We was unbeaten in super league last year until we got smashed by south's but last year was a big game, it was the two champions playing to see who's the best in the world.

Since the awful world series came in, half the teams in it didn't even qualify which is laughable. Both hudds and Cas opted out of the "big game" and I'm pretty sure both st george and brisbane last year didn't even qualify for the world series which makes the whole thing a joke.

How can it be the best value the best when half the teams in it didn't qualify?

Oh and by the way, I'm told if this was a play off game, semi final or final then Robes would be playing.

Andy Platt, Gary Connelly the list is endless,

A big night for St Helens coming up. Their attitude after being thumped by Salford will be important or they may be up for another heavy defeat to a NRL side. The Roosters here in Australia have settled after the Mitchell Pearce Australia Day incident. Let's hope this game is competitive and sets a good tone for the weekend. www.nothingbutleague.com/2016/02 ... -roosters/

A big night for St Helens coming up. Their attitude after being thumped by Salford will be important or they may be up for another heavy defeat to a NRL side. The Roosters here in Australia have settled after the Mitchell Pearce Australia Day incident. Let's hope this game is competitive and sets a good tone for the weekend. www.nothingbutleague.com/2016/02 ... -roosters/

Completely agree IANmarra, the attitude of some of rugby league supporters is so destructive its incredible. The reason rugby league is dying in this country (IMO) is because we are to scared to do things differently, we are to eager to discredit an idea than run with it and watch it grow!!! State of Origin for example....scoffed at at first, low crowds etc, look at it now!! hands up who wants to go and watch State of Origin live?? ME!!! Maybe if we'd stuck at War of the Roses clashes all those years ago, instead of dropping it because no one took it seriously, we'd have an exciting no holds barred series of rugby league by now? Who knows what the world club challenge series could become?? lets run with it!! Lets have full strength squads knocking 10 bells out of each other!! If players get injured, lets have squads good enough for it to not matter as much!! But we need competitive games, whether they be domestic, world club, or internationals, so people will come to watch, attendences will grow, money will be made, profits can be put towards better facilities, better players can be developed, then we will get more competitive games.......and repeat!! Im getting fed up of the endless negativity of rugby league!!! c'mon guys n gals, we have one of the most brutal, exciting, skillfull sports around, lets enjoy and promote it, and more to the point lets make it better!!! Starting with respecting the world club challenge....let it grow!!!!

Rant over
Matt

Good post, fully agree.

+1, but you would have guessed that anyway BJ.

Why are many RL fans so bloody insular?

I can get the Leeds v cowboys meaning something but whst do we get for a friendly game? Nothing!

Doesn't make us better than nrl If we win because we ain't. It's not even done properly as half the teams opt out and that gives teams who didn't even qualify a game which is laughable.

Roosters will win easy. Cowboys will put a big Score on Leeds and Wigan will just pip broncos but what does all thst mean ?

I personally think it's a great idea and something that people want to see...however, it's played at the wrong time of year so it almost becomes irrelevant. It should be played maybe in the summer or a couple of weeks after the Grand Final when all the teams are in full flow and have no ring rust.

Playing at this time of year also means that line-ups can be much different from the line-ups that were successful the season before due to players leaving/retiring.

Great idea, terrible timing.

what a hypocritical statement rogues,although it's not only you pal

the majority of wigan warriors fans that post on these forums clearly can't see beyond the end of their nose's when bigging everything up about wigan warriors and that there's now't ever any better elsewhere than "made in wigan is always best"

your lot still all believe that you're the biggest and best sl side in this hemisphere despite not winning very much during the salary capped era sadly says it all really

By your definition State of Origin are friendlies. Take the game at face value YOUR club are playing last seasons NRL MINOR PREMIERS Sydney Roosters. Go there and enjoy the spectacle, enjoy seeing the best the NRL has to offer. I wish I could I'll be at a family function hoping there is a tv handy with the game on!!!!!

And yes it was damn bad planning.

Saints team for tonight:


22. Jack Owens;
2. Tommy Makinson,
18. Dominique Peyroux,
3. Jordan Turner,
5. Adam Swift;
12. Jon Wilkin,
7. Luke Walsh;
8. Alex Walmsley,
6. Travis Burns,
16. Andre Savelio,
20. Joe Greenwood,
11. Atelea Vea,
13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook.

Subs:
10. Kyle Amor,
14. Lama Tasi,
17. Luke Thompson,
28. Morgan Knowles.

As embarrassing as expected. This Saints squad is an absolute farce. Clueless coach, Championship level players.

Top 8 has got to be in question.

I say this as a neutral and I know it'll be hard for you but don't be melodramatic. You'll comfortably make the 8 and be in the mix for top 4.

Tonight however (like last year) does show a concern of whether you'll have what it takes come semi final/final time. Personally don't think you will but talk of a struggle for top 8 is stupid.

Any word on Walmsley?

The performances of Owen, Turner, Peyroux, Walsh & Wilkin were are bad as I have ever seen in a game of Rugby League, maybe a bit harsh on Peyroux but in the first half he was e.
I was on the fence about Cunningham but I now believe he is not the man to take the club forward.
Can someone convince me that Wilkin didn't give up in that game ?
Walsh and Wilkin need to retire asap.

Saddo likes his faux hysteria but Saints don't have a real class back fit at the moment. Cunningham is talking some crap post match, while he is there I can't see a top 4 but no chance they will be out of the 8.

So we was destroyed by a team who hasn't played a game this year, they traveled halfway around the world and in conditions they aren't used to in a meaningless friendly and we've lost LMS and Walmsley.

I'm sure our confidence will be sky high after that. So basically we are now worse off because of a meaningless friendly which we all knew the outcome was pre kick off.

I think it was a blood knock to the head, seemed OK walking off.

Feeling it in his neck also

LMS wouldnt be a miss imo.

Yes we can play Richards next week. I'm sure that will improve us.

Rather see Davies or Charnock get or game, or Knowles in his actual position of loose.

We might as well play 17 forwards as it fits into our one man rugby style. I've never seen a Saints side so poor wirh the ball and lack ideas. No excuse this year either as we have Burns and fages not making the 17 so we don't have our usual no halves problem.

We have no strike power in the whole 17. No player with the x factor. We just play boring one up rugby.

Yeah, it never looked like Saints had the ideas to cross the Roosters' line when they did get down there. I only hope we can show a bit more guile tomorrow night; we'll need to. Those two young halves, they're talented lads, aren't they?