How about England vs The Colonies? That might get their blood up...

The original NSW v Queensland series were based on current residence, rather than the player's origin. Hence NSW, having far more teams than Queensland, totally dominated the early years.

The series was then changed to Origin, and many players ended up playing for the opposite team than they had the year before. It made it a more even contest because Queensland had a better set of players, and this is when the contest really started to take off.

It needs time to get going over here as well, but as others have already said, if the quality of the Exiles-eligible players decreases over time, then we may already be seeing the beginning of the end. Glad I've got my tickets for this weekend!

What's with the inverted commas around the word injured? We know they are injured. Just ask the fans who were in France and saw these players with their injuries.

my god did you really miss the point there or what?
i would try and explain it to you but suspect it would be a waste of time!

perhaps some one other than his surgeon may be aware that he's having surgery, just a thought! (do you actually think before you post)

or perhaps his appointment came through by pure coincidence for the weekend of the exiles match??? who knows? just as plausible as your statement!

So it's just an unfortunate coincidence that the Warrington guy is unavailable, but the two Wigan players are obviously pulling a fast one.

Are Warrington the only club who can't arrange private operations as and when they want them, then?

The two Wigan players concerned are injured. Deal with it and get on with your life.

Didn't miss any point, the discussion was about wether tommy and Finch are injured and somebody brought up that it was devaluing the game by them not playing then somebody else (a wire fan of course) suggested that one of the tomkins brother may now defect to union due to a lack of an international game. My point was that there is an international game being played, Sam will be playing in it so surely by the afore mentioned wire fans philosophy that would mean he wouldn't want to defect as there are international games being played???

Clear enough???

Not if the correct patient confidentiality rules have been adhered to

I have just tweeted that I am having an op tomorrow and I've told several people that I am as well, it was very easy.............doesn't make it true though

Professional sportsmen don't tend to wait for appts, they have the priviledge of private treatment. When Westwood first did the injury he would have seen a specialist almost immediately and between the two of them it would have been decided if the op could wait or needed doing immediately. If the op would have needed doing immadiately it would have been done.

Actually the thread is about whether George and Finch are injured but using your logic there is no way of proving that - even though it is a fact.

It would be easier all round if you just admitted you was wrong and Westwood has had an operation.

It would be even easier if those who doubt the Wigan withdrawals are genuine but insist that the Warrington one is realise how one-eyed they look.

No-one is questioning whether or not Westwood has had or is having an operation. The point is, why was it booked for now when he should have been playing for England?

That is exactly what I said, My point is that who knows it is a fact, the clubs and players will decide if they are injured or not, we as fans will never know for sure either way.

But I'm not wrong

I'm saying that we will never truly know wether he has had an op, him saying on twitter that he has had an op does not make it true just like if I put on twitter now that I am having an op tomorrow!

Westwood may well have had an op and if I'm honest I don't really care and it hardly matters to england as there are better players available anyway.

My point is that none of us will ever know for sure if westwood had an op just like we will never know for sure wether carmont or finch were injured

Simple enough????

So our first choice pack of Graham, Burgess, Heighington, Westwood, Ellis are not available does O'Loughlin not have anything that needs sorting out?

His hair

if only the coach was on a long term injury we would all be happy.....

The coach is on a long term injury, that's the problem, it's his brain.

The whole point is that Vectrabeast is/was:





If you took the time to read what I have written you will see that I openly admit Westwood's withdrawal is timed to suit Warrington and to an extent I am disappointed that by doing so it de-values the worth of international rugby.

The problem I have with people at the start of this thread "celebrating" the withdrawal of players and "be-littling" international rugby is the short-sightedness of that for the game as a whole.

For me the Exile games should be treated as a selection trial such that if, for example, Liam Farrell stepped-in for Westwood and performed well then he should retain the shirt for the Four Nations / World Cup and Westwood misses out. If England selected on that basis then I believe over time there would be less withdrawals from the "meaningless" internationals.

The injury withdrawal of players blighted the Lancs/Yorks games, the whole point of extra games is to toughen up the players ready for international series not to allow players/clubs manipulate the system to get players rested. The Exiles concept means that you are more likely to get players pulling out as they do not view the games as they would internationals or sate of origin games. I agree if the players pull out then they should be behind the players who do play and perform well

don't roll your eyes at me! you clearly didn't get the point at all!

oh god help me! how obtuse are you! that was the point i was making!

paul give up mate, the lads obviously a butty short of a picnic! according to him westwood might be lying about having an operation on twitter to get out of playing for england! i mean for goodness sake he could have come up with a much better excuse than that!

any rational right minded person must truly cringe when reading this drivel!

Rather wonderful that Wire fans come here to do missionary work and educate us.... We are so blessed.