Re: Simmonds - Graham....... : Thu Nov 04, 2010 3:14 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

It's not going to be the answer to anything but it helps players to improve if they're playing in a comp that challenges them more. How many genuinely tough games did James Graham have for Saints last year? A dozen or so at most?

Now we could sort SL out and make it more competitive but that will require changes from the grassroots up and take years to bear fruit. Lets be honest it won't happen. Self interest will cause it to fail as it always has.

How will sending our best players down under help SL get stronger? How will not playing against our better players make the younger players better players?

[Bullseye]

Re: Simmonds - Graham....... : Thu Nov 04, 2010 4:43 pm  

It won't make SL stronger. But IMO unless there's some big changes to the grassroots of the game it won't matter whether the better players stay in SL or not, we'll still always lose to the Aussies and lose most of the time to the Kiwis.

Short term, getting our best players playing in the best comp would raise standards for the international side. However players have got to want to try the NRL in the first place and I'm sure many will stay at home.

Given the current exchange rate and the opportunity to enjoy the nice weather and improve as a player I'd say going to the NRL can't ever have looked a better option than it does now.

Re: Simmonds - Graham....... : Thu Nov 04, 2010 10:16 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

It won't make SL stronger. But IMO unless there's some big changes to the grassroots of the game it won't matter whether the better players stay in SL or not, we'll still always lose to the Aussies and lose most of the time to the Kiwis.

I think the tightened quota rules and removal of relegation are already starting to see increased use of young players instead of journeymen Antipodeans. But that process is slow and not one that we'll see the benefits of for another 3-5 years at the earliest.

Short term, getting our best players playing in the best comp would raise standards for the international side.

But that weakens SL. What happens when the current best players are past it? Do we send the next lot of our best players over to the NRL?

Given the current exchange rate and the opportunity to enjoy the nice weather and improve as a player I'd say going to the NRL can't ever have looked a better option than it does now.

Undoubtedly.

Re: Simmonds - Graham....... : Fri Nov 05, 2010 12:57 am  

Bullseye wrote:

It won't make SL stronger. But IMO unless there's some big changes to the grassroots of the game it won't matter whether the better players stay in SL or not, we'll still always lose to the Aussies and lose most of the time to the Kiwis.

Short term, getting our best players playing in the best comp would raise standards for the international side. However players have got to want to try the NRL in the first place and I'm sure many will stay at home.

Given the current exchange rate and the opportunity to enjoy the nice weather and improve as a player I'd say going to the NRL can't ever have looked a better option than it does now.

Our two current NRL "stars" haven't looked any better than the rest of the team. I think this theory of the superiority of NRL is now discredited.
How come we win most of the WCC games?
I think our top 4 would compete well with most NRL teams.

Where we go wrong all the time is a lack in strength in depth, a complete lack of team and individuals confidence, having to play to the Aussie's interpretation, Aussie dubious refereeing and the Aussie's style of play and (currently) by employing our worst SL coach (just before he was actually sacked) as England coach (our only decent coach in recent years was Smith).
What next? Promote Bobby Goulding?

Re: Simmonds - Graham....... : Fri Nov 05, 2010 3:43 pm  

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 17hcw.html already in negotiations with Wests' apparantly. Is there not some anti-tampering deadline in place?

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 17hcw.html already in negotiations with Wests' apparantly. Is there not some anti-tampering deadline in place?

Re: Simmonds - Graham....... : Fri Nov 05, 2010 6:25 pm  

saints35 bulls0 wrote:

Is there not some anti-tampering deadline in place?

The article says he has discussed with St Helens that he will be talking to clubs while in Australia. In itself that doesn't mean much because he will just be exploring possibilities and then returning home to explore possibilities with Saints - at least, that's what he has said to the media anyway.

As for an anti-tampering deadline ... do we really expect the Aussies to respect such things? If Wests want him then they'll do whatever it takes to get him. The ball is firmly in Jammer's court by the sounds of things.

Re: Simmonds - Graham....... : Fri Nov 05, 2010 10:14 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

The article says he has discussed with St Helens that he will be talking to clubs while in Australia. In itself that doesn't mean much because he will just be exploring possibilities and then returning home to explore possibilities with Saints - at least, that's what he has said to the media anyway.

As for an anti-tampering deadline ... do we really expect the Aussies to respect such things? If Wests want him then they'll do whatever it takes to get him. The ball is firmly in Jammer's court by the sounds of things.

The ball is in australia. Trust me, hes goooooooone!

Re: Simmonds - Graham....... : Sat Nov 06, 2010 2:34 pm  

Then I'd wish him all the best and await his return in 3 years time!

Re: Simmonds - Graham....... : Sat Nov 06, 2010 3:10 pm  

MacBlondie wrote:

The ball is in australia. Trust me, hes goooooooone!

UT.

Re: Simmonds - Graham....... : Sun Nov 07, 2010 11:42 pm  

Grahams just like every other scouser,minute they make a name for themselves and a few quid,they're off..pronto.