I'm glad the group stages are almost done. Not many games worth watching due simply to the gap in quality between the top 5 nations and the rest.

The games are looking really tasty now. Tonga and Samoa should be a cracker. England's game will be tricky. Australia will beat Lebanon but Fiji won't be easy beats.

I'd like to a Six Nations Tournament, with us, NZ, PNG, Aus, Tonga and Samoa. I know the World Cup is virtually that, but to have a five-week tournament where every game is a cracker would be a great watch.

You don't get that in any World cup in any sport. There will always be minnows by the nature if the qualifying process. Problem with RL is that it's now a naturally high scoring game, so when playing minnows this becomes hugely exaggerated.

I don't know the answer, but you can't deny these teams the opportunity.

The only short term answer I can come up with is that the SL and NRL will supply these clubs with free players. For example Greece could have an extra two SL players and two NRL players. These players don't need any affiliation with the nation in question (they can have as many by grandparents as they can muster for now). The rule must be that all the squads are at least 50% indigenous, or what's the point, remembering we are trying to expand the game.

The support players will benefit by being paid and more importantly being given the chance to increase their value and exposure.

It's not perfect but even though there would be less Greek players, those who did play would benefit by being in a moderately more competitive teams. Can't kid ourselves that they would actually win many games, just compete more.

There have been too many "blow out" scores but, equally, its been great to see the likes of Italy, Greece and Lebanon playing.
The comp starts to get a little more serious now but, even so, it should be England v Tonga and NZ v Aus in the semis.

The 4 nations that we had a number of years ago was a decent idea but, it was played too frequently, and we probably need something similar but, played every 4 years (in between world cups) and then have games against one of the other "big" sides in the other years.

If its a world cup. The teams need to be affiliated to a country, whether heritage or birth. End of.

Same as every other sport world cup.

In 95 NZ beat Japan by 145-17.
Now they've beaten all the home nations except England, beaten Argentina and beaten South Africa in a massive win.

Germany beat Brazil in 2014 7-1.
It happens. Each team will have peaks and troughs over world cups
Just need to give them access to competitive matches for them to improve. Not diminish the glory of playing.

You only have to see Jamaica's try celebration to know it isn't always about the score for the minnows.

Do you really believe that in 20 years our penniless, self serving sport will produce an all Greek team that will compete.

I await you accusing me of dismissing them or something or other, but in the real world that will never happen IMHO. Hasn't happened with France for a start. Let's be realistic. If we are to produce more competitive teams, then those teams need a hard core of players who play in the top comp - even England have come to depend on that.

I'm just showing you the evidence. Teams in all sports have lows and highs. PNG used to be easy beats. As did Samoa.
No point actually discussing with you as you'll just descend into one of your rants again.

I agree. I did watch more of the earlier rounds, but in the latest round I've stayed with them only until the result becomes obvious. I only stayed with England on Saturday until half-time.

I think the difference with, for example, rugby union and football is that are fewer minnows. Even in football, you can usually narrow down the eventual tournament winner to one of maybe four teams before it starts, like with this world cup, but there is more competition en route to the final, with often a fairy tale journey for at least one country. The nature of rugby league means that you never get the fairy tale, and by that I mean a completely unexpected result.

It's great to see the smaller nations, but it doesn't make for compelling viewing. From now on, except maybe the Lebanon game, they do.

This is where the strength of the NRL game helps. There is some genuine quality in both PNG and Samoa, with very good players choosing to play for them. PNG won't be easy beats and Tonga-v-Samoa is very tough to call this time around.

I don't see the international game thriv8 for a good number of years, not enough games are played.
Maybe 7 and 9 international tournaments could be organised every other year.
Its not that long ago that Italy got pumped every game in RU, think it was Rodney March that called the RU World Cup a joke after England won it.
I'm sure lessons will be learned from our own comp but a start would be to introduce more games and more international competitions.

More Internationals is on the IMG to do list I think.
It would require a break though as the NRL wouldn't release players.
Maybe do it at SoO time.

Wasn`t one of the IMG proposals to align calendars with the NRL so that we can facilitate international breaks?

Yes I think so. I kinda like that.
But I reckon we'd have to go there though.

Indeed

One of the issues with international games, apart from all of the competitive sides are "down under" is that The Aussies are happy with SOO and generally not interested in internationals, certainly not coming over here anyway.

I agree, although I genuinely think since a lot of Samoans and Tongans have pledged there allegiance to their countries, interest in the international game seems to have picked up a little. By putting themselves forward to play for there country, they are giving up the chance to play Origin as well.

It's a tough one.
Mind you, if the Aussies aren't fully on board with the internationals, they wont happen.

I think the Origin criteria only requires a player to have played in either Queensland or New South Wales area before they are 13.

It used to but it has been said a number of times that players playing for heritage countries are giving up that right.

I suspect that will change. The quality of the players in Samoa and Tonga would weaken the Origin brand if they couldn't play Origin as well. It's not as much of an issue at the moment as the players available for NSW are of such high quality, but Queensland doesn't quite have the depth of NSW (despite winning it this year).

I think one issue that could arise is that if players increasingly choose their heritage country, Origin could become a bit of a "white" tournament, which wouldn't be a good look, unless they change the rules (ie, it would become white Aussies and indigenous Aussies only).

Well the BBC talked up Kyle Evans pre match

Not totally sure why, unless it's because he is actually Welsh.

I was there last night and watched him closely, couple of breaks, a nice one in the second half, but nothing that would blow you away. Now I accept the weather was a huge factor as was the service but some perspective with this lad is needed.

I know I keep saying this but he's 32 and is not even in double figures yet for full games in RL. I really admire the bloke for the step up he's made, but unless it's a very cheap deal I can't see the point, certainly not if it meant diverting money from Murphy and Kershaw and Pratt further down the line.

I have to point out that it's nothing like Proctor, he brings 300 games played at the highest level, he brings a wealth of experience to the club that Evans simply doesn't. The only reason Proctor could fail is the Proctor himself, and injuries of course.

Because he's one of the best players in the Welsh team. Why wouldn't they?

Is he?

Don't get me wrong, I liked him the first time I saw him, but it's now OTT imo, you clearly think differently.

If it's any consolation I thought Anthony Walker was Wales best player, clearly not fit enough unfortunately (for well known reason), but he's the best RL player they have,

I've got a feeling we may still sign Evans, but that just a feeling not a fact.

So.....second best player? Still can't see why the BBC can't do a 2 minute profile on him.

I never said they couldn't, I'm just surprised they have gone out on a limb. Be honest for once, rather than points scoring over me, they started bigging him up before the first game started, which I found odd as hardly anyone had seen him play at that point.

Also I don't even think he was second best, last night there were other player out there and they were far more involved than Kyle. The part time Welsh pack stood up toe to toe with the full time PNG players. Now unless the games changed out of recognition that for me trumps any winger any day of the week, yet nobody seemed to mention that. It all went towards Evans and there was no reason for that IMO, he had a good game but no better than anyone else. Admittedly I have not re-watched it on TV and being there live you miss stuff, but as of now I can't see what the fuss is about.

The only thing I can truly say stands out about Kyle is how quickly he's adapted, massive achievement in that respect, though again it's hardly unknown for a RU winger in League is it?

Sorry if that offends you, again.

You said "not sure why".
I'm explaining why.