The primary aim of the Roses series is to prepare English players for England selection by pooling the best players together in the one game. Super League does not offer that more intense level of competition, can not offer it, will never offer it, should not be expected to. Neither does the NRL.

The 2001-2003 Roses series attracted rlrespectable crowdsrl given the games were held on a Tuesday or Wednesday night. 10,253 to 8,258. These crowds were still higher than the France tests of the last three years, and just under the 2007 test crowd, all held on a weekend. They are higher than many SL games. If Roses can attract at least 8-10K, yet helps England compete strongly against Australia and NZ, then it has done its job. It is the England team that should be expected to attracted a large amount of interest.

In Australia, the NRL is not expected to prepare players for test level. City/Country and State of origin is. This is why Manly CEO rlGraham Lowe pushed for a Kiwi Roots Origin seriesrl when he was at the NZRL a few years back.

So you are saying there aren't 40,000 rugby league fans who wouldn't take advantage of an event that is included in their season ticket to see the best 34 British players take aim at each other. Wigan and Leeds must be playing in front of cardboard cut-out fans tomorrow if that is the case.

Sadly for the sport yes I am saying exactly that.

So this is the last generation of rugby league in the UK, with fans replaced by cardboard cut-outs at SKY's request and flatcappers deeming a free ticket included within your season ticket as too expensive, saying "at least Dick Turpin had the decency to wear a mask!"

If you build it, TheY will come, especially if it's free!

Firstly we make the amount of league games smaller
by shrinking the amount of teams in a league

split the teams into two top leagues

West Division - East Division
11 teams - 11 teams

top 3 West v top 3 East in playoffs against each other

league games reduced by 4
playoff games reduced

leave plenty of room for gimmicks, etc

For me there are 2 options to create an event and a meaningful fixture to improve the england team at the top level.

England v Yorkshire is the logical choice.

But instead I would like to see the current SL champs play England in a new club v country game at their home ground.

It would be a real test, I could see some great pr opportunities surrounding a club v country game and a full house.

I would also like england still to play the winners of a wales V france fixture each year.