Sorry for the guy but he is bloody good so anything that weakens them is good for the tourney.

Personally I would be happy if they stuck DCE in as he seems to go missing in the big games in the NRL and is getting a flat track bully tag down under.

Shame for Thurston (bloody good player) but good for us.

Total rubbish about DCE. I'm no Manly or QLD fan. He's awesome. He's clutch and won plenty of big games on his own.

Really, this wasn't from my mouth but the Aussie media. That said I have watched a fair few Manly games this season and he isn't as great as the hype around him seems to be. That's why Cronk wears seven at test level and DCE gets about 2 minutes per test.

Not sure what Aussie media you are referencing, I agree he has not been at his best since going into origin injured. Not his best end to the season but no doubting his quality. Aussie selectors are all about incombants that's why slater is Aussie fullback but 3rd or 4th best in the comp. DCE if not already will be the best 7 in the world in the next few seasons.

Any more Aussies likely to be pulling out of the 4N for one "can't be d" reason or another?

It used to be an honour to pull on the famous Kangaroo jersey. That was a while ago. Pre-SL era in fact when proper international tours were conducted as opposed to end-of-season "can't be d" afterthoughts.

RLWC legacy by plenty.

How many players are they missing now?

Billy Slater (shoulder), wingers Darius Boyd (depression) and Brett Morris (shoulder), props Matt Scott (shoulder), Nate Myles (biceps) and Paul Gallen (drugs ban) and lock James Tamou (neck) for the series.

Around half of the RLWC winning team from last season! They are all seriously injured. They cannot play. They require off-season surgery and lots of rest and recuperation. It is such a hard life.

I'm fortunate to have experienced an era when proper international tours and fixtures took place. When a Kangaroo or GB Lions Tour was scheduled, players from both were busting a gut during their domestic seasons in the hope of gaining rep selection.

Nowadays, it's all such a drag.

GB and Ashes Series are now dead and buried.

So are tours to NZ and PNG.

When was the last time our national side played a game in Goroka or Port Moresby?

Who gives a toss about an afterthought 4N tournament involving England outside of the SL Moonie community?

Some of what you say is undoubtably true but sounds so bitter. I predict that should England win, internationals will be very much back on the agenda.

Things were so much better when he were a lad.

We really need to beat Australia in Melbourne, it would be even better if the Kiwis win too. The NRL needs to learn that it doesn't own our sport and it never will.

Can't underestimate how much of a blow it was to be knocked out of the WC by the Kiwis.

We need England/GB to win one decent tourney. The sooner we win something the sooner the media and Aussies will start to take things seriously...

We can't beat Australia when they don't take it seriously. What chance will we have when they do?

The withdrawal of Johnathan Thurston should be added to the withdrawals of William Slater, Joshua Morris, Brett Morris, Justin Hodges, and the entire first choice set of props (Matthew Scott, James Tamou, Nathaniel Myles, Andrew Fifita, and Paul Gallen). This provides a great opportunity for England to beat Australia.

The main issue is whether Steven McNamara will choose the best possible team for England. To mymind that team must include both George and Thomas Burgess, James Graham and Gareth Widdop. The English pack can overpower the Australians, leaving Widdop and his halves partner to control the attack effectively.