While the RFL treats the club game as much more important than the international game (hosting the major club events at grounds like Wembley, Twickers, Millenium Stadium, Old Trafford and Murrayfield, but international games at the Stoop, Keepmoat, Wigan, Hull, Headingley, Huddersfield etc) then the impact of an international series win will be very minimal. Anyone but Leeds, Saints, Wigan and Bradford winning both trophies, or even just the Grand Final, at club level will do more for the game at the moment.

winning the odd game is fine enough i guess.

regular competition would be nicer.

there were times there when NZ were truly terrible

the reason why international RL is a joke is becaue people make such a big deal about australia having one off day in the office they are that far ahead of the rest.

theres a test in may in this year. i hope australia dont win by 20 or so as usually happens.

it would be nice expecting competition for every game rather than minor miracles when australia lose.

No it was Great Britain. Which I think we should be called BTW!!!!

everyone else does, Australia havent won two of the last three international competitions they have competed in,

NZ have won 2 of the last 3 international competitions they have been involved in and only lost the other in extra time,

they are, right now, the premier international side in RL, they are the best of the best, and Australia are 2nd best

I agree

If we win the four nations this year then the profile of the game will be raised and more people will know about the game.

If we won the world cup then I do believe rugby league mania would hit the country especially in the north.

When wimbledon is on and a british person does well there is all of a sudden 30million more tennis fans than usual.

When England won the ashes it was the same.

When England won the rugby union world cup almost the whole country was behind them.

If we won the world cup we would see rises in attendance and more money pumped in to the game.

Are we going to win the world cup next time around? NO, so will all this happen? NO

Can we win the tri-nations? Maybe, so we have a chance of raising the popularity of the game at the end of this year.

We are slowly falling behind in terms of sport in this counrty and its not good.

if you come up with rubbish like that when england or GB havent beaten australia for 39 years in a series, how will you act if god forbid the unthinable happens?

we dont need to be that desperate for success. given it happens so regularly we dont mind throwing the odd bone to our competitiors.

FFS we gave you one of the worst australian sides in the 03 Ashes series and you still couldnt beat it.

SmokeyTA... you are probably one of those guys in denial telling everyone that will listen to you that Rugby League is bigger than Soccer.

You are unbelievable every post you make is ANTI Australia.

Mate...

Don't Hate... Appreciate!!!

Not really.
He makes a valid point indicating that Australia have lost 2 out of the last 3 tournaments they've competed in.

it seems the ockers are those in denial,

New Zealand have a very good side, the best in international rugby league, why we have to pretend that isnt the case i dont know

As much as I would be over the moon with GB/Eng winning Ashes/ 4-Nations/ World Cup etc. in League...I believe the reaction from the neutrals in the uK would be largely apathetic. For a number of reasons:-

1) The games are broadcast on SKY only and as such do not capture the neutral viewer's imagination....also the BBC knowing this give little air time to events exclusively broadcast by their competitor...ITV even less so.

2) The Print Media are largely in the RFU's pocket and so after a brief period of praise would then begin to deconstruct it:- Roo's not as strong as they were- sign of the wane of the game to RU in Southern Hemispere etc. They'd also start making up the usual "Code-Switcher" stories

lets see in may.

i expect the world champions to lose their title fairly easily.

fluking a final is nothing like being able to compete regularly.