In todays modern world filled with video conferencing, like satellite links and even cheaper methods of 'face to face' communication such as Skype can anyone give a reason why the RFL has paid for the England coach to fly to Australia - and I'm assuming he would have flown business class - to see the NRL based English players?

what a total utter and complete waste of money.

I would be more worried if our national coach wasn't making every effort to try and see all his players in the lead up to the World Cup.

Stop moaning for moaning's sake.

More to the point he already decided on who is playing for England in the world cup 2/3 years ago, and seemed to be ignorant to the performances Widdop was putting in.

At least he hasn't taken up two seats in Business Class on his trip down under.

Isn't he taking in 10 games over 20 days? It makes sense to me for him to see some of the players from Australia and New Zealand who we will be facing in the World Cup. Yes you can watch video's but you can't see everything and it's not the same as seeing players in the flesh. I support this trip 100%.

Since he decided to jet off to oz,g.burgess has been suspended and graham and widdop have gone down crocked.if i was sam burgess or jack reed i would want mcnamara on the next flight back to the UK!!

Seriously, what's wrong with rugby league fans? The national coach going to meet and watch potential England players in a World Cup year? FFS.

A small number of fans......
I suspect most would understand why he has gone.

why do you consider it to be our money?
does the OP work for the RFL?

SHUT up and let him get on with is job any thing that might help us win the w cup is ok with me are you

This forum gets worse.

How is it 'our' money?

The OP is clearly still bitter that his hand written (most probably in crayon) CV was rejected for the England job by the RFL. I know its hard especially with your Mums glowing reference declaring you as 'such a good boy' but just get over it

"Our money?"

When was The RFL a tax payer funded government department? Last time I checked it was a 'Not For Profit' organisation. Any money earned in profit goes back into the development of the game across all areas, like funding a trip for the England coach to go to Australia to see potential international players who are eligible to play for the national side so they can win the World Cup... Which in turn will benefit the game on the back of international success.

Phew!

Surely he only needs to ask the world's greatest player - Sinfield - to pick the team.

Seriously though ... you can't be, surely ?!?!

What kind of two-bit sport wouldn't even send the coach to watch players? It's perfectly reasonable. It presumably feels unreasonable because you think he shouldn't be the coach, but that's conflating two different issues.

I agree... a total waste of money.

Our coach does not need to be flown half way around the world all expenses paid to watch some RL in the sun and have a little chat with Sam Burgess about his latest inevitable injury or to tell James Graham not to bite anyone again.

Everything he is allegedly doing on this trip - to do with the game anyway - could easily be done using the telephone and watching recordings of the relevant matches.

Oh boy, this sinks lower every day!

So when stadiums don't sell out during the world cup we can look back at this moment to where it all went wrong.

Money could have been better spent on supplying free transport to take fans to the games. Instead we pay one person to travel on an aeroplane.

I'm fuming!

Wouldn't that cost more than the tickets for the actual game?! I despair!

In this day and age of telephones and video conferencing, why does he even leave his office at all? Or his house?! Wasted petrol money. Wasting OUR money and needlessly polluting OUR planet at the same time!

You're right, you better get on the phone to every club in the football league as well and tell them to recall their scouts and get on Youtube. Imagine, a coach wanting to see his star players before a major tournament! Preposterous!

FFS

I can't understand why he wouldn't just send each one a hand written letter.
All this technology and touchy feely stuff about having to see them and talk to them is all nonsence.
I'd go as far as to say it is witchcraft! Burn him for flying!

In reality
If he flies premium economy it will be about £2,000 (£1,000 in economy)
Lets say he stays 20 days in Sydney at a 4 star hotel. I picked the Menzies which looks quite nice and a junior suite so he is more than comfortable and can entertain in the seperate lounge area.
He has satelite tv so won't miss any rugby. That's another £4,500
Lets say he has a meal out each day but nothing too over the top £50 a day is more than enough and that is £1,000. Should cover him to take the lads out occassionally too.

So all in his trip at premium would be £7,500

That's sounds a lot, but in reality, for preparations for the World Cup, that is pocket money. You can buy him some branded England kit and pay for the lot with Koukash's fine!
Can you imagine how much is being spent on the Lions right now?

Berk