MattyB wrote:
I fear it would take a monumental effort to get International RL back to where it was (which in itself was only ever average compared to RU anyway).
We desperately need an end of season test series against the Kangaroos. Played in the heartlands to ensure decent attendances: Etihad, DW and Elland Road.
We had a 25k attendance against Penrith arranged over a few months so the appetite for RL is obviously still there. Tour details home and abroad, dates and venues need to be set in stone 5-10 years in advance, with tickets sales 12 months in advance.
I can't believe we had better organisation in 1982 when the Invincibles came over and blitzed us. Subsequent tours and tournaments (86 tour, 90s World Cups) were incredible compared to today.
i've been saying for a while we need a long term international calendar that all RL playing nations buy into and by saying that i'm aiming it mainly at the Ozzies, and have often referred to the same period that you have. My 1st ever game was at Central Park GB V Oz in 1982, and i love the international game, but believe we need to focus on GB, but equally in the background have home internationals to develop the game alongside what we all want to see GB v OZ, GB v NZ etc etc
The sign of where we all think our international game is currently at is the stadiums you mention, as we used Wembley and Old Trafford during those late 80s to early 90s. We should be able to sell out a 3 test series v Tonga / Samoa etc and use Wigan, Huddersfield and Hull for those (approx 25k), these nations are now packed with NRL and SL stars and we should back the game against them with good crowds. However, we should be aiming for 50-60k v the Ozzies and should be disappointed if we get nowhere near that
the international plan should include growth of lesser nations to help build them internationally, for me a home nations as a development path to GB etc, regular series between GB, Oz, NZ, Tonga, Samoa as well as a long term commitment to the RL world cup (not just trying to fit it in if anyone can be arsed as it feels today)