www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 5948781848 either 1. retain as is 2. return to tri nations with developing nations tournament at the same time 3. quad nations with a combined pacific team as the 4th team love confirmed the current tournament had done well on and off the field.

www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 5948781848 either 1. retain as is 2. return to tri nations with developing nations tournament at the same time 3. quad nations with a combined pacific team as the 4th team love confirmed the current tournament had done well on and off the field.

Trust rugby league to attempt to bin a competition just as it gets going!

My thoughts as well , there is only 2 options

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The RFL are probably worrying that by 2014 the French or the Welsh will be beating England easily.

Do you really think (the NRL listen to) the RLIF listen to the RFL?

A combined Pacific Islands side is an option but after seeing recent games between Tonmga and Samoa I 'm not sure they'd be too keen on playing together. Would this Pacific Islands side include Cook Islanders?
I'd prefer to go with Australia, NZ, England, PNG and Pacific Islands down under.
Australia, NZ, Pacific Islanders, England and winner of European Cup up top.

I wouldn't worry about it.
He is making a habit of posting 'humdingers'.

I don't understand the logic of going back to a Tri Nations format just because two teams are under performing compare to the other half of teams. If its a Tri Nations tournament, its a two horse race. If its a Four Nations tournament its still a two horse race.

And while I'm here, Australian's complain about the international game losing its international credibility. A lot of fans on this forum may consider this to have happened during the mid-90's.

What happened during that time that could have seen the international game plummet to the so-called "new lows" we're in now? Just a thought.

This doesn't really do anything to improve my opinion of the so called international board. they don't seem willnig to give things a chance to develop. There are no quick fixes so just stick with the tournment. Rugby league just doesn't seem to want to give ideas a chance.

A combined islanders team? Why bother. These nations have great rivialries. how will having 3 or 4 players from each nation playing in a combined team improve Tonga, Samoa, png etc? plus, PNG fans love to see their country play. what right has anyone to take away their ountries and combine them with others. Which domestic board would get the tournament fee if they play as a combined team?

Get a series going with these pacfic teams. they want it, they have asked/pleaded for it. ill the "RLIF" deliver?

I know its a bit union esque but why not 5 nations? The 'big 3' plus one of the pacific nations and one European side. To limit the number games you could just have a round robin with no final.

Why does Cricket bother with the West Indies? How does that improve Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana etc...

Oh.

And when it changes to 2 , 4 or 5 nations or the World Cup or whatever you want to call it the final STILL will be NZ v Aus!!!

Until the structure of the game changes in this country it will be ever thus.

Why does Rugby League never stick with anything if it doesn't work straight away? In 4 or 5 years time the French will be stronger as Cats and Toulouse youth set ups will be emerging. PNG hopefully will have a franchise making them stronger and with a bit of luck there will be a few eligibility rule changes so the big three don't steal smaller nations players.

Personally I've enjoyed watching the PNG lads as much as any of the other three teams (more in fact than England!). PNG do need get their act together internally though and come to the tournment better prepared and picking their best available side. Seem politics there is part of the problem.

As much as I love RL's constant evolutionary ways at times we do liek to throw the baby out with the bath water and just react to media critics.

Agreed. I do wonder though how a representative side from the only nation which has RL as its national sport can display such woeful basic skills of the game, even allowing for the fact some of the better players were not available some of the PNG lads were shocking.

tbh if you are not playing at that pace and intensity every week, which 99% of that squad aren't, then you can;t expect them to step up in one off situations. Its no different to watching the difference in pace and composure of teh england team whn they played NZ and Oz. That's why I believe it has very little to do with the number of English players in SL and everything to do with the coaching structures from jnrs up and the overall quality of each team. Again if was just down to numbers the world rankings would be: PNG, Oz, Eng, NZ

they stick with crap london sides and a welsh side that gets about 200 people at games.

and continues with 2 poor sides full of overseas players in Hull as well.

go figure!!

Short memories these Hull KR fans.



One problem would be that come World Cup year that Pacific Islands team would be split in two or three. The four or five Tonga players who had taken part would be joined by players who weren't considered 'good enough' and so hadn't been given the experience of playing against the world's best.
I'd rather see Samoa play as Samoa and Tonga as Tonga.

Well, if we look at the Tonga national side, we see there is already Samoa there



1 Etu Uaisele - FB

2 Fatelea Okati - WG

3 Sione Lousi - CE

4 Sione Tongia - CE

18 James Tutuila - CE

6 Feleti Mateo (c) - FE

7 Eddie Paea - HB

8 Mickey Paea - PR

9 Tevita Leo-Latu - HK

10 Epalahame Lauaki - PR

11 Ukuma Ta'ai - SR

12 Richard Fa'aoso - SR

13 Andrew Fifita - LF
14 Alai Taufa'ao - HK

15 Sam Moa - PR

16 Ronnie Alovilli - PR

17 Siosaia Vave - SR

19 Fokolulu Taumalolo - LF

20 Saia Taufalele - FE

It is a two horse race no matter what so going back to tri-nations isnt gonna change anything!

It's up to the RFL to look into and implement ways to get us into that horse race. The French mid season test has to go and the only solution I can see is an England vs Super League XIII or England vs England A.

England v the other nationalities is going to happen...mark my words

That one game is still not gonna be enough. What the RFL need to do is come with a comprehensive system that will create better coaches who will then create better rugby league players. Yes England needs more intensity before playing Aus or NZ but that isnt enough. Need better skill sets!

That's better! Looking forward positively with ideas rather than wallowing in depressive self pity and head shaking doomsday handwringing.
That match will give our players the chance to play against a much better standard of player than the French side currently is able to offer.

Full tours as GB every 4 years like we used to....start in PNG....3 test v the aussies and finish off with 2 or 3 against the kiwis...make 1 match for world cup points....never any harm in it before.