It's a shame our players couldn't organise an effective union to be honest. It would go some way to addressing issues such as a salary cap that imposes a real-terms pay cut on players, the number of games we ask our top talent to play and various player safety issues.



I still can't believe that drop-off at the end of the Old Trafford in-goals hasn't been properly addressed, but I bet it would have been with an effective players union.

I think Mags likes the drop at OT. I.m sure he went "weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" when he scored his 2nd try. Even with the help of Farrells knees in 2015 he still enjoyed the slide.

Given the World Cup and the fact the WCC is still pre season for NRL sides, I'd be surprised if Melbourne didn't send a virtual reserve team if it goes ahead. There's no way they'll do anything to risk the fitness of Smith and Slater in particular.

I wouldnt mind playing their reserves (as long as we beat them of course), it would only make up for the 2010 WCC where Melbourne fielded a side worth around double their salary cap!

Then we could add "you're not true World Champions because you only played a reserve side" next to "you're not true SL Champions, Castleford are".......the frothing of mouths would be great.

I think Melbourne stuck [ione[/i finger up at the concept in a large part because they have played in the WCC four times so far and in every case have had to play in the UK. 2009 and 2012 they requested it in Oz and were refused.

Do your research. ANZAC Test played every year since 2004 - including this year (we won 30-12 BTW)

Leeds have a great chance, but it's a pre season warm up for the aussies. I've never been a supporter of the series or World Cup challenge, and until they are playing 2-3 weeks after the finals of the same year I won't be interested. I'd rather SL sides get tonked every year than watch us lose or win with the odds in our favour.

I'm not saying we don't have the odds stacked in our favour, we do, but some of the WCC games iv'e watched down the years look to have been taken pretty seriously to me by the OZ clubs. My club Leeds playing Melbourne a couple of times at Elland Road, and Manly for that matter twice and all those games were played at great intensity; i remember Melbourne hanging on for dear life at the end to get the win in torrential weather at ER with slater and Smith embracing with joy at the end for the win...didn't smack of them not being fussed whatsoever. Same goes for when the Saints pipped the Broncos in a classic mid 00's and the Bulls excellent wins too even Wigan playing a great game against a commited Cronulla this year.



Point is they are generally very good games, played in front of good crowds. Its not perfect and would be played straight after the GF's in an ideal world, but home advantage probably evens the contest up though TBH considering the quality of the teams on show.

It's pretty much a myth that the NRL teams don't take it seriously. Once they agree to play these games. guys come over wanting to win.



Nobody can tell me after watching these games that the players have treated it as some little warm up game.

This years was the final one.