Play off finals are in late May, so no chance of that happening.

If the NRL has the foresight and the ability to put on an event that the RFL could only dream about, then we shouldn't be trying to put them off, we should be encouraging them to get even more involved, and trying to learn from them.

We have been complaining for years that the Aussies don't take the UK seriously, and now when they are showing an interest in doing something over here we get the usual Northern chipiness and moaning about it.

Of course, the aim of the game from their point of view is to raise the corporate profile of the NRL, but if it also works to raise the profile of RL in the UK then what have we got to lose?

Another 70k Rugby League event in the South of England, and some people find an excuse to moan about it.

I doubt anyone is moaning for the sake of it......I still find the concept of NRL clubs letting their stars fly a round trip of 50,000 KM's for a midweek game (or even a weekend one at that) Fanciful in its extreme.

If the ARL are serious about cashing in on the RLWC feel good factor, could I suggest they get their NATIONAL side on a plane to Play GB over 3 tests??????

Have you not heard or got it yet Gutters. GB is finished for home games. GB May come back for overseas tours, so lucky old you can go. The Aussies may come for a Three Test Series against England with maybe a one off game with the French. But again, this proposal is not just about internationals. It is about raising awareness, through something novel and unique, and you as a marketer should see that. I think it will have a very big impact if correctly executed and both the NRL AND RFL would benefit.

The me chap in charge of the NRL Commission seems to have a vision over and above the clubs old guard. The NRL clubs want to expand their brand, the SOO at Wembley gives them that chance to showcase their players. To secure sponsorship $ as a game we need to target the money men of London and their contacts.

Sometime I cannot way you up, and I mean that with a lot of respect for your years of passion on this site.

I'd love SoO at Wembley.....I just can't "logistically" see it happening without some serious arm bending by the ARL Commission of the NRL clubs.

Whilst there is a lot of "good will" and "good feeling" as a result of the RLWC, the NRL is still a competition that is heavily reliant on TV cash and Mr Smith and the rest of the commission have 4 years left to make more than the current 2 clubs self sufficient before they take the SoO circus to Wembley.

Much as I would love to see this happen this is Australia's big TV event and part of a deal worth a billion dollars. So either the TV companies over there are going to say "Sure, we'll just put it on at midnight and take the hit on the advertising revenue. No problem." or it's going to be a fourth game bolted on at the end, if not postponed to post season. Which is still fine by me but you sell this on how much it means as much as the quality of the spectacle and it diminishes the marketing effort somewhat.

As I have already pointed out, playing the SoO in late May at noon London time will ensure 9pm Sydney-Brisbane kickoff. That would be an hour later than now occurs on Wednesday night, but would be more acceptable because it is Saturday night (and thus the kids can stay up late to watch it). Playing it at 12.30 pm London kickoff would possibly be OK in Australia because the pre-match coverage would start at 9pm, kickoff at 9.30 pm, and the game would finish at 11.15 pm. Maybe Channel 9 would agree.

Unfortunately i agree, only last week, after all the success and positive news and feel good feeling of the WC, Craig Bellamy moaned that it was too long and it should just be competed between the teams that can actually win it (I.E NZ/OZ/England)

My apologies, I neglected to hang on your every word.

The problem with this is it limits the ticket buying public to people already in London and those prepared to book a hotel for the night before.

Reading some of these responses you'd think a sports competition having self-interest was the world's greatest sin.

State of Origin would be massive. It's the one rugby league event that people in the UK who don't even like or know much about rugby league will watch, despite some of the drivel posted in this thread suggesting otherwise. I'd go as far as saying that outside of world cups it probably draws more interest from casual sports fans than some international games do.

If international rugby league is truly the way forward and there is a market for it then where is the conflict here? From the sounds of some of you, Dunbar for example, you talk up internationals but sound petrified that origin would take attention away from them. If the UK care about international games and not origin then what are you worried about? If it's a failure then it's a failure for the NRL. So what. Stop whinging.

On a Wednesday morning. Put the SL grand final or rugby league world cup final on Sky on a wednesday morning and lets see how much better it rates.

You think Aus - NZ would have rated much better at 11am middle of the week when most the country are at work?