Glad Sinbad Kali is in there. What a great name.

No, That was Danny Lima. This Lima is Jeff. Much better.

Anyway thats a pretty weak ass squad. If we cant beat them then the Aussies will have a field day. Itll go something like this...

"Not only did we send over an U20's for a trial game but you pommies couldnt even beat them with your full strenth team after 4 full hitouts. The ESL is crap"

But Ryan Tandy used to play at Leigh and/or Whitehaven without doing anything of note that I recall.
Is that correct?

Its not that weak a squad assuming they all go. Melbourne's strength is based largely on their backline, with generally a lesser-known forwards (although they have two of the best in Hoffman and Smith). All they need those guys to do is give them close to parity with the opposition. If they do that and Inglis and Slater are on form then you have what might be called a 'slight problem'.

As for the idea of 'smashing' Billy Slater - well lots have tried. He's little but he's tough. The only kicks I'd be making anywhere near that little sod are very high ones with a LOT of forwards coming at him and somebody genuinely trying to get the ball to give an excuse for roughing him up. You definitely do not want to be kicking long to him if you can possibly avoid it.

For the sake of the game I do hope both inglis and Slater play. I've been here for 10 years now, and they are the most exciting players in their resepctive positions I've seen in that time (albeit Slater tied with the young Lockyer at full back - the classiest I've ever seen). Even if they run amok, genuine fans will appreciate their class, and the chances are you won't get to see them live that often, as I doubt either will go to SL anywhere near their prime.

Can't be bothered to read back through this thread, but whoever it is trying to claim that Melbourne will be in any way as prepared as Leeds for this game wants his head examining. Leeds will have played four league games. Fact. Melbourne will have played one trial game against Harlequins. Doesn't matter what 'training' you do beforehand - there really is no substitute for actual game time. TBH if Melbourne do start their training much earlier than Leeds then that's an indictment on Leeds - our season starts weeks earlier so we darn well ought to have been training earlier as well.

Yes, rumour has it Whitehaven released him due to him being a bad apple.

Bit of a no win situation with that squad over.

I blummin hate the squads a lot of teams send over for this game

What? So who would have made such a difference?

Save it Gotcha. Saints fans' subtle attempt to devalue any trophy their team can't win.

Serious question - do you not think the inclusion of so many young players in the squad gives Melbourne the ready made excuse that Oz teams seem to enjoy so much?

If you knew me you would know that I always cheer on the British teams against any Oz side - I've attended several WCC games without Saints involved and have even stood on the terraces at Central Park doing such.

I know that. But who is missing that would make such a huge difference?

Tbh mate it looks like they've picked the best squad available whether that sets up the excuses if they lose or not is irrelevant imo.
Win or Lose we'll attract the usual bile of "NRL light yrs ahead etc or they only sent a weakened squad with no preperation etc"
If we win we'll be 3 times WCC winners and i for one will enjoy it.

The WCC is a nothing comp.

I reckon a few of the injured players arent injured either. Last week Inglis dropped out of the All Stars game due to an injury but was surfing a few days later. Must have been a bad injury ay. If thats how they treat a new concept that quite a few are getting behind how do you reckon they'll treat a game that no one outsidethe UK treats seriously?

I still cant believe Brittish fans get so exited about the game. The only reason I go is to see players I otherwise wont see until later on in the year. Melbourne wont bring over all thier stars because its too much of a risk before they start playing for whats more important... The Telstra Premiership.

And yes, they may say they are preparing properly for it but this is a group of players who have been back in training about 2 weeks and havent played any game time apart from a hit out against maybe the worst squad in the SL at the moment. Also the last team to send as many kids over as this was the Bulldogs in 05 and even then we nearly toppled the Rhinos. Im sorry but this game is a joke. 1 team sending a full team over out of 10 years doesnt make it any more of a comp.

Doesn't stop the enjoyment of a win mate!!
Do you not think that melbourne were trying to win it in 08??

I ask again, who are they missing that would make such a huge difference?

And you might not get excited about, but many others will. At the end of the day whoever wins it does not alter the history books, they are regarded as the best club team in the world. And I for one am quite proud when my club achieves that status.

Serious answer - I couldn't care less.

We have a great concept in the WCC. Its' a big, well attended event and it gets the game decent exposure. It also makes the clubs a decent amount of cash. These events are too rare in RL.

In order to compete for it you have to be champions and you have to play the Australian Champions. The team they put out is a matter for them. In any even, we're often told about how much more strength in depth they have than us so if they use it, fair enough.

