Confident England Take Series Lead Hulls' KC Stadium was the venue for the first of the three Autumn tests between a new-look England side and the World Cup holders, the best team in the world, New Zealand. England were without Sam Tomkins, ruled out through injury for the whole series, paving the way for Super League Man of Steel and triple winner Zak Hardaker to take a starring role for his country. A full house and a terrific atmosphere welcomed the two sides onto the pitch and a blood curdling Haka signalled the start of hostilities. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

Confident England Take Series Lead Hulls' KC Stadium was the venue for the first of the three Autumn tests between a new-look England side and the World Cup holders, the best team in the world, New Zealand. England were without Sam Tomkins, ruled out through injury for the whole series, paving the way for Super League Man of Steel and triple winner Zak Hardaker to take a starring role for his country. A full house and a terrific atmosphere welcomed the two sides onto the pitch and a blood curdling Haka signalled the start of hostilities. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

Terrific atmosphere my . It was like a morgue in the 1st half. I was in the West Upper and could hear the players shouting at each other.

Still, enjoyable game.

They said on tv the atmosphere was very flat

I said it felt like a friendly. Still enjoyed it tho.
Buzzing for josh hodge.
Well organised event, good pre match.

Looked like a friendly on tv as well. Glad I didn't waste my money going.

Yeh. Why waste it watching the likes of James Graham, Tuivasa-Sheck, Luke, Taupau, Matulino, Nightingale, Whare, Widdop etc etc, who play over here every blue moon, when you can save it & spend it on watching the likes of Liam Salter & Jordan Cox.

That's like saying to an Oldham fan why watch Oldham when you can go watch either Manchester teams he doesn't because oldhams his team the same way I would go anywhere to watch rovers but an international match with the worlds best players on show I could take or leave it

No it's not. That hypothetical situation would only work if an England vs Spain competitive International was being played less than 10 miles away from Oldham, and some of England's best players played abroad. I reckon in that case they'd make an effort to go see the very best players in the sport they love, right on their doorstep, on the very rare occasion they happen to be playing in this country.

We cannot all be as fortunate to watch the likes Of Rangi Chase, Justin Carney and other big name players that appear in the mind of our chairman around season ticket renewal time.



Good game though, well at least the second half. No atmosphere except a half hearted attempt by the North stand which petered out but hopefully the first in a whitewash of the world champions. Burgess MOTM IMO.

Odd comment to make. Anyway, the point I made is applicable to Hull FC too though. Like you probably do on Rovers, I spend a lot of money and time following FC, watching a lot of pretty average games (in terms of skill level and quality) played by some pretty average players (I'm looking at the Steve Michaels, Chris Green, Liam Salter, Dane Tilse types).

So, when some genuine world class players do show up to play a rare game in our city, some fans like Roversmad see it was a waste of money, despite it being proportionately a fraction of what they spend watching Rovers over a season.

I find it bizarre.



Agree. Second half was much better. Burgess was immense off the bench.

I'm afraid Roversmad is probably one of many who feel this way. This is due to the state of our international game. The days of scrambling for tickets for the deciding test at Elland road in 1990 are long gone and the RFL are just happy that enough turn up to make the stadium look full.

To be honest I've become really not bothered about international RL yes I'll watch it but there isn't enough good teams or enough matches between the top 3 you talk about the quality of players but that wasn't evident by the first half yesterday England looked clueless near the line second half was better I think the days when the Aussies did proper tours were the peak of our international game the interest was there now we get the odd game every couple of years

it was a great atmosphere as the teams came out after the light show, national anthems and haka

once kick off took place the atmosphere fell flat


so technically the headline is correct

Wind your neck in soft lad. I meant in hindsight I was glad I didn't go as the match was poor.

When the rfl decided to abolish the great Britain team the internationals lost some of its zest for me

spot on, for me loved the touring teams but long gone am afraid, watching it yesterday the first half was so flat and boring, second half better but no great shakes

I feel badly let down by media coverage of this test series.

Firstly the BBC coverage of yesterday's game was cackamallabab. 10 minutes of crammed introduction and preamble, then the teams walk out. I liked Dave Wood's understated commentary, but that incomprehensible yak from the far side of Swansea sat beside him giving his expert opinion on proceedings really had me screaming fire.

Match was no sooner finished then off air.

Then to compound matters, I am watching BBC breakfast news this morning and the RL match result and report comes after new Aston Villa manager, Sunday Premier League football results, women's football, yawnion, cricket and gymnastics.

How our game has plumbed the depths from a media profile perspective in the last 25 years. We're doomed if the channel that broadcasts this series maintains this standard and exposure. Opinions please.

I enjoyed it, bit then I'm feral when it comes to teams that I support.

I'm a proud Northener, not English, more European.

Jiffy is indeed rubbish, hasn't caught up with the game since he played it.

Personally I don't like the endless build up, just give me the game, I like Dave Woods a lot, I think he calls the game well. I used to really like 5Live's radio commentary before David Oates died, they had him and another bloke who's name escapes me. Oates would call it when one team had possession and the other bloke vice versa, it worked really well.

It's always been the same with the media and it will never change it doesn't bother me you just have to look at what sport the bbc shows now and it's very little be thankful they actually show the game

Has i can not get to any games for different reasons i was glad BBC showed it has were i was did not have sky so i was pleased and i enjoyed the match to me it was great

I spent a small fortune on World Cup Final tickets 2 years ago. As it turned out I ended up with restricted view seats. They were so bad I left under the impression that those pesky Aussies had lifted the trophy at the end.

Thanks for putting me straight mate.