Soccer is the world game , no doubt.
consider the number of players around the world , the number of countries where it is the #1 team sport , the real competition at International club level , at international country level. The real multiyear focus on World cup prelims and then the World cup.
As for NRL it is in arm wrestle with AFL for australia's #1 team game.
I will not debate this , may as well debate religion, i follow NRL .
As for australia future #1 sport , i believe Soccer will eventually claim that as well.
Why
1) more juniors play soccer than any other sport
2) the move to the Asia confederation continues to lift our participation in real world class competitions , be it International Club competitions and International Country competition that lead to Asia Conferation Cup and World Cup.
3) the A league improving at a steady pace and this year the games i have seen have been GREAT.
4) the A League and Asian confederation opportunities will result in more and more junior players staying in the game as players and followers. The best athletes will gravitate to this game , if they have not this already.
I enjoy Soccer at international level and club level . I enjoy NRL mainly because of my Souths passion.Frankly international NRL games are hard pressed to compete with Origin games. This really is a reflection on the poor standard/passion of international competition.