HOW much would we like to see the NRL running Rugby League in the northern hemisphere?

There are quite a lot of different opinions among the club owners in response to that question.

The problem for the rest of us is that we haven’t seen the NRL’s proposals in detail, so it’s hard to draw conclusions when we don’t have full information.

I’m quite certain that the NRL could bring a lot to the table – and I don’t just mean money.

But whatever they do bring, the RFL and the NRL need to be transparent about what the administration of the game might look like in the event of some sort of partnership being agreed.

The NRL Chairman Peter V’landys originally sold the idea to the clubs by telling them that the money will go directly to the clubs to defray the expenditure incurred by the club owners.

That would no doubt be a great relief to them.

But what would it do for the wider game?

However much money the NRL decides to invest, a reasonable proportion of it should go towards improving the profile of the competition and of the players.

If the game is ever to enhance its value to broadcasters, it can’t allow itself to be ignored by the national media in the way it currently is.

But could the NRL help in that regard?

I’m not sure what it would be bringing to the party.

For example, on a weekend when the NFL came to Melbourne and drew a crowd of 100,021 for an opening round game, the NRL’s play-off games were played in stadia which, with the exception of the New Zealand Warriors, looked half full or less.

It was an embarrassing contrast for the NRL, not just when comparing its attendances with the NFL’s, but also when comparing its attendances with its greatest rival, the AFL, which runs Aussie Rules football.

Peter V’landys may have negotiated a remunerative TV deal. But he now needs to persuade more people to come out and support the big games at the business end of the season.

If he can’t do that, it’s very difficult to claim that the NRL is a more popular competition than the AFL.

And there are other examples of the NRL not covering itself in glory in marketing the game.

Check out the almost complete lack of activity promoting this year’s World Cup.

The NRL will stage the competition on behalf of the international governing body.

But where’s the publicity?

I see far more publicity about the other rugby code’s World Cup, which will be staged in Australia in 2027.

No doubt the NRL will begin promoting the tournament after the NRL Grand Final.

But World Cups on a four-year cycle need to be promoted from the moment the previous tournament ends.

And let’s think about the NRL’s idea of starting the season in Las Vegas.

In one sense it’s a brilliant idea, in that it gives the NRL (and in the last two years Super League too) a touch of glamour, heading for one of the major tourist cities in the world.

It began in 2024, so we have now had three iterations of the Vegas weekend.

The first year was sensational.

But the crowds haven’t grown since then and there has been very little interest shown by American sports fans.

If Super League hadn’t come to the party in 2025 the crowds would have actually declined.

The rationale for going to Las Vegas appeared to incorporate a wholly unrealistic ambition to break into the American betting market.

The exercise was badly researched and didn’t have the expected payoff.

So are we really quite certain that the NRL is best placed to market Super League in this country?

The money would be useful, especially if judiciously applied.

But I remain to be convinced that their marketing operation will have a big impact in England.

Hull’s inconsistency

It’s always a mystery to me that some clubs can be so inconsistent from one week to the next.

Just over a week ago Hull FC went to Toulouse and were 30-0 down at half-time.

Six days later they headed to Headingley and were level 6-6 at half-time.

They had clearly improved, but I still expected the Rhinos to take full control of the game in the second half.

But there was nothing of the sort.

Instead Hull took control with a brilliantly taken try by their young hooker Lloyd Kemp, who will celebrate his 20th birthday this Friday along with his twin Callum.

I’ve wondered for a long time whether Hull should give more opportunities to some of the younger players in their squad, given that they rarely let the side down.

I hope Steve McNamara is taking note before his arrival later this year.

A night of Rugby League history

For Rugby League history buffs here will be Hunslet Heritage event this Friday, 18th Sept, from 7:30 – 9pm at which Hunslet will reveal their precious, historical Minutes Books.

On display will be many old photographs, scrapbooks, artefacts, and Minutes Books dating back to 1883, when the club was still a member of the RFU.

The Lord Mayor will tour the self-guided exhibition, which will take place at John Charles Sports Centre, LS11 5DJ, on the ground floor, in the Hunslet bar area.

The exhibition is free to look around, and I’m told that  it is the only time this year when so many precious objects will be on display all together.

Also on hand will be volunteers to answer questions and look up players’ stats.

Attendees will be able to put on precious Hunslet players’ blazers and take selfies.

The atmosphere will be relaxed and welcoming and I hope plenty of Rugby League fans in Leeds and nearby will go along and browse the exhibition.

And of course the bar will be open.