Re: Great Britain Tour 2019 : Thu Nov 30, 2017 4:31 am  

rollin thunder wrote:

After the Australians attitude to this World Cup, I wouldn't go anyway what's the point, they don't want international RL.

It is so true. The League media here is talking about NRL and SoO 2018.

Re: Great Britain Tour 2019 : Thu Nov 30, 2017 8:11 am  

So, if NZ are coming over here in 2018, then its a GB team going to Oz in 2019, after England's game on Saturday then they might not play Australia again for 3 years or so ?

Re: Great Britain Tour 2019 : Thu Nov 30, 2017 9:58 am  

rollin thunder wrote:

After the Australians attitude to this World Cup, I wouldn't go anyway what's the point, they don't want international RL.

I must say I was thinking the same thing, I've expressed this point a number of times to different people.

When you look at the three NZ games next year, we've got a good chance of selling out all 3 venues, the games will at least be competitive if recent games against NZ are anything to go by. I would rather play games against NZ and get 40,000 people and a scoreline within just a few points than play in front of 15-20,000 in a half empty ground in Oz and lose by 30 points. Given the support for Tonga and exciting games they have played this world cup I would go to NZ and play a series against them and a couple games against Tonga and Fiji.

I would hope the Aussies would at least take a little notice of the series next year when at least 45,000 people are at Anfield and Elland Road and Hull are full and games are going down to the last few seconds and think oh, that is what International RL is supposed to look like.

Re: Great Britain Tour 2019 : Thu Nov 30, 2017 10:03 am  

Its the one thing we should look at RU for though in my opinion. Strong international game strengthens the whole game. A 4 nations every year or 2 years with England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and France is something we should aiming for. It would take some work and a few years going to have any impact but i think its the way forward. European Cups and 4 nations with NZ, Aus & Tonga on the alternate years too with a GB tour every 4/5 years.

Re: Great Britain Tour 2019 : Thu Nov 30, 2017 10:22 am  

shinymcshine wrote:

So, if NZ are coming over here in 2018, then its a GB team going to Oz in 2019, after England's game on Saturday then they might not play Australia again for 3 years or so ?

I think its bad enough that England might not even play in 2019. Look at other sports, this year, England football have played 10 games, kick and clap lot have played 11, we play an average of 4 games a year (8 this year but it is a world cup). Next year we MIGHT play 5, mid-season test MAYBE, a warm-up game to the series MAYBE and 3 games against NZ, so only 3 scheduled for next year so far.

I would hope in 2019 that England would play a mid-season test, never know, maybe 2 seen as they aren't the ones touring but that would still be played in Oceania so we won't get to watch our international team for another year, like this year, like 2014. In the 2010s, England have played just 24 games in England, bearing in mind 1 was against Cumbria and 4 against the Exiles so I don't know if we really want to count them and by the end of the 2010s they will have played just 27 in England.

It is poor how few opportunities we have to watch our national team and playing so few games can hardly help the development of the team, bringing GB back is hardly gonna help that development. Stick to England or revive GB and stick to them but don't have both.

[Ex-Swarcliffe Rhino]

Re: Great Britain Tour 2019 : Thu Nov 30, 2017 10:28 am  

If we tour, I'd go for a tour encompassing PNG, NZ, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook islands.

A full on GB tour of them. I would pay good money to do that tour.

Re: Great Britain Tour 2019 : Thu Nov 30, 2017 10:54 am  

shinymcshine wrote:

So, if NZ are coming over here in 2018, then its a GB team going to Oz in 2019, after England's game on Saturday then they might not play Australia again for 3 years or so ?

Well, "England" won't, but most of the England players presumably will because they will make up the majority of the GB team that tours in 2019.

[Bullseye]

Re: Great Britain Tour 2019 : Thu Nov 30, 2017 10:56 am  

Ex-Swarcliffe Rhino wrote:

If we tour, I'd go for a tour encompassing PNG, NZ, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook islands.

A full on GB tour of them. I would pay good money to do that tour.

The last time that GB did a tour that missed out Australia it lost heaps of money and ended up a shambles with players sent home early to save cash. However it could be done now with a few tweaks.

Obviously you can fill stadiums in NZ with Pacific Island supporters. I'd suggest a 6 nations comp in NZ with GB, NZ, PNG, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji.

That'd attract more attention than playing tests in the islands themselves and be more likely to make some money.

Re: Great Britain Tour 2019 : Fri Dec 01, 2017 11:24 am  

Muggins wrote:

This is why I was asking the question. I just googled this chap. Firstly, I expect Wales RU will try and nab him, unless he goes off to the NRL in Australia. If he does stay in RL though, he's a good example of what I was asking about. Suppose he is selected for GB in 2019 and he is amazing. He scores five tries as we stuff the Aussies. What happens then? When will GB play again? Not in 2020, it would appear, because that's England again. So, what does he do? Go back to playing for Wales until the next GB tour in 2023 or whenever? That's going to be a bit of a come down for the poor lad.

But having GB might be what keeps him in RL rather than switch to Union.

Re: Great Britain Tour 2019 : Fri Dec 01, 2017 12:21 pm  

Psychedelic Casual wrote:

But having GB might be what keeps him in RL rather than switch to Union.

But only if GB played every year, right? He wouldn't stay for GB if they only toured once every four years, would he?