OK, so I have a solution, which I hope that Gary Hetherington, the RFL and NRL pick up:

Have two competitions at stake:

(i) the World Club Champion, which is between the two grand final winners.

(ii) the World Competition champion, which is between SL and NRL, based on the best of the three contests.

You could have a SL club as world champions because they win the contest between the two grand finalists, but the NRL clubs win the other two games, so the NRL wins the Championship contest, or vice versa.

Incidentally with three clubs from each competition competing, I suspect that you could charter at least one, maybe two, Boeing 747s to carry the three away clubs' supporters there and back.

Only problem for the airline involved would be filling the business class and first class sections, but I suppose a squad of say 20 players and five coaches and officials from each club could fill most of those more expensive seats.

I think if they can get it right it would be good for the game it might take time but remember Rome was not built in a day, but has I said if they can get it right

Spot on, that is the problem with rugby league fans and to an extent the RFL. We introduce something, and if it isn't an instant success slam it and brush it all under the carpet. Let us not forget that when State of Origin in its current form was introduced, there was widespread criticism.

Some fixtures would have to be dropped. Cameron smith was complaining earlier in the year about to many fixtures the top NRL players have to play.
I like the idea but it has to be done right and with the full backing of the NRL clubs and players

SuperBowel sums it up for me

Would it be the teams who finished in the top 3? Or the two Super League Grand Finalists and another?
I like it because it gives teams another incentive to do well in the league and something else to play for.

Bloody hell, I've just reread it! That's what I get for rushing to type on an iPhone!
Apologies.

Hetherington was making noises about alternating the 3 nations with this club challenge idea. Having internationals every two years might well increase enthusiasm for that competition too. Having said that, he wasn't nearly as upbeat about the prospect of the club comp as the linked article might suggest, judging from his appearance on Boots n All.

That would make a lot of sense.
The 4 nations is great but, its wrong to play that comp every season (not withstanding the break in world cup season)
Whether that maybe this would give an opportunity for say the top 4 from SL and the NRL and then have a mini konckout ?

we shouldnt, and quite frankly cant, have a WCC and four nations alternating.

We shouldnt because the WCC needs to be every year to build it as a competition (though i still argue it shouldnt be in this format)

we cant because we have a WC to fit in there.

I've said before that the structure international competition should be very simple.

8 team WCC every year. Between the GF and international competition, GF winner and top 3 clubs in each hemisphere. (obviously quite often one of the top 3 will win the GF in which case it would be top 4)

2013 World Cup N/H
2014 4 nations S/H
2015 Proper tour, GB + France tour NZ and Aus
2016 4 nations N/H
2017 WC S/H
2018 4 nations N/H
2019 Proper tour NZ and Aus tour GB + france
2020 4 nations S/h
2021 World Cup N/H

2 4 nations, a Tour and WC every four years.

Given fans won't pay to attend games that aren't included in the season tickets, I would suggest sorting out play-off and CC attendances before adding more "one off" games for them to watch on TV being played in 3/4 empty stadiums

The prize money on offer will need to be considerable for NRL teams to send anuything other than their second strings across the planet.....

I didn't think that's what Hetherington was suggesting. I thought he was saying that if the 4 Nations was held in the UK then the WCC should be held in Australia and vice versa.
I don't see why we can't have the 4 nations each year. It's a max of 4 games. Personally I think there should be an end of season international schedule of:
Year 1 - 4 Nations
Year 2 - Test Series GB v Aus or NZ alternating
Year 3 - 4 Nations
Year 4 - World Cup

Plus an annual mid-season 5 Nations of England, France, Wales, Scotland & Ireland.
Yes it's more fixtures but it's only 4 additional games for the top players, they might have to do like in Union and miss some domestic league games while the mid-season comp is on. Do away with the Exiles and that's saved 2 games.