Lulu - club v country

[Bugsyoz]

Do you care TL will have to play 3 games in 11 days, one a test match and fly 24,000 miles to do this?

Nope

Well you had no option but to say that or you had lost the argument.

But on the off chance you actually really do not understand the implications of asking players to do this then I suggest you just make the return trip yourself and see what you feel like. Never mind the RL and then see what you think.

With salary caps in place clubs do not have spare players of equal standard waiting around for a game so players like TL will be expected to play.

Expected to play for their country if selected. Absolutely.

They will also be expected to play for their clubs as well (but you knew that is what I meant) and whether you like it or not both club and international game can't be in opposition to one another. If you are so pro international RL that mid-season games are this important then perhaps you might want reflect on what damage to the international game club v country conflicts might bring. Given these conflicts can be avoided by a sensible international fixture list and agreements I do not see why there needs to be a problem.

It isn't as if the southern hemisphere nations are a shining light on international selection anyway with both Aus and NZ poaching players from the pacific island nations as they see fit.

It is mind blowingly stupid to arrange mid-season rep games and then expect players to fly around the world for the sake of one game.

No it's not. Scheduling games is difficult.

It is dead simple. What is complicated about "No international games mid season" or "Mid season games do not involve players travelling round the world for one game"?

Absolutely nothing.

There's always people carrying on about the World Club Challenge...that the Aussie team doesn't have match fitness, doesn't have time to sort the conditions etc etc.

What has that got to do with it? The WCC is a fabricated club competition.

Get on with it. In this case the test is on mid season...everyone knows it's on wayyyyy in advance.

Isn't this a one off 100 years game? In any case knowing it is on way in advance is another irrelevance as the problems are still there. It is the fact it is on at all that is the problem not the notice given.

It's my view that the NZ selectors are just being deliberately awkward for the sake of it given TL isn't that good.

In the modern game there simply should be no rep games mid season or if there are the International coaches should not make these sort of demands.

First part..quite possibly. Scheduling games is difficult. Second part, sorry couldn't disagree more. Selectors (and coaches) can call on players who are available. If they are in England....something about cookies and crumbling. Playing for your country is the ultimate and if it requires you hopping on a plane if you are available so be it.

It isn't that simple. The game is no longer semi-pro and is structured with small team squads due to the salary cap. The demands on players are high and we already have they themselves and coaches complaining about player overload. Execting them to fly 24,00 miles and play 3 RL games in this short a space of time goes against all modern thinking.

As to the players if TL & Co want to play for a UK club and earn the high wages on offer over here compared to in the NRL, they should not complain about not being able to play rep football mid-season. Hopefully Wigan will learn form this and put clauses in overseas players contracts that preclude travelling like this.

If a club ever put a clause in a contract banning a player from playing rep football you wouldn't have many (any?) overseas players of rep level at your club!

That is not what I said. I said mid-season games would not be allowed. Not all rep football.

The Aussies already know it's the end of their international career (and origin career) if they come over. They still come. This is an NZ thing essentially and given NZ will poach any south pacific islander who is any good I think its a bit rich for them to make such demands.

If that means they don't sign in the first place, that is fine by me.

Quite so, and that is what would probably happen.

There seem plenty of Aussies here who have no prospect of international or rep honours who are happy to come over.

Dave

[GeoffN]

Given that the main problem is getting him back fit for the Warrington game, I think the club have missed a trick here (unless...!).

The rules state that if a player pulls out of an international, he can't play within 5 days of that game. All TL need to do is pick up an injury against Saints tomorrow - he then can't play against Haven (which isn't a problem), but is still eligible for the Wire game a week later, without having to travel to OZ & back.

[butt monkey]

Not too bothered if TL is available against Warrington or not! He has hardly set Wigan "alight" this season and is more than lucky to have been included in a very inexperienced NZ back-line.

[josie andrews]

http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/274244646?-4338

http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/274270884?-4338

http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/274300493?-4338

[Matthew]

It's a bit of a mystery to me why the Kiwi's are so desperate for him to play for them. He hasn't looked like an international scrum half to me this season and I fail to see how making him fly to the otherside of the world is going to improve him for the game.

I expect the Kiwi's to be heavily beaten and TL to rush out of the line - a lot.

As for him doing a Millward and claiming to be injured before returning for our next important match; it seems to me that TL wants to play in the test and so is unlikely to claim to be injured

[cpwigan]

I believe international duty should come first. However, there are wider issues. One would suggest a lackof co-ordination and planning by the IRLF. Moreover, the ARL and NRL have been criticised widely in their own country for the representative season scheduling. The most common argument I have heard is that City v Country should be followed by Origin with the International coming post Origin. We do have a world cup but I believe that was still possible.

Equally. Australia must stop blackmailing and/or poaching players that should be representing other nations. Farah should have played for Lebanon last year not presented with an ultimatum. He is unlikely to play much if any Origin let alone for the Roos. Mateo should represent Tonga because I have my doubts he will make Origin or the Roos. If these players played for their countries, it would strengthen the international game.

[josie andrews]

http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/274400437?-4338

I wish he had the opportunity here to do this

[jaws1]

Under Nobles game plan he stifles individual skills

[Bugsyoz]

I believe international duty should come first. However, there are wider issues. One would suggest a lackof co-ordination and planning by the IRLF. Moreover, the ARL and NRL have been criticised widely in their own country for the representative season scheduling. The most common argument I have heard is that City v Country should be followed by Origin with the International coming post Origin. We do have a world cup but I believe that was still possible.

Yup, that's the way 'it used to be'. It was a genuine NSW Origin trial. Also, there was a City 1sts v Country 1sts, which for City was again players from the NSWRL and for Country was a rep side of players from the bush. It was fantastic.

So the people who argue (and there's not many of them) that it shouldn't be on anymore (NRL/ARL can't win with this one...there were massive complaints when it was canned and huge hooray's when it came back) are those who say it should be a trial for Origin, and how can it be when the test side is chosen beforehand and hence those test players are n/a for City-Country. Not a bad argument, however it's really in the minority. Most people want the game, and it's of particular interest to 'Country'.

Equally. Australia must stop blackmailing and/or poaching players that should be representing other nations. Farah should have played for Lebanon last year not presented with an ultimatum. He is unlikely to play much if any Origin let alone for the Roos. Mateo should represent Tonga because I have my doubts he will make Origin or the Roos. If these players played for their countries, it would strengthen the international game.

Oh it's not just Australia. RLWC2000 ring a bell? RLWC2008 ring a bell? Brad Thorn is a classic, Qld Origin Rep..Aust rep, goes to the kick and giggle and plays for NZ, back to the great game and back in the Qld Origin side..now back to the giggle fest and in line for another NZ jersey. The lines are ever so grey. Sonny Bill Williams has stated 'I played for NSW as an under 17 player, why can't I play for NSW Origin? Me thinks he's lining up in an All Gold strip tomorrow night....

[cpwigan]

Bugyz I agree re SBW and players wanting their cake and eat it too. Origin should be what it is. Although I also disagreed with Adrian Lam playing.