I don't doubt that for a second, however if they want it to grow and be taken seriously they need to grow the brand and the prestige of the event down here as well as up there, and that might mean that they have to take some losses in the process.
Playing the games in the same handful of small stadiums in England year on year doesn't grow awareness of the game or grow the prestige of the game down here, and that's where it's most important at the moment if they want the WCC/WCS to be a success.
If the English were really serious about making this an big event (and not just a exhibition game/money grab) they would realise that the NRL clubs don't see the value in it and aren't going to actively support it, and that they have to make it work by themselves, and put simply, the way they're going about it it's never going to be taken seriously in Australia.
Lol, was it really surprising that they lost last year considering that, for example, the Sharks preparation for the game was to go on tours of London, Barcelona, and Paris.
As soon as I saw that they were doing that I knew that the game would be a forgone conclusion.
You're kidding yourself if you truly think that on average the NRL clubs treat the WCC seriously, there're admittedly exceptions to the rule (Cowboys), but the vast majority of them treat it as a bonding exercise/holiday for the squad and a paycheck.
