At a risk of mixing my metaphors, Great Britain's humiliating defeat at the SFS brought all the dinosaurs out of the woodwork. The immediate aftermath saw a stream of rent-a-knee-jerk-reactions from Rugby League's Old Guard, desperate to see a return to 'the traditional British off the cuff flair' that used to see us lose with dashing cavalier style as opposed to embarrassing ignominy.

Leading the charge, Alex Murphy - and who better to offer an opinion on a record British defeat then the captain of the previous record-defeated side? Having played in a side spanked 52-12 in 1963 when any score over 20 gave supporters vertigo, he didn't hold back: "Aussie coaches have got to go - and I would start by replacing David Waite as Great Britain boss." Sweeping stuff indeed, marred only by the fact that he couldn't offer a British Alternative. But even Alex knows a duffer when he sees one: "I'm not saying Andy Farrell is a bad player," he said - implying that that's precisely what he thinks, "... but I have to say that he'll never be a great player until he stops burying his head in the sand when he plays against opponents who are better. He disappeared as captain and he's still not doing it when it matters. His display left a lot to be desired."

Enter stage left Maurice Bamford, also banging the drum for a return to a British coach. Addressing the masses he began: "We, the inventors of Rugby League, have for over 30 years now chased the mystical, mist-shrouded answer to 'how do we beat the Aussies'." (Cue distant brass band music.) "In almost desperation we turned for guidance to an Australian to lead us to the mammoth prize - but alas, another failure. Let's get back to basics - get an English coach NOW, start playing to OUR strong suits and let natural progression take place." Does he offer a suggestion for an English coach? Does he 'eck.

Following him to the tear stained soapbox came Frank Barrow - and he sees overseas players as the source of the, problem. His answer? "We should send the lot packing right away, players, coaches and all - and give the young lads a chance with British coaches." Of course in his day, everything was different; "We didn't need to listen to them (Australians) or learn anything from them - we played to our game plans and let them worry about us." ... er, quite.

Gary Schofield's right behind him and takes the opportunity to stick the knife in to the current SuperLeague set up; "It's time for drastic action." he said, drastically, "If I had some authority in the game I would ban overseas signings starting next season, so that our youngsters will get every chance to develop in the key positions which have been filled far too long by second rate Australians." Hang on.. by jove he's got it!

Amidst all the middle-aged-tub thumping, Schoey's hit upon the one reason why the Lions got their backsides kicked down Anzac parade and all the way back to the airport. We lack quality players in all the right positions, because all the key positions in Stupid League are taken by Australians imported to make the game 'look' more cosmopolitan and 'international' on TV.
The forced condensing of the game in Australia by the club-killing NRL has seen dozens of players with nowhere to play - and with Murdoch pulling the strings, the overflow has been channelled into the British game. So, with no Alliance league to give young players a chance to play their way into contention, British talent isn't getting an opportunity to come to the surface - even at our biggest and supposedly strongest clubs.

This is the key - there is now no 'production line' for players in this country. In Australia, their reserve grade competition is as good as a bad weekend in SuperLeague - and it's probably fair to say that - if transplanted - the bottom half dozen clubs in the British elite would make up the bottom half dozen clubs in the Australian First Division (reserve grade).
The opportunity for young players to pass through a club's U17, U19 (remember the Colts league), Alliance team and First team are gone. Lads now hit 18 and end up playing first team football. And when that happens at every club, your first grade becomes effectively a junior league with a few old heads (and Aussies/Kiwis/New Guineans) running around.
And whilst they look good against each other in a division of (supposed) equals, put them in against guys who've played their way through six or seven years of the Aussie system and we look like what we essentially are - boys against men.

So, whilst the dinosaurs rant against our international failure, the embarrassment of the SFS started way back down the line at club level and below.

Great Britain are no longer good enough because our elite club game is all style and no substance. And as the Australian reserve and minor grades announce this week that they are restructuring to make them stronger and more competitive - we can expect regular pannings like this one until we bite the bullet and sort it out.

Unfortunately, this won't happen in time for the Kiwis' visit in November. Culled primarily from the phenomenally strong NZ Warriors team that is blasting its way through the current NRL season, they'll come not only with a finely tuned 'Oz-League' attitude, but they'll have the usual dose of uncompromising Kiwi grit that makes them hard to beat with a good side. Just one look down the Warriors' teamsheet sends a shudder down the spine: John Carlaw, Stacey Jones, Jerry Seu Seu, PJ Marsh, Mark Tookey - throw in Steve Kearney, Quentin Pongia, Robbie Paul and Lesley Vainikolo and you're looking down the barrel of a major embarrassment.

David Waite has an uncomfortable job between now and then - he has to wheedle out those who failed so spectacularly in Sydney and rebuild not only his side, but a pride in the British jersey and the nation's standing in World League circles. With the current source and raw material to work with, it's an unenviable task.

A version of this article appeared in last Sunday's matchday programme