I'm glad im from the D.R.L. being English must 'suck' tonight

Got to hand it to the Kangaroos yet again. We gave them a real good game for 60 minutes and its as if they just said 'right lads, enough of this, let's put it to bed now'. The execution for some of their tries was outstanding.

For me, until we improve some of the so called basics of Rugby League over here, we're never going to be in a position to beat them. Today was a perfect example. We matched them for 60 minutes in the forwards and our young half backs gave them problems due to their unpredictability. Unfortunately for us, the Aussie kicking and passing is on another level to us and when they turned it up a notch, as we tired, we saw what it can do to us.

Solution? Get away from the 'give it to the big lad and drive it up the middle' game that we instill into our youngsters as can be seen when watching many a game at grass roots level. In fact, why not take away competitive rugby at infancy level and focus more on passing and kicking skills. Until the passing and especially the accurate kicking that we saw today from the 'Roos becomes second nature to our players, we will never be able to win a big one IMO.

When you dont meet the man with the ball at the line of srumage and you allow a player like Thurston to run the length of the line without putting a hand on him you are going to loose. Also when you have a Ref that was absolutely rubbish your head at some point will go down and your concentration will slip. I was absolutelt amazed at some of the decisions and non decisions for an international final the officiating from the lot of them was appalling. I have to give it to our lads for keeping their cool. Fromwhere I was sat even I could see the Aussie lad pass the ball back into play while stood on the touch line with the ref and the assistant both within 10ft of him and looking at him but let the play go on. I counted 10 high shots that the ref was right on top of but never blew up. I think when we lost Shenton the lads seemed to lapse. What has been said about him, is he ok? I enjoyed tonight and the atmosphere was good. I was a bit to close to the band though and I've got a bloody headache with shouting.

It's no good blaming the ref though. He was equally good or bad for both sides and I thought he let the game flow to be fair to him. I've seen far worse games where the ref has ended up being the centre of attention. I can take a few mistakes here and there, but I can't stand constant blowing ruining the flow of a game.

The ref can't be at fault for the last 20 minutes today. The England team were blowing on 60 minutes. The 'Roos running, passing and kicking left us for dead. The SKY team were right when they said the Origin game gives them an advantage. We have nothing like that over here and our top players don't play enough high-intensity games during the league season for our players to be prepared physically and mentally for games like tonight.

Basically, there are a number of areas where we need to improve the game over here. It goes far beyond franchising and expansion, as has been the RFL's policy over the last few years. Copying the Australians in certain areas might not bring us victory, but at least it would ensure some fundamental improvements.

I thought the ref was good TBH.

There were several calls that I thought he'd got wrong but, having watched a replay, he got the vast majority right.

NEVER HAVE NEVER WILL BE GOOD ENOUGH WE ARE MILES BEHIND THEM ,CLASS.

I felt as though Bentham 'had' to give the second try that went to the screen as he had the Aussie ref breathing down his neck, after quite rightly disallowing the first 'square in the air' decision.
No way was that a try, and the other that went to the screen should have been chalked off as well.
Thought the ref was poor, and seem to punish England for offenses the Aussies got away with.

I wonder if he'd been promised a good turn in the NRL next season???

Still absolute credit too the aussies for being patient and waiting too pounce, they really where a different class.
I thought we did match them and we ran out of steam.

I hope Leigh play an exciting brand of football under Millward that the Aussies play!

Until we get rid of the teams that are filled with all the overseas playes until the RFL start pumping money into areas where RL is played by the majority until theres a level playing field for all we aint got no chance. But why should they change it Leeds win the GF every year so the game must be strong in this country musnt it? Bollox.

But SL aren't bothered as long as they have the GULLIBLE English SL supporting public who they string along year in year out & milk for their hard earned cash. The whole english game is a joke & we'll never catch up with the convicts & thats a FACT

"12 years of importing second rate aussies to prop up dead duck clubs in areas where no-one is interested may have summat to do with it" is what i screamed at Eddie Hemmings as he pondered why they keep beating us.

The RFL have abandoned the lower tier of the game which means there is no push from below to drive improvement at the top level of the game.

