FORMER Test captain Mal Meninga has urged the game's governing body to use the upcoming World Cup in Australia as the launching pad for securing the game's future in the Pacific islands.
Over the past decade the influence of Polynesian and Pacific island players in the National Rugby League has risen dramatically. The origins of several emerging superstars, including Karmichael Hunt, Feleti Mateo, Sonny Bill Williams and Benji Marshall are in the region.
However, despite its ability to produce a seemingly endless supply of hulking athletes tailor-made for the demands of modern rugby league, the islands still essentially lack the infrastructure and support to compete with Australia and New Zealand for the services of their most talented players.
Veteran duo Nigel Vagana (Samoa) and Jim Dymock (Tonga) have taken the first steps by accepting the coaching duties for their respective island nations and using their status in the game to entice many big-name players to play.
Mateo, Matt Utai, Motu Tony, the Paea and Puletua brothers and Penrith flyer Michael Jennings are among a host of players who have committed themselves for the upcoming tournament.
But Meninga has warned such efforts will be in vain if the administrators and players don't start taking a more active role promoting the game.
"It makes sense to start doing some more work in those regions because that's such a stronghold for rugby league and union," Meninga said.
"You only need to have a look around the league to realise how much the NRL here has prospered from the growing involvement of the Polynesian and Pacific island communities. Percentage wise the numbers would be staggering.
"So I think it is important to foster that at international level and build a genuine international program around it."
Meninga said it was vital that rugby league did more from the ground up to support these countries, adamant they have the capacity to strengthen the game at an international level.
"They have to have more opportunity to play Test football. That's essential," he said.
"And on top of that we need to have the players representing those countries going back and helping grow rugby league. It gives the kids that link between the professionals maybe playing in England or Australia and them growing up in Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands."
