Guest Writer - Paul Burton
International Rugby League
It has been the best part of forty years since Great Britain as it was or England has won a test series against the Australians, so what has happened to this once great nation that brought the game to the world, what has changed that has made the southern hemisphere so dominant.
Many will point to the fact that money and the drain of talent or even dearth of talent in the UK but is money really the prime motivator for athletes, yes money probably does play its part but ask any of our exports why they have opted for the NRL and money would not be the first answer many would say it is the chance to play against the best in the best league in the world so where is the Super league going wrong.
I like many will tune in every week and watch what is in my opinion the best team sport in the world and admire the physical specimens that put their bodies on the line week in week out, however I am sure I am not the only one who eagerly anticipates the annual State of origin series in Australia.
Maybe that is an inkling of the problem or at least part of it, the England set up no longer has any real tests of any note during the season since the demise of the exiles which lost momentum. Initially the exiles series had intensity and was a test, so much so that the England team were beaten but not of late and has disappeared from the calendar.
France always put up token resistance but that is primarily Catalans in an international shirt and is no match for a full England side. One idea that has been muted around and I feel does hold water is the re-introduction of the our own state of origin, but what format would this take, county of birth or county of club you first signed professional contracts with. Expansion could be incorporated by the inclusion of maybe a Cumbrian team which is hot bed of talent but with no SL club is largely ignored. Marketed the right way and with enough importance placed on the serried this could give an annual raising of intensity hopefully on parity with its Australian counterpart.