All comes down to exposure, there seemed to be regular matches between Eng/GB and Aus / NZ back then. Plus the tours were longer and included games against club sides (the Aus vs Wire game at Wilderspool in 94 was tasty!). I also used to watch a lot more NRL than I do now - purely a time thing for me, had much more time when I was younger to follow it - I don't even watch State of Origin anymore.

Btw, who is this Nathan Clearly fellow?

Any relation to Nathan Cleary?

Yeh it’s his cousin, clearly you didn’t know this

All evidence is that we get much bigger crowds for England games in London than in the 'heartlands'. Going back decades.

Some of the excuses you hear from northern fans for not attending international games are spectacular. Mostly they don't attend because:
(1) England will definitely win - vs France, Wales, Tonga, Samoa, etc;
(2) England will definitely lose - vs Australia, NZ;
(3) player from Team X was picked instead of their own favourite;
(4) ground is too big; or
(5) ground belongs to a rugby or football team I don't like.

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ev ... t-30325017

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ev ... t-30325017