Then I would suggest that the ARL/RFL get together and sit down with the 30 club owners to start the ball rolling. No way they will all agree at first, but there is one thing that will make them sit up and pay attention......TELEVISION.

If it can be shown that a strengthening of the international game could see an increase in awareness and therefore the fan base, then the revenues from Television would be massive.

It may be that the international game needs to grow from age group up? Maybe get assurances now and start the ball rolling with an under 16's or u 18's world cup. Get fijians playing for fiji...tongans for tonga etc. When I was in fiji last year there was an U20's comp between Australian Fijians, New Zealand Fijians and Local fijians. I met one of the players parents...he is on the books at melbourne but his mum said he would jump at the chance to play for the Fijian national team.....get these kids to commit now.....

....not easy, but the benefit in the long term would be a much bigger talent pool.

If someone can convince them then that would be great. I just get the impression the ARL/NRL especially resist international RL. Hopefully the independent commission will be the catalyst we need

Surely the Aussies know much better than us how to grow a sport like RL , they get sell out crowds far in advance of ours , bigger TV deals and are lauded by people like yourself for expanding the game nationally

They should be in charge surely

There are many on here with far more knowledge of RL than me, but I think that an U18's world cup would be the best way forward. Once you are selected to play for a country...that's it!
I know it would be harsh on some players, but if you miss out on selection for England, you might get a chance to play for Ireland, Scotland or Wales through a grandparent rule......then, even if you turn out to be the next Andy Farrell, you are locked into playing for the country you have represented.
In Australia, the sheer number of pacifica island qualified players would mean that potentially, within 5 or 6 years, you could see a competative international competition...at the very least you wouldn't get any hammerings at the senior world cup and no need for a stupid super group!

The fact that so many Kiwis now play in the NRL is directly connected to them owning the only 2 international trophies at present. If you could get the other islanders to represent their herritage country then the I reckon another pacific island could hold those trophies within 10 years.

As I say...there are many on here who know more than I do, but I think this would be the best way forward.

The ARL/NRLs main priority is the NRL. We cant have our international game run on what is best for the NRL

And yet they run their sport much better than we run ours , so you don't want the best qualified people running the sport ?

Agreed, but they do run the International game with themselves firmly in mind.

Players simply wouldnt represent the smaller nations at youth level. They simply wouldnt give up the opportunity to play top tier international RL. They would hold out on the hope of making it. Why would the next Andy Farrell give up ever playing one of the big three to play in a youth international tournament.

The answer is to make it as attractive to play for Fiji as it is for Australia. Have the Scotlands and the Irelands and the Samoans playing the Aussies, Us and the Kiwis.

Have the home nations and france play each other every year, mid season. Have GB represent them at the 4 nations (bar france) and as the home nations in the WC. Have Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Aus and NZ play each other and a Pacific Islands side play in the 4 nations with GB, Aus, and NZ.

Then Jarryd Hayne can play for Fiji and play in top tier internationals, Rhys Evans can play for Wales and play in the 4 nations.

Yes, and they do run their sport better than we run ours. But their priority is their sport, not ours, not the french of Pac Islanders.

There maybe things which the international board needs to do which might not be the best thing for the NRL, Whilst their priority is something else they cant run the RLIF

Sorry I cannot believe a sports governing body would do something like that , they would be so selfish as to make decisions to damage the sport in self interest

, then again ?