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

Wasn't it said that this is because it's the only RL stadium owned by a Rugby League club? So the RFL gets more money? Or have I imagined that somewhere.

Unsure about the concept.
As a RL fan I'd love to see the game played in the 'origin' spirit, however, as a Wigan fan, I don't want to see us picking up injuries as for me, the club is more important.

Who owns the HJ then?

warrington Sports Holding apparently, im guessing its a bit of a welco type set up

For me the players have a huge responsibility for the concept to work. As someone said earlier, the reason York v.s Lanc didn't work was because there was no intensity and the players never brough into the concept. Fans won't pay money to watch half hearted tackles. If there's a small crowd. but the games a cracker, then nest year it will go up and can grow from there.

I think it may be different from York/Lanc as players are representing your country, and players will feel this an ideal opportunity to stake a claim for a four nations spot. Yorks/Lancs never had this incentive. The Exiles don't need motivation, it's in their blood to win everygame, even touch and pass in training.

Dunno, whats the capacity compared to headingley?

Genuinely don't know if thats why, just read it somewhere.

I always thought Yorkshire/Lancashire never worked because the rivalry within the counties was far greater than the rivalry between them.

On our side of the Pennines we always want our closest rivals to get beat no matter who they play whereas the Wrong side of the Pennines are Yorkshire over everything else.

When I meant only Club owned stadium - I meant one that was big enough.

My back garden will be big enough for the Exiles game. I don't think there is much interest at all.

Yep it's all about Saints v Wigan.

I think the game needs to be on a weekend where there are no other Super League fixtures played. I don't think that many fans from this side of the Pennines are going to travel to Leeds if they have an away game on the same weekend. I think potentially there could be a much bigger crowd if it was a stand alone fixture.

I'd also like to see Lancashire vs Yorkshire re-introduced but played as a curtain raiser to the Exiles game. The teams could include some more experienced players with a realistic chance of making the England squad and some young hopefuls or perhaps just consisting entirely of young players with potential international futures.

If it was held on a Saturday afternoon you could have it at a ground that has some decent facilities and plenty of room, have some good food and drink available and some entertainment to encourage people to spend the afternoon and watch both fixtures.

The Lancs-Yorks game might have a bit more intensity if it was in front of the England coaches and players and with a view to catching the eye to make it into the England squad. I think there are plenty of fans who feel their side has good young players or potential internationals and they could watch them on the same day, so there might be some interest. The younger players certainly don't lack enthusiasm which might add something to the game.

Should have definantly been on a weekend of its own. Not sure Headingly was the best choice of venue either. Leeds always gets England games. Why not have it in Warrington where a lot of the players are based and Warrington hasn't hosted a first team England game for years. With St Helens, Wigan, Widnes, Leigh and Salford not being far away I think Warrington would have been the best venue. 13k could have sold out with a bit of effort. Instead we will have around 10k with a poor atmosphere.

Apparently Roby could play for Saints on Sunday despite being withdrawn from the England squad.

Interesting.

Ridiculous if true