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

Something I've already said.


It's strange because it's never going to get any better whilst players are taking the stance Holdsworth is. If there is any slight niggle, then fair enough (O'Meley). Injuries can happen at any time and are an unfortunate part of the game.
If people just don't give a about the international games then fair enough, but others do and it will be those people who are disappointed by this

Again, something I've said, but it makes it no less disappointing as an English man when players don't show that support. Let's face it, most of these players only have a sustainable pro RL career because of the Super League, I don't think it's too much to ask.

But that is the point that the overseas players have no allegiance or loyalty to the exiles or SL only to the club that pays their wage and why should they be expected to? If it were an English player pulling out the Engalnd squad then that's a whole different scenario.

Why not play the England team against the Engalnd Knights team?

I'm not arguing against what you say, I agree about the pride, passion etc. I'm not criticising him for his reasons, they're very admirable. Just disappointed, that's all.

England v England Knights would be just as one sided as an England v France game.

I'm not so sure to be honest as I think there are quite a few Knights who Mcbanana should give a shot to in the full England side instead of the usual faces that have year in year out failed to compete over the course of the Tri Nations or world cup.

The Knights idea has some merit. Or even an Alternative England team v England regardless of age.

Being disappointed in Holdsworth declining to play for Exiles is like blaming the passenger on the bus for the driver taking a wrong turn. It's not his job to fix a flawed concept let alone risk injury for it. Plenty of players will be more than happy to put their hand up for the Exiles for a multitude of reasons (but none for helping to improve the England side I'll wager). Holdsworth himself probably would have done if he was still playing for Salford and had remained injury free this season.

Flawed or otherwise, I've no doubt the Exiles team will prove more than a match for England once again. As said already, England's issues are not with quality of this opposition side but an unwillingness to evolve. A full first choice Exiles team would batter England anyway thus defeating the object. Until McNamara starts to help himself why should anyone else care?

So you think Exiles call-ups have a duty to perform because they should be grateful to be allowed to compete in Super League? Giving their services at risk to themselves and their clubs so they can play their part in bolstering England? What planet are you on?

Risking themselves? They're professional players! And you think I'm on another planet, deary me.

Maybe you should tell all the other clubs who have Exile representatives in their squad of this risk?

There's a couple of players, but overall there's not that much quality to really challenge the senior team.

The game lost any credibility it might have had when macnamanra picked 64 year old Adrian morley.

Every game of RL poses a risk to the players.

I'm challenging your bizarre assertion that people selected for the Exiles have an obligation to perform in it as their careers are only sustainable because of SL. You said, as an Englishman, it's not too much to ask that they don their boots in opposition for the benefit of the English international team. As some sort of recompense for being allowed to extend their career over here.

Which planet was it?

I like you.

He's not been lying about his age again has he??

I'm delighted with DJ to have lost him to injury for the quarter final of the cup would have been unthinkable for me fully support him on this

They've all got a week off n many are off on holiday, might not be as noble as saving himself for us!

Well done, DJ.

Its really a damned if you do damned if you dont situation all round.
Holdsworth has had a potential career ending injury and I suppose no one knows if he's 100% still so why risk it. It will bef an honour to be picked, but as a lot have said its not the parent nation so that honour is diluted.

The concept of a meaningful game for England is a good one but with an increasing number of the starting 13 for England now playing in the NRL how meaningful will this really be. Graham, Burgess x 2 or 3(4), Widdop all missing add to that Ellis, Roby and Morley only a week or 2 back from injury then it all seems a bit of a shambles to me.

Of course it's a shambles when our clueless coach picks an awful team, Ellis, Roby and Morley should be nowhere near the squad!