What we have is a cozy cartel cum rest home for the infirm aussie RL player.

forget the aussies....lets carry on thrashing the Welsh to fool us into thinking we're good.

Well sorry to disagree here folks but I was there and I don,t think we are that far behind the Aussies.

We competed for an hour on equal terms and there where periods in that hour when we had the Aussies on the back foot.

We seemed to lose cohesion when Shenton went off (anyone know how he is ?) then some lucky bounces of the ball which could have gone either way stretched the Oz lead and our team,s heads went down because after that everything went in Australia,s favour.

Teams don,t just wait for an hour and suddenly decide to cut loose. It happens had we scored the quick 12 rather than them then maybe their heads would have gone down.

The score flattered Australia. We are getting better although just looking at the scoreline you wouldn,t think so.

Thats how I see it too Frank. Why did the ref stop us taking a quick tap at a 20mtr restart? There were forward passes, knock ons and all sorts he let go for them but saw everything we did wrong.

Frank we were all there in glorius technicolour watching every move about 6 times and we are that far behind.

Glad I went to the game. Atmosphere was great, or it was in the North stand. Thought we gave it to the Aussies for most of the game, it was just that last 20 mins where for whatever reasons and excuses we can make about us, and the brilliance of Australia. The scoreline did flatter them, because had you not seen/been to the game you would think it was a one sided match.
The match was entertaining, and some excellent stuff even from England.

the only surprise has got to be that anyone actually believed that we had a chance of winning the game.lets face facts we simply aren't in the same class as the Aussies they always win whenever they want as they say in horse racing circles pulling up.

I was screaming at the ref at this point, I dont understand why this play keeps being slowed down .

All in all I thought England did have Australia on the back foot for large parts of the game but we got kicked and passed to bits in the last 20.

As has been said on here the score line definitley flattered them and our lads did well IMO.

Very glad I went as we got to see some really exciting rugby last night .

lmao we aint far away from them at all was suprisded with our performance tonight better than i thought. They scored about 4 trys of kick that could of bounced either way but they bounced too them good execution but a lot of luck about it. The forwards did us proud everybody did im happy with that last night the scoreline didnt half flatter them and they know it. The only differce in that match was the speed of the play the ball. They won casue they gang tackeled and slowed our PTB down not allowing is too get a role on. Whereas when they got tackeled they won the ground that was the only diffrence

What he said. Aussies were unreal in the last 10-15 minutes though, was a privelige to watch.

maybe so but maybe more embarrassing more than anything! 65 minutes of good rugby threw away but by an obviously more skilled & better side!

I agree with those who were there. It was a terrific display, and a real honour to see such a great game.
I thought the difference was when Shenton had to go off, suddenly the Aussies began stacking that side with runners and really put pressure on us.
They seem to adapt their style of play in mid game and know where our weaknesses develop.
By the way, it was the most fabulous event, which was as exciting as I can remember.

I honestly think going to watch a RL game live against the Aussies is a great experience for RL fans and much better than watching on TV.

The atmosphere is great . I think your last 3 paragraphs sum the match up perfectly.

Totally agree with Frank that the scoreline flattered Aus. For 60 mins we went toe to toe. A couple of missed tackles and bounces of the ball cost us dear.

What if........................

Burgess had passed to Tomkins, 12-0 ???

The game is always full of what ifs.

What if Bentham hadnt bottled it and given the 2nd video ref "try"

What if Shenton didnt have to leave the field?

What if the ball had bounced in a different manner in the lead up to a couple of their "magnificent" tries?

What if a couple of obvious forward passes had ben given against the Aussies?

What if....

Personally I agree with Frank. From what I saw we are not miles behind the Aussies and they were running scared and panicking for a good while of the match. I disagree what some are saying and that the Aussies showed a masterclass in the last 15 minutes. For me it was just decent rugby with some elements of luck associated with the tries. You do have to make your own luck and thats what the Aussies did and just managed to stay composed at a vital point in the match.

Who was saying we were miles behind them after our 2nd half dispaly in the group match and the first half in yesterdays final?

We lose and some of you start to jump on the "arent they magnificent" and "arent we miles behind them" bandwaggon.

Always easier to say after the event aint it?