www.superleague.co.uk/article/27 ... the-exiles No Hull FC Players Selected.

www.superleague.co.uk/article/27 ... the-exiles No Hull FC Players Selected.

Travis Burns (Hull Kingston Rovers, Australia)
Chris Bailey (London Broncos, Australia)
Brett Delaney (Leeds Rhinos, Australia)
Michael Dobson (Hull Kingston Rovers, Australia)
Rhys Hanbury (Widnes Vikings, Australia)
Harrison Hansen (Wigan Warriors, Samoa)
Brett Hodgson (Warrington Wolves, Australia, Captain)
Lance Hohaia (St Helens, New Zealand)
Kylie Leulua (Leeds Rhinos, Samoa)
Steve Menzies (Catalans Dragons, Australia)
Joel Monaghan (Warrington Wolves, Australia)
Michael Monaghan (Warrington Wolves, Australia)
Joel Moon (Leeds Rhinos, Australia)
Mickey Paea (Hull Kingston Rovers, Tonga)
Tony Puletua (St Helens, Samoa)
Pat Richards (Wigan Warriors, Ireland)
Iosia Soliola (St Helens, Samoa)
Zeb Taia (Catalan Dragons, Cook Islands)
Trent Waterhouse (Warrington Wolves, Australia).

Travis Burns





Wasnt DJ m.o.m last year aswell ?

He was and Burns is only selected because DJ was asked but turned it down to, in his words, "Concentrate on the big Games coming up for Hull FC"

Lance Hohaia (St Helens, New Zealand)



, His form has been shocking practically since he game to SL

Good news about DJ concentrating on FC, pleasing to hear.

Funny how people were questioning Holdsworth's commitment to Hull only a few weeks ago. What a guy!

Funny how there's no homesick/not happy scares when we're playing well.

This concept will die a quick death now players are pulling out to 'concentrate on the club'.

There's no real passion from the majority of players or the clubs for these matches, just like the Roses origin matches, it's all nice when it's new but the novelty soon wears off.

Shame, because we're never going to progress as an international outfit if these ideas aren't fully supported.

I'm a little disappointed with Holdsworth to be honest. The international game is also important to the sport, and the England vs Exile game is important for the world cup preparation. As easter hull FC fan says, if players start taking this option then it will die a death and we will end up with playing France etc for prep, which is no prep at all.

I fully respect his commitment to the club though

Disappointed? Have you listened to his interview?

He is obviously unhappy with the SL games that he has missed and doesn't want to risk any injury even though it's only one game. His commitment is solely focused on Hull FC and our "big games" coming up. We should applaud him and be very happy that he clearly cares about his performances for our club without any distraction.

He's already said he respects his commitment.

This is exactly the problem with the Exiles concept, it doesn't mean the same for those foreign players to pull on the exiles jersey as it does the English boys. Nobody's going to severely criticise Holdsworth's decision because, worst case scenario, he could get a career ending injury like Prescott, then he's stranded. But I think people are entitled to be a little disappointed that he's pulled out for no reason other than that, as it becomes less and less a meaningful game the more this happens, and that doesn't help England's preparation. Though I would say McNamara is doing a Stirling job at fecking up the preparation himself with his squad selection.

I completely applaud DJ because he clearly cares about his performance for my club at his own expense.

To be honest, the "International Game" has never meant that much to me anyway but since McBanana was given the job, it means absolutely nothing to me. I'll take a Wembley win or a Grand Final win over our England team every single time without a second of consideration.

I couldn't give a flying Fcuk about England V Exciles. It's a joke. The coach and the RFL selection is a joke.

I care about Hull FC and the players. Silly games like this left a bad taste in my mouth when Prekkie got injured in Lancs v Yorks game.

You won't be watching the World Cup at the end of the season then?

As pretty much every other major sport proves, including Rugby League there is room for a competitive league, cup and intentional game.

That's different, I'm talking about mid season games. If they want "Warm up" games have them after The Grand Final.

How many of us will be majorly Peeved off if Ellis gets injured in the Exciles game, especially when he has missed a lot of the season already.

I won't be watching it. I couldn't give a flying one about the international game.

Me neither as I just can't get excited about Internationals due to the current state of the International game. Apart from Australia, NZ and then England there is a big gap in quality and stnadard of competition. Also the fact that the England Coach always seems to pick the same old faces regardless of form.

Regarding DJ I am pleased that he has chosen to put the club first as he has really only just come back from the Concussion issue that has kept him out of most of the season so far and as has been mentioned by him the Club have some very important games coming up and have a really good chance of making the semi's in the CC. In all honesty how big an honour is it for Quota players to be picked for the Exiles?

Moaning about the state of the international game, then applauding players withdrawals is a bit of a strange one.

Not really. Holdsworth hasn't been called up to represent Australia. It's a very different ball game from his point of view. The only international team that would potentially benefit from him playing for the Exiles is England. What's in it for him and Hull FC? He's declined in favour of Hull's interests.

The Exiles game [ishould[/i be a strengthener for England. But as McNamara continues to fail to put his money where his mouth is and continues to fail to start selecting new form players England will continue to stall. McNamara persisting with sorry Sinfield and the same stale faces negates any benefits the Exiles game could induce. McNamara's refusal to evolve is the stunter of our international side not players declining to play for the opposition.

Why risk himself to help something that won't help itself? Nice one, DJ. Respect to you.

I don't blame Holdsworth - he's already got it on his CV and having missed a few games this year, it'd be a bitter pill if he picked up a knock in this game. But the same could be said of Ellis. If the Exiles are not seen as a real representative team and selection starts to be viewed as a chore, then it dies. And while I know plenty of people wouldn't be that fussed (I'm fairly ambivalent myself), we don't have a good alternative fixture for England.
It'll be interesting to see how many withdrawls there after this weekend's games.

Do the Knights have a fixture? They don't seem to play very much. A Knights-France game would be a moderately attractive.

Don't disagree with any of that, an have already said it myself, thanks.

But you can't deny that the more players take Holdsworth's stance, the lesser a benefit it becomes, regardless of what squad McNamara chooses.
Are we saying that if the likes of Lineham, Brough etc. had been chosen then Holdsworth's absence would be less acceptable?

The point is though the Exiles team represents no real honour as its a representative side of UK based overseas players not a true National Rep side. If it were me and my country had selcted me that would be an honour far more than an exiles team.

Why is it strange to mention the state of the International game but support DJ's move not to play? The guy had he been fully fit and injury free this season most likely I would think would have played, however due to the reason above he feels he owes the club more than a merry band of overseas players for the benefit of the England team.

Unfortunately you can not class the Exiles as a National Side, the concept was brought in due to the poor quality of opposition at International level to supposedly help the England National team, you can not expect players to show loyalty to a something (Exiles) that is of no benefit to them.

I'm not dissapointed at all.

Having seen Steve Prescott have his career ended in a meaningless Origin match i'm over the moon he has turned it down.

The England team are the only players this fixture benefits, and even then I wish Ellis had pulled out. Saying that even though he will be at risk of injury at least its another 80 minutes in his build up to full fitness.

For me it's the only way England get to play a side that will give them any competition but have to agree it would be better off taking place at the end of the season. No point in a two week break just for these games. Just finish the season two weeks earlier and then play them. Perfect chance for a squad to get used to each other and would give momentum going into a tournament. Theres a real chance that 25% of this team won't even be in the world cup squad so having it now seems pointless on all levels