I think you were questioning whether it would be a success or not with the single factor of attendance being the gauge of triumph or failure. While attendance is obviously important as it provides revenue for the businesses that modern day clubs are, I don't think it's the sole element of a successful concept.

What exactly do you expect them to say......"No I really cant be '@rsed with this pointless game to be honest, but iv got no choice"

Tell that to the RFL, the attendance will dictate whether it gets done again.

Players have spoken out in the past when they think something is a waste of time. Millenium Magic, James Graham... cough, cough.

Im sure a player will be made up, whoever it may be, when they get injured and miss key Super League games for the sake of a game, that means......erm.......nothing at all.

is hoffman injured, surely he should be playing if not?

What if it is a terrific game which entertains us all and gets huge viewing figures.... then we win the 4nations and the whole squad and staff put it down to this game....

Carmont, Richards & Tommy are playing. Only maximum 3 from each club

You was joking..............wasn't you........

But to be fair, the level of intensity and competitiveness of the game may dictate whether people go in future years. People may stay away this year as they're not sure what they're going to get.

IMO this is basically another Lancashire v Yorkshire but with a different name, its Super League players v Super League players, that fizzled out because of lack of interest and I cant think of one valid reason why this will be any different.

I think the concept is a good one, and if wasn't at Headingley which I am sick and tired of going to, I'd have bought tickets for it.

Deadly serious me pal.

Although if we do win the game and it is a tough contest then I think it will be played again. I think if we get beat it will be played again. Lets be honest though, we still won't match the aussies or NZ. If by some kind of magic we do though, I'm sure the RFL will make out this game played a huge part.

So your not THAT bothered then are you, just like the rest of us

People can see through the marketing spin and are voting with their feet. Given how close it is I was considering going, however after seeing the England squad I decided against. Yesterday I got the email from the RFL with the title "Leeds fans - support England this Friday", which now means I don't get anymore marketing emails from the RFL. I wouldn't mind, they know I'm a Wigan fan as I've put it down on info before.

I'm hoping for the Exiles to win big so we might get a change of coach and at the very least the final curtain on some of the failed deadwood who should have been put out to pasture years ago.

SOO is just NRL players v NRL players yet still commands a great attendance and viewing figures.

Which is also steeped in tradition, dislike of eachother and history.................

Had to start somewhere though.

It was steeped in sod all when they first played it.

The one benefit is to the players who basically forfeit playing SOO and International rugby when they come over here to still test themselves in a rep side.

I'm undecided whether to go or not at the minute. I like the concept and until seeing the squad we picked was well up for it but now I'm not too sure. I thought it was an ideal chance to look at guys like Lomax, Mossop and McGillvary and see if they're ready for a four nations place but again we go with some tried and failed players who won't get us anywhere come the four nations.

Just having McNamara in charge will be enough to put plenty off. I don't get why we can't have a part time coach like the Aussies and Kiwis do. That way you get a guy involved in superleague week in week out who's considered good enough for a fulltime role. If it wasn't for the England role McNamara wouldn't have a job right now and that can't be right. I'd love to see Nathan Brown in charge on a part time basis.

I think we should just have Wire v Wigan play three times throughout the season like SOO. The two best teams and always the best games. If we're being honest, how many players not already in those two teams would get into either side?

nice try.

didnt the grand final start off with crap crowds and people thinking it shouldnt be played and now its very popular.

i really want this idea to work its a great concept and i hope its played in the same way as SOO bash the crap out of each other for 80 mins then be team mates again the day after.

what the RFL need to do is make sure if they stick with it its not at leeds every year we have some top class new stadiums and they have chosen a run down one that for me is the only mistake they have made.

great idea and i for one hope it pays off

nail on head.

the problem with this for me is that we are not seeing the best english players face off for a place in the england team, like in the nrl the majority of the international team players are picked from the soo squads.
i agree this is a great test for the final england squad, but we are still not 100% sure that this is the best england squad, its still only a McNamara team playing a exiles team,
not sure im putting my point across right,
i think this is a good test but i belive there should be an english players soo so that we can get the english lads pushing eachother for the england team, and then the england team playing a series against the exiles.
i know theres alot of rubbish about the amount of games players play but back in history before sl the players played many more games, we need to stop mollycodlying our players and make them train hard, and play harder, and get more representative games