Including Austrailia Rugby League.

Chris Heightinton had been continually overlooked for rep honours in Aus, something that was considered a bad decision by many. He decided that if the Australia selectors didn't appreciate him, then he'd switch to England - What's the biggy?
I beleive this is similar to how Kevin Peterson ended up playing for England cricket.

If Australia lose to a side containing a player they've continually rejected, how is it hollow? If we'd somehow paid Thurston, Lockyer, Gallen and Inglis to swap allegence, then ok, but that's not the case. There certainly doesn't seem to be any lack of commitment from him.

Besides, if we'd had Burgess and O'Loughlin fit, there's a good chance he wouldn't have made the 17.

What's a "complete myth"?

A myth is an unproved or false collective belief that is used to justify a social bias.

Therefore a complete myth is one that is 100% unproven or false.

Australia by 16 i'm afraid...Lockyer's last game they all will be firing for his send off



Still we can give ourselves a small chance if we give him & Thurston less space to work.

This is the best chance that we have had in my memory watching RL!

the team is good enough. and the difference is 'this time' is that they know they are.

We should have beaten them at Wembley, all be it for two game changing decisions and i think we would have done.

NZ should have been down to 11 men at the weekend, and we still hammered them with 13.

This is the time people on here started looking forward and not back!

Get to the final and support the boys to a historical win. i recon well do em...

I shouldn't have expected any better than that I suppose.

You know I'm right.

Is it our year?

No.

I’ve been away for a week or so and just got home to watch the Wembley and KC games on Sky+

I think England will win the final

at Wembley we were the stronger team for long periods. Once we lost Graham, Ellis and Peacock it was inevitably going to be the Aussies' day. Once the referee decided not to award us anything it was game over.

If we keep a fully fit pack, and we get a fair crack of the refereeing whip - then we have a great chance.

They will come out flying trying to blow us off the park early. If we can stick with them in the early stages, then I am pretty confident.

My sentiments exactly , it drives me nuts every time we play them , they target our playmakers , whereas we just seem to stand back and admire there's

Anybody can look world class given time and space , quite simply make sure the 1 st time either of them touches the ball , they get tackled with it , from then on the pressure alone will do the job , and if we do get our hands on them , make it count , they do , as Sam can attest to , there was no quarter given to him last week was there

Defending on the edges is key IMO because I think England will dominate in the middle but the Aussie half-backs are likely to ship it out wide around midfield and create some holes.

At the end of the day we've said it all before but at least this time there's more belief from the players and fans alike for a long time

I think the bookies odds of 3/1 are about right..

We can win.

How about everyone drop their club bias bolloçks and get behind the national side.

Come on England.

If it wasn't Locky's last game, I'd go with England.

Sorry guys, but I think you'll have to wait till 2013.

I am with you, want to see Locky get a good finish.

England are moving in the right direction but not there yet, this is a big opportunity though, this is not the best Australian team that has ever toured.
I wish there was a decent neutral Ref to officiate the game. (even a bad one, as long as he is seen as neutral)

Yeah the refs have been bad and I can see one of the countries having a big sook after the game and probably deservedly too.

And I totally blame the NRL/ARL and RLF for it as we are the only nation with a 2 ref system, yet the big internationals come along, we use our refs that haven't reffed by themselves for ages now.

Either make all top line NRL, ESL, SOO, Internationals a 2 ref system, or scrap it altogether.

That's might well be part of the problem. But when the ref sees two clear sending off incidents and doesn't act, having two of them there wouldn't change a thing.

Maybe, maybe not.

The ref was pathetic and we can both agree on that.

But I think the 2 ref system works and have noticed lately more garbage being caught out.

Another benefit is more refs get a crack at the top grade.

SL would like a two ref system. We actually can't afford it

Maybe if the rules between SL and the NRL become the same rules and interpretations and then they are made the International rules it would help the Referees be consistent.

Its a total cock up at the moment with no one happy.

Exactly mate, it's a shambles that I haven't seen any other sport do.

Ridiculous.

Ru have had this problem before, with different interpretations of rucking causing a problem between Northern and Southern hemisphere.
Football is a simpler game so less interpretation needed, but still the diving is handled differently in other leagues to the Premiership.

Not just us, its just we change ours way more than other sports so plenty of opportunity to get ouit of sync.

Again though, just because Australia wants to change something why should the whole world go with it. Australia doesn't rule RL and thats where the problem lies in this regard. Yes we know the NRL is the biggest and bestest league evaaaaaa but folks in the UK, France, USA shouldn't have to jump to your tune always. FWIW I actually prefer some of the NRL changes and interpretations, especially 10 subs

NRL has 2 refs and the tackle/play of the ball is a massive mess compared to SL's. 2 refs do not improve the game imo.

Totally agree Jonesy.

On top of that. I do get a feel that here in Oz, the refs are far more happier to refer a decision when it comes to something serious by option to put things on report rather than be bold and make a decision.