Quote: No Top Lip "OK GF, you have presented some facts, so what now? How can RL progress to the levels RU enjoys, or rather will it ever? What about the long aged political obstacles RL has always faced due to "influences" from its bigger rugby brother?'"
1. Firstly, dust off both shoulders. Whilst having a chip on them makes most people think you're balanced, the inferiority complex helps nobody.
2. Accept that for now, Union will 'pack'em'in" internationally and it will take a generation or more for International League to get even close/
3. Stop the comparisons........they are 2 different games, with 2 different sets of demographics when it comes to supporters.
4. MARKET the game. The NRL have started to lean on sides to take the game to new audiences.....Perth, unlucky to be overlooked, will get 3 senior games this year and an ANZAC test soon. The RFL need to PAY teams like London and Salford to explore new areas......for too long it's been whippets and ale or Pigeons and pits...RL is an exciting game...Market it properly.
5. Stop playing 2nd fiddle to Media: The BBC are on their ......they pay over the odds for the 6 nations, but a pittance for RL.....yet they only market the Union......make representations NOW.....kick them while they are down.
6. RLWC 2013 is a major event in the development of the game in the UK........the RFL need to be prepared to spend some of their SKY TV warchest to ensure new fans come on board.....because like Euro 96 and the other lot in 2015, a lot of the fans you attend will be newbies.....and newbies sometimes become FANS......
7. Politics my .......there are very rarely political figures prepared to stand in the way of anything. If you refer to the Governements backing of Unions WC and not Leagues.......count the numbers involved....Union fans, 40,000 of them will follow the Lions to Oz next year, the RLWC will attract 10,000 of that to the UK. 2015 Will see 100' of thousands of French, Irish, Italian, American, Canadian, Kiwi, Australian Union fans hit the UK.....and 'business benefits/growth' attracts voters. As I said, lose the chips and get on with it.
For too long RL has been happy to muddle along....enough is enough. The NRL tv deal is bigger than any single current Union deal........if the game is to truly grow on the back of it, then some of that cash needs to be managed back into global grass roots, maybe a SoO at Old Trafford, more internationals, a proper WCC....
....the IRB, for all their faults (there are many) are a governing body that run their game......this is the #1 thing RL needs...a true, powerful governing body that the ARLC/RFL need to adhere to...otherwise, it'll be business as usual and bit by bit, TGG will shrink in the UK.
IMO that is