No, they were played in October or November (two or three months after the start of our domestic season) and the players would often play for their clubs the next day. In fact Steve Hampson one weekend got senf off on the Saturday playing for GB v NZ and then again on the Sunday playing for Wigan v Castleford! That was in 1989 btw.

Football was still huge attendance wise before 1995. Cup Finals sold out, England filled Wembley and the big clubs filled their grounds every week. I don't think football has affected rugby league to the extent you suggest in my opinion.

Yes, but that space is now being taken up by football, football and more football. As has been said, football now dominates every sport in this country, even during it's off season.

And no matter the fact that the national team has only ever won one major final, and only ever reached a semi-final one other time.

Another factor, apart from the ludicrous growth of football since its spread to pretty well every TV channel, is the fact that newspapers have been on a bout of sustained cost and staff cutting for a good 20 years now.

Regionalised editions contain far less differences than they used to - because all regional offices have been cut back on in favour of freelances and stringers - and the concentration of printing (nearly all papers are now printed by one company) leaves much less flexibility in edition times.

The RFL has many powers, but it doesn't actually control that.

But what came first the cuts leading to a lack of interest in the game from the media or cuts because of the lack of interest.

I just believe if the game had been managed/marketed better than it has then its profile would be bigger/better than it currently is.

10 years ago (pre salary cap) Andy Hay, Darren Fleary, Scott Naylor, Chev Walker and Tony Smith were helping England to a 6-49 flogging at home to NZ in the world cup. Paul Deacon was also playing stand off and Paul Wellens was on the wing.

I think I'll take today's standards thanks.