Utter nonsense, we need to have more than just a good club competition. The international games are what bring in fans and sponsors from outside of the game's heartlands, just look at the Wembley game for instance. There were lots of people there that would never dream of going to watch a SL game - I took a dozen people with me and only two of them had any sort of prior RL involvement.
Sitting back and saying we've only got club footy, and then praising rahrah for having a steady international aspect, is nonsense. Continue like that and we'll see more and more players leave and the game will eventually wither and die. The days of localised club comps being important are long gone, it's got to be bigger than that. The problem this game has had for over a hundred years is people like yourself preventing us from reaching our full potential.
Listen guys, I'd love a widespread credible international competition as much as anyone else. The fact is there aren't yet sufficient domestic competitions to sustain a big international scene. Take Wales - they no longer have a first grade club, let alone a domestic competition to sustain a competitive international team. Same applies to Scotland, ireland, Samoa, Italy, USA, Lebanon and virtually any side outside the big three. Recent development looks promising, but there's clearly and long long way to go.
But lets not get away from the point - I make these comments in light of the contention made that England have to win to sustain its domestic competition. The reality is ESL has thrived under the cloud of poor international performances and more recently, a severe economical recession.
And this is purely my opinion - made for discussion. If you have any points that can convince me that A) England winning is a necessity and B) International Rugby League is credible beyond the three nations, please voice them. These are discussion boards afterall
Come on mate - do you honestly beleive someone like me expressing an opinion will cause players to leave the game and cause it to die? "Preventing us from reaching our potential"
Bit melodramatic!
So apologies if these comments are a bit negative. I've been trying to get people into league in various places around the world all my life, with the genuine belief that I'd be doing them a favour. Why the game is not more popular beggers belief
