i don't know wether to do a guess the attendance post or guess the score post??? they might get mistaken

Sean Long...what a blouse.



http://www.leagueunlimited.com/article.asp?ID=12518

it's a non story about long never touring again....GB are'nt going to tour again for 4 or 5 years and long will have long retired by then

crowd 44,538 .......fantastic, take note sydney

Considering everything I believe that Sydney's reputation as Australia's seemingly 1st choice of host city for Rugby League Internationals will be on the line next Saturday night. If a capacity crowd doesn't turn up to Aussie Stadium, or they don't get at least 40,000 through the gate I think you'll find that Brisbane will become the front runner for future tests followed by Sydney & Melbourne. This years Tri-Nations deserves a capacity crowd for the final.

On to other matters, the Kangaroos looked scrappy at times tonight but I will say this. With Jonathon Thurston at half taking on the line and pressure off Lockyer, Australia look much better than when he plays little more than a link man. We're better with Hunt at fullback and not Inglis while our forwards again provided a good platform for the halves to work on. Great Britain didn't ever give up though even after being down 12-0 after 9 minutes. With a bit more polishing of their skills they can definately climb back up the international ladder.

I was at the game tonight, great atmosphere. I was hoping for a draw to see them in the final.

I think that GB really need to have tours down here far more often. Not part of the 3N but a proper tour where they play more sides like that Newcastle selection as warm ups instead of pretty much going in cold.

proper tours are'nt likely....

i'm not sure if you know or not but GB are being put into semi retirement as of today....GB are going to compete as ENGLAND,IRELAND,SCOTLAND & WALES on th international stage..(because of the world cup) but GB are going to tour australia and then new zealand on rotation like the lion rugby union team with the next planned for 2010 then 2014,2018,2022 etc.....

I've heard that they're going to keep the GB thing for one more tournament and then split up for the WC. I really don't care either way though, I just want more international footy played in Australia. To be specific, more than just a 14/15 matches a year for Brisbane.

if you want more international footy then get on to the ARL about organising games against PNG,TONGA,SAMOA & FIJI cos these countries are having to travel halfway around the world to play decent test matches...

ideally to start with the ARL should start an AUSTRALIA 'A' team made up of either the best players in the queensland cup/nswrl comps or a NRL under 24's team..this goes for the kiwi's awell,they already have an 'A' (residents) team..

and then both AUS 'A' & kiwi 'A' host 2 of the 4 nations mentioned above so you have 2 tri- nation comps..

AUSTRALIA 'A'
TONGA
PNG

&

KIWI 'A'
SAMOA
FIJI

and change the groups every year,these countries need international rugby and some parts of austalia and new zealand could do with seeing some kind of international rugby league on a regular basis..like perth,adelaide & christchurch..

Add Brisbane to that list and take away Adelaide. Brisbane has had 3 (all 40K+) tests in the past 6 years. Perth is a chance to get some maches because they're getting an NRL team soon but Adelaide is so far away on the horizon it's not funny. Most importantly places like Newcastle and Townsville should be getting big matches and not be left out in the cold.

I think there was a fair few Barmy Army in the Brisbane crowd, especially with all the flags

Good fixturing by the ARL to put the game close to the Ashes in Brisbane, they should move the final north to Brisbane as well...

you see my point though don't you??


the ARL has nothing planned in terms of international matches next year (2007) apart from the ANZAC test..thats shocking in a year before they are hosting the world cup

if they sort out an 'A' team they could organise alittle four team comp with some of the pacific island nations who have already qualified for the world cup...fiji,samoa & tonga will need a decent run out between now and the world cup..but they have nothing planned either (PNG are touring france next year)..

something needs to be done.

You've gotta love the pommy fans who travel around the world to see their team.



I think that the ARL are halfway there already, we've had the Prime Minister's XIII play the PNG Kumuls every year in a one off so all they really have to do is organise it so that that Tonga/Fiji/etc get there at the same time. That'd be a great tournament, it'd also be a great way to see guys like Farah/Hayne/etc who are on the verge get a good chance at stepping up to the next level in a proper tournament instead of a one-off.

There are only two Kangaroos matches planned for next year. Both are AUS v NZ. One is at home (April) and the other away (October). When the NRL released the draw, they said the lack of internationals was to "give players a rest". The truth of the matter is that NZ are touring GB to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the All Golds tour and Australia do not want to play any other nation. I think they should have used the chance to at east play PNG in Port Moresby or, more likely, Townsville. Sure it wuld be a shellacking but it would give the people of FNQ a chance to see international footy, it would be great preparation for PNG and it would be another opportunity for us to witness this magnificent Kangaroos side.

Back on Saturday night, I wasn't far off on my scoreline predicitons. The game was thoroughly entertaining - a very good advertisment for the game. For the Aussies Thurston was such a visionary, Kite tackled brilliantly and O'Donnell had one of the better games for the year. For GB, Noble the one trick pony nearly got it right but in the end he did not have the courage to take more risks. Roby was a much better option at hooker than Newton. When Newtown was on the field, GB would gain 20-30m in a set of six, including a 10-15m hit up from the outstanding Jamie Peacock. Roby could take them past half way with dummy half runs and by drawing defenders close to the ruck. Horne was quiet but he didn't make mistakes. He was probablya bit nervous. In defence, it took GB nearly half an hour of tackling before Australia kicked on the last tackle IN THEIR OWN HALF.

Interestingly, the statistics show how GB had more ball and made less tackles. Unfortunately for them they had little attacking potency close to the line, and this is where they would have missed Long. When they were near the line, we'd mainly see a sprayed pass into touch, a soft chip kick with no chase or a grubber straight to the fullback with no chase. When GB managed to get Australia forced in goal, early in the second half, the game looked like a damn good contest. GB's tackling on the wings was good but unfortunately it had to be good. So many times the Aussies ran through the middle making easy ground.

So GB will return home again with a poor record. Can they take anything away from this tour? Hell yes. For one, their first choice halfback is soft. Their back row has mnatured a lot and one hopes they can pass these lessons on in the club season. Being around the Aussies and Kiwis should show them the intensity required.

Another magnificent attendance from the people of Brisbane. Just 7 years ago they drew 12,000 to a Test, the last time Australia hosted the Lions in GB. I hope Sydney crowds turn out in numbers to the final because it will be a great game and also because we have few chances to see our national team. I'll certainly be there.

The final is too close to call. NZ will benefit from the week off and they are the form team. Australia though can never be discounted.

You wish!