Looks like the other named in the incident have been dropped for the squad to face the Aussies

they still crying about sam tomkins? he no longer a wigan player just a legend.

So what games are we all booked in for? At present have tix for the following but starting to sniff around the Wembley double header as well having seen the way sales are flying on it.:

Fiji v Ireland
Tonga v Cooks
Australia v Fiji
Tonga v Italy
Wigan QF
Final

May also have a look at USA Wales if the ticketing open up a bit in the lower categories and the 50% discount codes continue to work

I've gone for:
England v Aus
England v Ireland
England v Fiji
Tonga v Cook Islands
Wigan QF
Wembley double header
Final

It's the Mrs' birthday on the final though so I'll end up having to shift the tickets if/when we don't get there. I'm weighing up the Warrington QF as well as I figure that'll be France/PNG v Fiji which ought to be a decent game

It's been the same for years. I can't recall whether it was the Ashes game in 2003 or a Roses game at the DW, but there were Saints fans booing Farrell and Wigan fans booing Long and Scully.
Some fans are just too immature for International Rugby League.

Anybody else got a nagging worry that he wont be fit for the start of the season

No. Anyway he only plays in finals now.

Think people are underestimating the importance of Saturday's game in terms ofthe route to the final.

Win Saturday and we have effectively a clear run to the final and force a Australia v NZ semi final.

Lose and we'd have to play NZ at Wembley ourselves.

Got to hope the shame of losing to Italy fires the players up and the fact we have at least played a game means we have blown away cobwebs. If the aussies are complacent and underdone given they've not had any warm ups we could have a chance.

Having said that it also feels like it could one of those 64 10, 52 4 games.

Come on England. Please.

We have our own morons too tho so can't just stick it to other clubs!

At the grand final when monaghan was clearly injured, I ended up having a very heated debate / argument with some of our OWN fans that nearly spilled over, after they were shouting 'hope you've broke your neck' 'die you dirty wire bar steward' 'dog sh4ggin scum' and other moronic things, while the guy was being put on a stretcher.

Sicknin to be fair, but suppose thats what bein thick as pig s and ale'd up does to you! Unfortunately the rugby league demographic means we have a few of these idiots at all clubs!

Aussie wont be complacent , it's not in their DNA.

If they are it only lasts about twenty minutes before they hit the after burners ( read Andrew Fafita and Luke Lewis interchange ).

The Key is to hit your own Burners and play just as fast ( read George Burgess / Tom Burgess Interchange ).
Australia will be trying equally as hard to avoid NZ in the Semi's , they would go down as the most overrated stars in the history of the game if NZ bundled them out of the Semi finals , they won't want to face that music.
There is a divide between Queensland and NSW players in the camp , they down play it ( take a look at the seating arrangements in their ' night on the town instagram ).

A good tactic would be to target that divide in their ranks by not engaging in acts of thuggery that would unite them.

Keep it clean professional and fast , forget the big hits and tough guy nonsense , play world club challenge style fast footy.

The catch cry of the Kiwi's camp is one percent football ( we borrowed that from Australia ) It's not rocket science that they get confused if you play it back at them.

Some constructive play , keep them on the back foot defending and the games for the taking.
England can do it.

I had the exact same thing at the final this year. You weren't in E234 by any chance? The thing is, when you challenge people on things like this people treat you like you're the trouble maker!

I would predict that NZ over here are going to be a lot easier to beat then in the southern hemisphere. They simply do not turn up in the UK. Anyhow, I think the Aussies by 10 points on Saturday.

To be fair, he was playing for the opposition.

That's a fair call , NZ don't like playing in England , they also underestimate English / British sides time and again to their peril.
Both countries are prone to over focusing on Australia and are likely to look past the opponent on the doorstep.

A counter weight this time around , should England and New Zealand meet , is tha
t the NZ players are well versed in the threat the English NRL players bring and will step up there , that still leaves the ESL players who have the element of the unknown though,

If it does come down to a Semi Final play off. I would rather see us face Australia. No problems getting up for that game , both countries have to beat Australia at least once to win the World cup.

England I would rather face in a final where the motivation of winning the whole dam thing can be relied on , instead of an ambush job in a Semi.

Quote ="blackpoolwigan"Roby third in the world? You joking? He wouldnt even be starting 9 in a lot of NRL sides, get a grip.'" List of top 100 players in the world has been announced. Not many hookers higher than Roby I see. www.rabbitohs.me/warren/showthre ... 13?p=68760

Quote ="blackpoolwigan"Roby third in the world? You joking? He wouldnt even be starting 9 in a lot of NRL sides, get a grip.'" List of top 100 players in the world has been announced. Not many hookers higher than Roby I see. www.rabbitohs.me/warren/showthre ... 13?p=68760

Quote ="The Yellow Giraffe"List of top 100 players in the world has been announced. Not many hookers higher than Roby I see. www.rabbitohs.me/warren/showthre ... 13?p=68760'" 2 from my reckoning. FWIW - Roby wouldn't be my starting hooker in any side. He would come on after 15/20 with the intention of scooting from dummy half and causing havoc.

Quote ="The Yellow Giraffe"List of top 100 players in the world has been announced. Not many hookers higher than Roby I see. www.rabbitohs.me/warren/showthre ... 13?p=68760'" 2 from my reckoning. FWIW - Roby wouldn't be my starting hooker in any side. He would come on after 15/20 with the intention of scooting from dummy half and causing havoc.

Same here. So my comment about him being top 3 was correct. Good that there's a few English lads in the top 30.

I see where you're coming from in a way. But to be fair I think he has a lot more to his game than scooting. When he first came onto the scene he was a perfect sub to come on for Cunningham after 20-30 mins. But he has proved over the last few years he can play 80 mins to good effect. Hopefully he will do the job tomorrow.

Quote ="The Yellow Giraffe"List of top 100 players in the world has been announced. Not many hookers higher than Roby I see. www.rabbitohs.me/warren/showthre ... 13?p=68760'" Lockers at 85, give over! Also interesting that Sinfield has apparently gone from no1 in the world to at best no101

Quote ="The Yellow Giraffe"List of top 100 players in the world has been announced. Not many hookers higher than Roby I see. www.rabbitohs.me/warren/showthre ... 13?p=68760'" Lockers at 85, give over! Also interesting that Sinfield has apparently gone from no1 in the world to at best no101

And the "worlds best winger" at number 93

Those lists are nothing but the Ockers smelling their own trumps.

Mind you if they think that Greg Eastwood, Chris Heighington are Sam Moa in the top 100 then it shows that the two leagues aint that far apart.

Those 3 against Westwood, Hill and Hansen?

Really?

Haha. O'Loughlin stood out to me as being very wide of the mark at 85 as well

He's a massively important player. He isn't do the fancy stuff like Tomkins but he's at more valuable to our team. If he was playing in Aus he'd be top 20/30 easily.

I agree entirely.