Sorry jesus-is-coming (never thought I'd ever say that in a sentence
), but Rome wasn't built in a day. A expanded competition in the long term gives the game a lot more money. Similar to RU and football. Staying the same as previous 100 years (1895-1995) does not get us there. Simple mathematics tell you that having more people playing the game (ie outside the heartlands too) will help make us compete against Aussies. Common sense also says having more competitive nations around us will help our build ups to games against the Aussies - and also boosts the coffers.
But its hard work and takes a long time because we was so far behind to begin with. But the next generations outside the heartlands that are playing and watching the game will thank this generation for doing it.
We had something like 7000 on against Wire at home in SL - on paper it is a good crowd. But I would prefer 5-6000 on against Quins/Celtic etc because it means we had a healthy crowd and virtually 99% Leythers watching us instead of less than 50% like the Wire game.