Perhaps using College Football as a springboard would be a better idea?

It's certainly big enough - but wouldn't the same reservations noted above also apply?

Again, I doubt this would be feasible or really productive. Imagine if a local team stuck a lacrosse game on before a Super League match, would you watch it or care any more about lacrosse? (just an example)

What RL in the USA needs is a solid domestic season, all clubs to reunite under the same structure and the USARL to achieve RLIF membership. It's not in the 'world domination' stage just yet.

Out of interest, what are crowds like in the USA?

I have visions of games being played infront of 1 man and his dog.

The Axemen usually get a couple of thousand paying fans. Some of the other clubs have had four-figure crowds in the past but it usually ranges from a few hundred to just friends/relatives depending on the club. I'm not sure why you posted with a derisory tone or would expect anything else given that it's a totally amateur league.

I agree with a solid league structure, but a 1 off curtain raiser game.... will give the game massive exposer, then (hopefully)the fans will start to attend their local RL teams fixtures.

No, the NFL or nothing, 9's would be better due to the small pitch.

The only realistic link up we could ever see with the NFL would be clubs affiliated with them playing in the NFL off-season.

NFL and NFL networks are pretty candid about their wish to find a sport to fill their stadiums and schedules in the off-season. They have looked at a Pro RU comp previously but werent convinced. There is scope for the game in the US to work with them, but we need a hell of a lot of investment and growth in the game to get to that stage.

If a rich guy wanted to take a punt on the game, an IPL style short, impact season would have serious scope, big problems would be A) finding someone willing to bankroll it, and B) the NFL season overlaps with the RL offseason so there isnt really space in the calendar

In Canada, the national team consistently gets crowds over 5,000.

Why NFL or nothing? You do realise how big college football is over there don't you? The average attendance across the entire league is 46,000, with some teams routinely getting over 100,000. Michigan got 115,000 for a regular season game last year.

I can see some sort of link with NFL/College Football working in America, but I think getting people like Russel Crowe and Hugh Jackman involved with promoting the game in the states would help to draw a wider audience.