54 pm  

I'd be hitting the ceiling if England won the World Cup, but Fax getting promotion to SL would far, far outdo that. I was at Wembley in 1987 the last time we won anything meaningful, and 30 subsequent years of following the club through thick and thin (mainly thin) means that any future success would be savoured for a long time. Any success for England would be fantastic, but relatively short-lived.

Re: Club or Country? : Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:33 am  

Country for me - as I think it was before Leeds won anything (thinking late 80s-mid 90s era).

Like Roy H, I'm in my late 40s and to see England (or GB) win the World Cup and/or beat Australia in a series would be the ultimate. I think it would give the game in England a boost and whilst NZ beating Australia a few years ago ruffled a few feathers here, the sky would really fall in if England beat Australia when it counts.

Whilst 'heritage' players don't bother me that much I can sort of understand why some people get upset by them. But why do RL fans give a flying monkey about the nationality of the coach?

Re: Club or Country? : Wed Nov 15, 2017 4:55 pm  

I don't care were the coach is from. Just that he's the best man for the job. My problem with Wayne Bennett is that he's an active coach for an NRL side. So he can't see enough games to make an informed decision of who's playing well. And his focus during the season is more on Brisbane and how they're doing, than England.

To answer the question Club. I missed Hull kr's glory years. So other than a few minor trophies haven't had the joy of seeing them win the big trophies. And it just means more, because you go all season rather than just a few games.

I agree if England won the WC it might promote the sport more. But if we had a proper international calender for years in advance & more organisation at an international level. That could also help promote it.

Re: Club or Country? : Wed Nov 15, 2017 7:01 pm  

My preference is to have an English coach, but I'm happy with a foreign coach if they're the best option for giving us success. We're not really in a position to turn down people that can improve us.

Heritage players are present in all sports nowadays, but the more a team has, the more it devalues them as a legitimate team. If it's a short term thing while you grow the game in a particular country, then I can accept it as being a necessity. But if you're just doing it year after year and no home grown players at all are coming through, then it becomes a farce.

Re: Club or Country? : Wed Nov 15, 2017 11:41 pm  

There's no point in having a full time coach unless we play enough games to make it worthwhile. Bennett is relying on Betts and co to help him re SL players. That's far better than just watching on video anyway, which is what an England based coach would do with NRL players. I think the biggest difference Bennett will find with England compared to say Australia or Queensland is that he's having to do more basic coaching and working on confidence in a way he'd never need to do with those sides.