Independent Commission Chair John Grant backs International Football!

[DIEHARD]

Code must be strong globally: chairman

Inaugural IC chairman John Grant is adamant that international RL should be at the forefront of the sport's future, despite Australia's obsession with State of Origin.

Grant said it was cruical for the expansion of RL worldwide that Test matches be placed on similar pedestal to the annual series between QLD & NSW.

"State of Origin is the jewel in the crown but we should not forget about international RL and its improtance to the game's future" he said. "It's a must that youngsters aspire to represent their country"

"State of Origin and international RL need to be complementary".

He suggested it should be a priority to ensure the existing Four Nations series was not simply a tournament that would always feature Aus & NZ in the final.

"The challange is the get the British nations and France to consistant levels of performance, but it's a tough task condiering the other sports played at high levels in those countries."

"But the competition that exists between Aus & NZ now is fantasic."

Grant admitted that the RLWC would never compete with the corrosponding tournaments in Soccer & RU in terms of depth and the no. of countries competing.

"Soccer is the world game and RU is playing in more countries than RL" he said. "But for everybody playing the game at the grassroots level, RL needs to be as strong as it can internationally."

Source: http://www.couriermail.com.au

[Toads]

If Mr Grant can find a way for players of any country, to lift to the ocassion like Origin players do. Then the 4 Nations might be in with a shot. But until then, 4 Nations will only really amount to a between season comp, like it currently is.

To be honest, even the Kangaroo squaud doesn't play with the same passion as they do, come Origin time.

[DIEHARD]

If Mr Grant can find a way for players of any country, to lift to the ocassion like Origin players do. Then the 4 Nations might be in with a shot. But until then, 4 Nations will only really amount to a between season comp, like it currently is.

To be honest, even the Kangaroo squaud doesn't play with the same passion as they do, come Origin time.

But you have to admit that international football is LIGHT YEARS ahead of where it was ten years ago, even five years ago.

And that is with minimal help and little buy in or leadership by the game's guardians.

So I am very optimistic for the future.

But France and New Zealand are going to need more than ONE fully professional club.

And the Four Nations has provided some of the best footy over recent years with many classic games. With the Kiwis getting stronger, it'll just get sweeter.

I'd like to see Trans Tasman Test Series return and also Great Britain and Ireland Lions Tours (Give the home nations and Ireland a chance to reform). Don't play the Four Nations annually.

[Toads]

It possibly has come futher than what it had, some 10 years ago, Diehard. I can't truly answer that one. I'm mainly going by the atmosphere that was experienced in the finals up at Suncorp late last year. When the Kiwi's handed our butts back to us on a platter. No doubt the Kiwi's enjoyed it, as they made sure we all heard about it, lol.

But yeah, even the crowd numbers appeared to be down. Roughly guessing, I'd say the 4 Nations Finals drew about the same size crowd to what we had up at Suncorp at the double header, earlier this year. There does seem to be more room for it to grow.

[DIEHARD]

The crowds have grown in leaps and bounds. But holding Tests at Lang Park constantly probably take some of the paint off the special occassion.

The big challenge is getting Sydney on board, we should be drawing great crowds down there. Especially with 10 NSW based clubs, if they all just brought 2,000 fans we'd be streets ahead before we get the casual fans.

It's a long road. I'm realistic about it. I've seen international football on it's knees and I'll never again have it. The next World Cup in the UK in 2013 also needs to turn a profit.

Really we need NRL clubs, players, reports and fans to buy in. And the Commission can help show leadership.

But even without much effort or thought, Anzac Test TV ratings have been wiping the floor with Bledisloe Cup ratings for years. So there is definitely an appetite for it, we just need to provide a great product.