As a child, I saw GB lose to Australia in 1978, a drawn home series vs NZ in 1980, a thrashing from the Aussies in 1982, some tv coverage of us losing to both Australia & NZ away in 1984, another drawn home series against NZ in 1985, another beating from the Aussies in 1986. First time I saw us beat the Aussies was 1988, early morning TV, third test in Sydney - Henderson Gill, Mike Gregory, Phil Ford and Martin Offiah. No world cup for most of that period too. So I don't think it was success on the field that formed the attachment for our generation.
We had 8000 kids watching England women vs Brazil 18 months ago, one of the most enjoyable RL experiences of my life. Predictably, the RFL appear to have done nothing to follow up on that.