Of course, there are logistical issues with fitting the game in to suit both and, financially, the Aussies won't commit to a game over there but, again, that is a matter for them.

The games I have seen, and I have stood and cheered for the Bulls in the past, have always been very herd, fiercely contested matches between the 34 players taking part and I have certainly thoroughly enjoyed all of the contests involving Leeds. I've rarely seen a better display of club rugby than that put on by Manly last year, I've rarely seen a tougher game than the game against Melbourne the year before and the game against Canterbury in 2005 was a really exciting game with some great highlights.

You, and RL fans generally, might want to search for reasons to down play the event and the games themselves. That doesn't surprise me. Its' a mentality very common amongst Rugby league supporters and a source of great frustration to me. I, on the other hand, have a very different, much less dour outlook.

I have my tickets, am looking forward to the game and the 34 players who play will give it there all to win the trophy on offer, whoever those players may be.

Any player that steps onto the field wants to win and I think had the weather been better they would have beaten Leeds that night but win or lose, as soon as they get off the pitch they go home and dont think about it. You didnt hear the aussie coms blurting on about Manly being the World Champions last year like Eddie and Stevo do becasue frankly, no one cares. And people over here might want to believe its because the Aussies like to use it as an excuse for if they do lose but in all seriousness... they really dont care. They got a small column in the SMH last year for the win. Thats how high it ranks. Its a game the RFL pay them to play in so of course the owners are going to accept. But the coaches and players would prefer not to have to travel 24 hours to a cold winter becasue it knacks up preperation for the season. And the players cba especially if they have been over with the touring team a few months earlier. I know its not what people want to hear but its the truth, and I cant take anymore enjoyment out of a win like that than I can out of a win against Hunslet in the Lazenby cup.

No. It's an opinion, not the truth.

Until I hear the players and coaches say those same things, I will believe what they say in their interviews. None of those players and coaches have voiced the same opinion as you.

You can't post yer onpion as FACT or the truth mate


I get it you don't enjoy it and don't care but others do and another 30k+ at ER on the 28th will also think differently.
I also don't give a flying fook what aussie commentators or papers say the reaction of the players at FT in all the ones i've attended at least says very different to what you post mate.
I do agree it's great to see players like Slater,Inglis etc live and i've enjoyed watching these players in these events and the 4 nations but like i said i will enjoy the win if we do and it's a Trophy in the cabinet which is a bonus event for being Champions.

FFS! I just spent 5 minutes typing a reply and when I pressed submit nothing came up. Anyway the jist of it was...

that $'s talk

Aussies really dont care.

English hide behind "The WCC is an important event" to make themselves feel better for the country's short comings over the past 3 decades.

My opinion is shared by fans/players/staff alike

Im not a chest beater who enjoys mediocrity

You are entitled to your opinion but it doesnt make it any more the truth (exactly like you believe *faulsly* about mine)

And I cant think of the rest right now but when I do ill be sure to reply.

So, you think the Aussies enter an event simply for the $s and don't care about the outcome?

That would make them a bunch of losers. I've seen Aussie Touring sides from 1982 onwards. The Aussies are not losers.

You're talking nonsense and even if you bother to re-type it more eloquently it will still be nonsense.

I'm looking forward to it too and agree that it is a good occasion. Just that IMO it would be a better occassion if the cons didn't have any excuses.

You pay for tickets to see the 2 of the best sides in the world battle it out, but in reality you don't often get that (yes I know, you sometimes get Saints instead

). I just get the feeling that when British players miss it it's through genuine injury but I'm not sure the same can be said of our ocker friends in a lot of cases.

Anyway, hope you have a top night, it's a big crowd and you smash Slater around the field. I'll be heading to Quins at the weekend to have a look at Melbourne, especially Widdop.

Given the option of coming over in the 1st place they would choose no. It's as simple as. The club gets money to come over though so they accept it. As I said when they are on the field they will go to win but if they lose the friendly then they aren't overly bothered.

Aussies aren't bothered about losing?

Do you know [iany[/i Aussies?

As half my family are Australian and im over every year then yes, I do



And I know that they like to win if its something thats worth winning. If it messes up their prep for the new season then they really arent too bothered. Especially if its just for a glorified trial game. Bellamy said something recently along the lines of...

"Because of the WCC we wont be having any trials so its important for us to use it to get some game time before the NRL starts."

Yep, a trial... thats all it is.

Which of course is your words not those of the Melbourne coach.