I don't think you can confidentially make that claim until someone has actually tried to market to that group. London Broncos certainly haven't bothered as far as I can see (and I live in London).

No final decision yet but they've been looking at Manly v Canberra in China for next season.

If it was in London I wouldn't go.. to far and too much expense for a game that has nothing to do with a team I support...

They have several times, they've tried to market the club as an 'Australian club in London', which is stupid and why we've never held down any roots. I've never seen them attempting to promote the club to the local area or Londoners, like me who had to discover the game through Sky. In all my years going, I've never once heard any Aussie accents in the stands, except for when we played Manly.

We have just finished a hugely successful World Cup where it has become blindingly obvious that people outside of the core support base care about international sport above everything else

We all know that the State of Origin is fantastic Rugby League but without any comparatives that really doesn’t matter to the potential new audience. What they need is an occasion and two states in Australia do not create the occasion that an International match does

While SOO has been very good for RL in NSW and Queensland, it is the attitude that it is the pinnacle of the sport that holds us back. Apart from the US insular sporting market, I cannot think of another (team) sport where the pinnacle of that sport is not international competition

Oh right, hadn't heard about that. I hope it goes ahead, could be huge for the sport.

So, staging a game which is guarenteed to provide cut-through in the London and national media, that could be marketed in a way that NRL does when they come to London, which is likely to help to continue to win new audiences for RL in the South (and thereby give more confidence to take international matches to Wembley), potentially introduce new sponosrs to the sport in the UK and, as far as I can see, isn't going to cost the RFL a penny, is going to hold the domestic game back?

How about making it the opening Saturday game for a Magic Weekend at Wembley?

Choose a similar opening event on the Sunday.

I'd be there with a carful.

It is a marketing ploy for the NRL to make them money. If they were concerned for RL in general they would have an annual international fixture at Wembley but they are not interested in that only the NRL. It is that which has undermined the efforts of the RFL to attract sponsorship as we have no credible international events on a regular fixed time frame ,just look at Union at least 7 internationals each year plus an overseas tour EVERY YEAR their clubs loose players from domestic competition for that! try asking the NRL clubs to do that & see how long you last before being laughed out of Sydney. If it was a plan to raise awareness of league & to support the RFL I would give it my support but it is not. Lets face it they change the rules of the game with no thought to us or consultation with the RFL or RLIF so let them take it to another country Iran would be fine with me..

SOO AT WEMBLEY - BRING IT ON.

I would love SOO to come to England .

But it is.

Like it or not the NRL is a different class to super league.

You find rolling eyes because you making a sweeping general statement and qualify it as 'the simple truth'. Where are the facts, or even anecdotal evidence to back up your confident opinion?

It is my opinion, based on being a northerner living in London and having worked for several large companies populated by mostly football and RU supporting colleagues, that there is a high level of SOO outside of general RL fans. Many people I know are aware of the legend of that particular game, and I would bargin are more aware of it than international RL outside of the RL World Cup.

It's my opinion that this would build on the WC, and continue the work of building a southern audience which is essential for the game to survive and attract sponsors.

But of course you must be right and it's not worth trying, because you present your factless based opinion as THE TRUTH...

I just cannot believe the stupidly of some of the "rent a northern chip on your shoulder brigade". SOO at WEMBLEY and HEAVILY MARKETED would sell out in minutes. I don't give a love if people up north can't be ar$ed, and I could not give a fig if you feel it takes £ out of our game, because I think it will drag in more long term £'s than we could ever hope to pull in on our own.

Why is it so few people associated with our game can see long term? From fans to chairman, to administrators... Never more than a week or two ahead. Short term solutions of the past are why the game is in the SHoneT. Not the NRL being better than us, they play the long game, they do not chop and change, they are consistent ... Like every other wealthy and world wide sport. We chuck the baby out of the bath every year or two. Licensing...no good. World Cup now ever 3 years, back to P&R. For goodness sake make your minds up and bloody stick with it for years and years.

As for making it a double header, love off! Again some idiots feel they have a better idea, well you don't. Enough said, rant over.

SOO, BRING IT ON. We Wealthy Southerners with more money then sense can pay top £'s and the miserable rent a moaners north of Watford can go and stew, but bemoaning for years how they missed a chance.

By the way I am exiled from Hull, an avid LB fan but most off all cut me in half and it is says RUGBY LEAGUE BORN AND RAISED, AND PROUD! I want our game to grows not stagnate as it would if people with the blinkers who come on here with no vision and no wish for change were in charge.


Going for a nap now.