I have 2 thoughts on this:
1) The ARLC should be organising as many junior Rep teams as possible to do tours like this. It is brilliant for exposure in developing markets, the player fame isnt important (locals in the new markets wont know the difference between Cam Smith and Jam Shliff) and the young guys will be so excited by the whole thing.
Established NRL players clearly dont wanna do it and will be super half-assed about it. Young guys trying to catch their break would kill for the opportunity and would probably love doing the PR work because it will still be novel.
2) Australian Unis are a prime location for developing fans as well as players. What we should look at doing is linking State Championship teams to local unis and playing these reserve grade games there. Students will join clubs/events like this for shits&giggles and they might start to drag their frends along.
Maybe these games only get a few hundred people, but that is hundreds of people who would have not gone to the game otherwise. Its not like NSW/QLD cup are big moneymakers as it is....
