This year's international programme

[jamesgould]

Is pathetic. This is usually the time of year when I am looking forward to a load of international rugby league. We have a World Cup next year ... and what's the schedule for the top teams? NZ and Australia play one game, and England go to South Africa for training.

Surely it would make a lot more sense to have a heap of games this year?! Allowing sides to build their team for the World Cup, and to build anticipation for that game as much as possible!

Speaking as a New Zealander, we've had the Kiwis play here only a handful of times since they won the last World Cup in 2008.

I reckon there should have been a Four Nations in NZ and Australia. Who cares about the player whinging about needing time off. I can't think of another sport in the world that would have this ridiculous situation a year out from the biggest tournament we have.

 

[jamesgould]

So can anybody give me a good reason why this couldn't have been a three test series? NZ always improve over the course of a series, I reckon it'd have been an awesome next two tests, and gone down to the wire!

 

[josh2010]

So can anybody give me a good reason why this couldn't have been a three test series? NZ always improve over the course of a series, I reckon it'd have been an awesome next two tests, and gone down to the wire!

I Don't understand it either. I agree that it should be a 3 game series!

 

[Joshhh]

I've always wondered why they said there would be no international tournament in 2012 so they could prepare for the World Cup. It's a year away, what difference will it make. Might aswell call off the whole 2013 NRL season so none of them get injured & they can prepare.

 

[jamesgould]

It's just so frustrating, go back to 1987 and rugby union had it's first World Cup - it was in NZ and Eden Park was half empty for the All Blacks first match.

If only we had the same confidence in our product, as seen last night, it's far superior ... boost our international season and the sport would be away laughing. We could have easily been at rugby union's level of international competition in the same time.