You'll improve SL by getting more players playing the game. You get more players playing the game by having a thriving international game (see Union). A successful England is something any man on the street can identify with, random clubs in expansion areas aren't. The way to get more coverage for RL across the media is through England (see Union).

Having more of our players competing in the best league in the world can only be good for England, and in turn good for the sport.

I think that's a bit of a simplification myself. I agree that people get behind the England Rugby team, I know this from my own family who care nothing for the sport. However I think it runs a little deeper. They don't watch England rugby because England are a great Rugby team, they watch it because the media tell them that international Rugby matters.

Until we have the same relevance, by way of media promotion, I don't think it matters one little bit whether our England League team is strong or not.

It all comes down to legitimacy. International Rugby has it, international League does not. There are a 1001 reasons why and each reason is correct, to a degree.

The game, in my opinion, has deep rooted problems that aren't easily solved, or even recognised.

I agree that having players in the NRL and by extension fielding a better England team is great, but I don't believe it will bring interest in itself. What we need to realise is that the games problems aren't necessarily with the game itself, but in the coverage and promotion of the product. The England Rugby team is none better or more competitive than the English league team, so it's not that, in my view.

Where would you play Sam in RU?
His strength is taking the man on, something that doesn't happen in RU.

Union prioritise their international calendar over anything else. They've also made it regular, so the fans know that every Spring it'll be the 6 nations, every Summer & Winter will see tours and a World Cup every 4 years.

In league we have no idea whats happening from one year to the next. The last few world cups have gone from 1995 to 2000, to 2008 to 2013 - we have no pattern or regularity.

With regard to the big crowds at Twickers, the RFU have the advantage of having a set home, so the fans know that England at home means Twickenham and they arrange accordingley. England RL could be playing anywhere. They also, following 6 nation games, have two full years to sell tickets for the next time that fixture is played. Each club is sent tickets for the game to sell, who send back any they haven't sold after the first year. They'll then receive either more or less the following time, and get a % of the ticket price as a 'commission'.

Whatever Union has done, it's worked. We need to learn from it.

Well until Australia start getting behind international rugby league just forget it.

The international game cannot be structured better when the number 1 country for the game isn't interested.

As far as Twickenham is concerned, don't fall for their attendance. They give about a third of their tickets away.

Australian League is thriving. Why does Australia need to get behind the international game, because they have a successful League scene? Well then look at why the game is big there, it's in spite of international.

In Australia they focus on making their domestic competition brilliant. It's a loser English mentality to think a strong international game will help the domestic game.

English League fans need to stop trying to compete with sports such as Rugby Union and Football, League is not an international game and won't be for decades at the very very least. Do what the Aussies do, they look to the Yanks to create a thriving sport.

If English League looked towards America and Australian domestic sports, rather than football and Rugby, we'd be in a much better state.

Sam would need protection over there? Wane would noy be happy

Exactly. The problem with trying to copy *anything* is not looking at the starting context. A World Cup and farcically creating home nations teams is an example of trying to mimic something entirely unrealistic. The Wales RU team is the child of Welsh Rugby, not the other way around. I can't think of any other sport where almost the first team of professional players ever created in that country is the national team itself.

Get ideas, but use your brains, and *think* about what is realistic for *our* game instead.

They won't become interested until we can beat them. It's like us playing Wales or France, it's barely a contest...

West Coast Pirates 2015. You read it here first!

i read it last week its old news

Would be a great signing, hopefully they'll sign a few players from SL.

Can't stand the odious Tomkins.

The sooner he does one to the NRL the better.

A fairly intelligent post for a wire fan. Well done.