WWE don't exclusively put everything on their network. They still have their flagship shows on national television and will still get paid for that.

I'd still have CC games on the BBC and 2 SL games on Sky. They act as adverts for the rest of the product. They may not get as much from that deal as previously, but this is where you try to plug gaps with your own income.

So I'm reading the article about this on the rfl website and I come across a bit that says it is free for people with magic weekend tickets (as others have stated). I think this is great, I can watch it for free! Oh no wait, I read the next bit which says that it is only free to people who buy there tickets from the website between a certain time period and put a promo code in...

I bought my magic tickets from my club when they went on sale a while back so I could get a train ticket and hotel before they are all booked up. Basically I'm missing out on something because I am organised.

Conning gits...

SKY has it then so I believe unless it has changed

Does anyone think they can have a go at the likely Samoan line up? They have some talented players like Anthony Milford and Carlos Tuimavave, some monsters like Cas's Junior Moor and Jesé Sene-Lefao. Salfords Junior Sau. Super League old boys Mose Masoe and Sia Soliola.

In the last game they played, the only English based player in the squad was Denny Solomona.

Hopefully that's the case this time because other wise Cas could have 3 players turning out for either team! Roberts, Moors & Sene-Lefao for Samoa and Hardaker, Gale & take your pick of a few players for the 3rd for England.

Typical attitude of a backward thinking, flat cap, RL fan, who doesn't support the international game. Sadly a number of fans and clubs share this view.

Hardly. The England team have a 3 player cap to stop it being unfair on the club sides but then if Samoa call up English based players after not doing so for their last game could leave teams further in the lurch.

Any promo codes going round to stream this game at a discount yet?

Just in case you're not being ironic:

£3.49 is the early bird price, so expect price to rise 24 hrs before KO, and if you buy a Magic ticket you get a free viewing too (if you enter promo code).

If this is going to work on any level then both teams need to field their very best side. I might be inclined to tune in if I know full well that Samoa and England are at full strength. And for me that would be:

England

1. Zak Hardaker
2. Ryan Hall
3. Mark Percival
4. Kallum Watkins
5. Greg Eden
6. Gareth Widdop
7. Luke Gale
8. Chris Hill
9. Josh Hodgson
10. James Graham
11. Mike McMeekan
12. Elliott Whitehead
13. Sam Burgess

14. Daryl Clark
15. George Burgess
16. Scott Taylor
17. Sean O'Loughlin

I would be tempted to include Liam Farrell, Jermaine McGillvary or Ryan Atkins. But that would be my squad.

Samoa

1. Peter Mata'utia
2. Antonio Winterstein
3. Ricky Leutele
4. Joseph Leilua
5. David Nofoaluma
6. Anthony Milford
7. Fa'amanu Brown
8. Sam Kasiano
9. Kaysa Pritchard
10. Junior Paulo
11. Jesse Sene-Lefao
12. Frank Winterstein
13. Leeson Ah Mau

14. Pita Godinet
15. Junior Moors
16. Sam Tagataese
17. Sam Lisone

Could include Ben Roberts, Isaac Liu, Sia Soliola, Daniel Vidot, Mose Masoe. To me that looks like a decent game!

I like your Samoa team better than your England team!



But Godinet before Brown, surely?

They're talking about Leilua playing for Oz lately. Not that that seems to make any difference these days....

In fact, I'd go so far as to say, I reckon that (hypothetical) Samoa team would beat your (hypothetical) England team.

You can expect a lot of mysterious injuries the weekend before this game, particularly the NRL players, for both teams.

I think Leilua fancies himself for a SOO place so can't see hm playing anyway.

Milford was SOO last year before he broke the 12.00pm curfew, so highly unlikely he will be turning out for Samoa

So no George Williams then? No matter how well Widdop is playing, i like the look of Williams and Gale at 6 & 7

I don't think Super League clubs will release Samoan players. Just saying. If you're already going to lose 3, why would you sanction potentially more than that going.

Can't see Cas letting JSL, Moors or Roberts going particularly if we lose Hardaker and Gale.

SL clubs have an obligation to England - don't have an obligation to Samoa.

Also, Williams will be in the squad. And again, I can see all the NRL-based England players being included.

Do SL clubs have a choice?

Probably not, certainly for England, not sure about Samoa or Tonga though, Hull let Manu and Pritchard play for Samoa last year missing the cup game at Saints.

Isn't there a rule where you can call off the game if you have 5 players missing?

SL Clubs shouldn't have a choice, regardless of the standing of the nations.

As for that rule, hope it's poppycock. If one club is inconvenienced it shouldn't be right for that club to inconvenience another.

One Wiganer in that England squad. That will do me!

1. Zak Hardaker (CAS)
2. Ryan Hall (LEE)
3. Mark Percival (STH)
4. Kallum Watkins (LEE)
5. Jermaine Mcgilvary (HUD)
6. George Williams (WIG)
7. Luke Gale (CAS)
8. Chris Hill (WAR)
9. Josh Hodgson (NRL)
10. James Graham (NRL)
11. Mike McMeekan (CAS)
12. Elliott Whitehead (NRL)
13. Sam Burgess (NRL)

14. Gareth Widdop (NRL)
15. George Burgess (NRL)
16. Scott Taylor (HFC)
17. Liam Farrell (WIG)

That's 3 Castleford, 2 Leeds, 2 Wigan, 1 Warrington, 1 Huddersfield, 1 Hull FC, 1 St Helens.

Then you'd expect reserves also. I reckon a total of 25 - 30 squad based players.

3 Castleford - Hardaker, Gale, McMeekan
3 Wigan - Williams, Farrell, Oloughlin
3 Leeds - Watkins, Hall, Ferres
3 Warrington - Hill, Clark, Cooper
2 St Helens - Percival, Smith
2 Hull FC - Taylor, Shaul
1 Huddersfield - Mcgilvary
1 Wakefield - Johnstone
NRL - Graham, Widdop, Burgess, Burgess, Burgess, Whitehead, Hodgson

If 30 (Hock, Houghton, Cudjoe, Sarginson & Roby)

Tough week of super league fixtures that week also:

Thursday - Huddersfield Giants v Castleford Tigers
Friday - Warrington Wolves v St Helens
Friday - Wigan Warriors v Salford Red Devils
Saturday - Catalan Dragons v Leeds Rhinos
Saturday - Leigh Centurions v Wakefield Trinity
Sunday - Widnes Vikings v Hull FC

Are the prop forwards in Super League so poor that the Burgess twins can warrant selection?

I think prop is a strong position - when players like Watts, Walmsley etc. are not mentioned in the post above. Watts has been better than Taylor for me this year.

Hardaker, McGillvary, Watkins, Sarginson, Hall, Widdop, Williams, G Burgess, Hodgson, Graham, Whitehead, Farrell, S Burgess

Hill, T Burgess, Taylor, Clark

Ratchford, O'Loughlin, Percival (squad players)

1 Cas
1 Hudds
2 Leeds
3 Wire
1 Wigan
1 Hull

It's one game. We'll only take a squad of around 20. The starting 17 and a couple of back-up players. There's no need to take 25 players, most of whom won't play. Have standby players over here just in case there's a real injury crisis and people need to go at short notice.