Re: England versus Australia schoolboys. : Sun Dec 21, 2014 10:51 pm  

knocker norton wrote:

On the back of this tour can anybody explain the reasoning behind both Wigan and Leeds playing the Aussie schoolboys and not rep teams?

Seems a bit unfair if rep teams like Lancs, Yorks or combined Hull ( I know they played a combined Cumbria team) couldnt get a fixture on the back of this if there is no real reason as to why Wigan and Leeds got a fixture.

I know if a combined Hull team had been given a game the crowd and interest would have been high and I am sure this is similar for the other rep alternatives.

If Wigan and Leeds qualified for these fixtures then I could understand but it seems to be rewarding the big clubs unfairly if not. If a player is in negatiations with both Wigan and Warrington for example and Wigan are able to promise a player a game against the worlds best touring teams from the Oz and NZ touring teams then you can see how they may be more persuaded to sign for the team guaranteed these fixtures.

At the end of the day because both Wigan and Leeds are successful a large number of their players will rep England against these teams anyway so arranging additional tours games against their clubs seems a tad flawed to me.

I guess Wigan were chosen as they are the current U19s GF winners.

The Aussies were based in Leeds while they were over here so I guess that is why they played Leeds.

Re: England versus Australia schoolboys. : Sun Dec 21, 2014 11:10 pm  

dr_feelgood wrote:

I guess Wigan were chosen as they are the current U19s GF winners.

The Aussies were based in Leeds while they were over here so I guess that is why they played Leeds.

I can certainly understand how winning the comp gets you a game but location seems a bit shallow.

Another chance to promote the game seems to have been missed and I can't for the life of me work out the reasoning unless purely selfish.

Re: England versus Australia schoolboys. : Mon Dec 22, 2014 12:43 am  

knocker norton wrote:

I can certainly understand how winning the comp gets you a game but location seems a bit shallow.

Another chance to promote the game seems to have been missed and I can't for the life of me work out the reasoning unless purely selfish.

How has a chance to promote the game been missed?

Re: England versus Australia schoolboys. : Mon Dec 22, 2014 10:12 pm  

Him wrote:

How has a chance to promote the game been missed?

The Green and Golds are a draw card no matter what level from Schoolboy to full international and I think that playing club sides who have a generous rep presence at International level anyway seems like an opportunity lost.

By all accounts this Aussie touring side were fine ambassadors throughout the tour and I think it would have been a great opportunity for a more widespread tour to incorporate a bigger audience.