Does anybody else think the four nations tv coverage this year is crap?
BBC are showing the England game but none of the others, SKY aren't showing any so you have to buy Premier sports just to watch them. Just think it's a bit crap this year doesn't get me excited as I can't see the whole tournament

On the positive side I've seen an interview with Sam Burgess during the BBC Breakfast sport section,and the BBC trailer for game coverage (on TV & radio) a few times.

The only games that aren't live on BBC are Scotland v Australia and Scotland v New Zealand.

All the other games are on:

29O- England v New Zealand (BBC One 13:15 - that's a full 1hr15m before KO!)

5N- England v Scotland then Australia v New Zealand (both on b2b on BBC2 from 17:00)

13N- England v Australia (BBC Two 13:30)

20N- The final (BBC One 14:00)

Two colleagues have mentioned the Four Nations to me today; one from Liverpool and another from Reading. Neither have any previous interest in RL - it seems hosting a game at Anfield has generated a lot of publicity, albeit I don't know anyone in our Liverpool office who is attending.

If done properly, of course, the afore mentioned scousers would continue to pay a passing interest, learn that the final was a great spectacle and subsequently look to attend next year. Which means we are unlikely to ever see a game here again, a la Bristol!

Sweet the only info i could find said it was just the england games and i couldn't see aus vs NZL. Bit crap they're not showing the Scotland Games vs aus and NZL though

Whats B2B?

B2B means back to back.

Every game is on tv. If you know where to look. www.premiersports.com/rugby-league/4-nations/

Every game is on tv. If you know where to look. www.premiersports.com/rugby-league/4-nations/

Yeah but i'm not buying Premier sports to watch a few games.

Rugby Union would have every game shown. Why don't we? oh yeah, Because the BBC say no and the RFL says 'Oh ok, well thank you anyway. Sorry for asking'.

They talk about wanting to expand the international game but go along with minimal exposure... on national TV, its barmy.

Will there be any alternatives on the red button ?

PM me & I'll send you a naughty link

Though it pains me to say it, rugby union fans are guaranteed to pack out Twickenham for every single test. RL fans are so tight and small-minded that we see filling Huddersfield as an achievement. Perhaps when the fans invest in the international game, the media and sponsors will follow suit?

Or, we can carry on feeling sorry for ourselves.

Thanks mate appreciated

Hoping that the four nations gets a better broadcast budget than the warm up game?!

But I'm actually quite excited about this 4 nations teams are at full strength barring one or two but the replacements are equal in ability and we are not a weaker side for them not being in the team!!

Selling out Int RL isn't the fault of the fans!
Its down to format stability over a prolonged period, marketing and effective pricing. Consumer interest and confidence in the product will be grow with that in place.

What papers haven't you been reading?
Int RL gets more column inches than the domestic game gets in total each press.

If the format continues it'll become a part of the RL calendar we as fans will make an event, as we have domestically with new Wembley, the GF, Perpignan and the Magic weekenders.

We can only blame the RL bodies for letting down the international growth ot the sport by pulling the plug on tests for a generation not the fans or media.

It's not all the fans fault, BUT how many fans would prefer to see their club play in an SL match verses an international?
I've been to a couple of RU Home Nations matches and being in a full stadium with a close fought contest and a 50/50 fans split is a really good experience - even if the quality of play and slow slow ball is boring.
I'm going to the Olympic Stadium and Coventry (and have purchase top price tickets) as they are close enough to me, but I'll watch the rest either on the Beeb or the web for nowt. Logistics show we can't have a 50/50 split.
The international game is really important for RL but until they run stable comps, like RU, it'll be on the back foot on the international stage.

RU has a strong international format that it has developed over many decades, and going professional at club level has helped enormously.
The thing RU has though is a lot more political in-fighting between the clubs and the authorities.

Ignoring the hooray henries (and that anti-League BBC commentator Ian Robertson), I do struggle with RU because most of it's so slow. There are skilled players but the skill is different to that in league.

Give me RL anyday (except the best try ever which I mentioned a few days ago - Gareth Edwards 1973 All Blacks v Barbarians - but I have to admit the Mark Coyne try in the SOO was phenomenal, as pointed out by an RL fan!)
The commentary on the Beeb for the Edwards try was sublime - that really adds to it.

Unfortunately,one of the worst things that happened to our game was when RU turned professional.

Perhaps it didn't do us too many favors but it was up to the NRL and RFL to keep our own house in order.
They let down by dropping the tests and World Cup.
RL had a real grip in Wales on the late 90's to kick on, we let that go down the swanny. More recently, about a decade ago, Ireland gripped the country, the RFL chose not to develop further or even play the odd final there pre Wembley completion.

Ironic, isn't it, the one thing they were against for so long, and indeed the reason for the split, was to be something that marginalised us a lot more

Indeed it is ironic & when you look at both codes the management in RU are more professional & better connected than our bods, & the sponsorship is by worldwide brands. Hopefully Roger Draper may benefit the game as a whole now he's at the RFL.

The management of the RU has had loads of problems over the years. In fact it has been shambolic at times. You cannot just blame RL management. Watching the National Anthems last night (Scot v Aus) and comparing what would happen at Murrayfield would tell you something. We just have not got the fan base apart from a very small area. It is much to simple/easy to blame those at the top.

RL is a passionately supported regional sport, that's it.

Lomax my scapegoat.

It's will soon be Watkins when you realise you're not singing him. But bless you for believing!

I thought England looked stronger in both attack & defence when Hill & Graham were on the field together. There seemed to be less organisation when they were off.

I thought Lomax played well & very pleased for McGillivray.