Q&A with The Mole

SL's always going to play second fiddle to the NRL, due to pecking order in British sport and funding, but what do you think RL in general has to do in the U.K. to improve / grow that national appeal.

Bugger forgot.

As you're a massive fan of the NRL 9's tournament would you like to see a combined NRL & SL version or maybe an international version.

With the failure to have the future World Cup in the USA, if NRL do achieve the plan of kicking off teh 2018 NRL season in the USA, how can we follow up the interest it will create in that country?

What's your view on the "dual nationality" of players and how do you stop such favouring Australia?

And when you've buggered forgot, what are you going to do to MichiganRed?

It was on Twitter a few days ago and is correct. Reports in the Aus media to, and of course, Moley himself talking about it.

Rugby League Week is closing: it's a Aus publication and will not be printed from April

Big thanks to The Mole for doing this for us.


How do you think Todd Carney will get on with Salford?
Todd is a mate of mine and I know he wants to give it 100% - just spoke to him and he is hopeful of playing this weekend. If he stays injury free he will kill it.

A lot of UK RL fans see the NRL as a premier competition in the game. What do you think the NRL do well, and what do you think they need to improve on?
Rugby league is the number one game in NSW and QLD so that is a big start. The fans love it and the product is great. NRL needs to market itself better in the media though.

Who in your opinion is the best British import into the NRL, historically and in the modern game?
I would say Ellery Hanley - he was superb for both Wests and Balmain. All class.

What is your opinion on the recent expansion of Toronto into the British game?
I think it is great for the game - expansion can only be a good thing.

Super League is always going to play second fiddle to the NRL, due to it’s pecking order in British sport and funding, but what do you think RL in general has to do in the U.K. to improve / grow that national appeal?
I am not so familiar with things over there to judge... it's hard when soccer is so dominant. Getting a bigger foothold in London would be a good start. And maybe a team in Paris?

You're obviously now a committed Salford fan but apart from Todd Carney, who's your favourite Red Devil?
Marwan - he's the man!

Who do you think are the British players still playing SuperLeague who would make the biggest NRL impact?
I have to be honest - I watch around 20 games a week - all in Oz. Don't see enough UK footy to answer that... sorry.

Are there any NRL fringe players SuperLeague teams should be looking at?
There are plenty of guys getting near the end of their careers who would do well there - Luke Lewis, Manu Vatuvei and Tim Mannah for starters.

Would you prefer old style Lions tours rather than the 4 Nations?
Yes - the old 2 month tours were great. Ditto Kangaroo tours.

Did you have a pro playing career?
No - I had to decide early in life between playing and writing. But I still run around the touch footy field at age 58!

As you're a massive fan of the NRL 9's tournament would you like to see a combined NRL & SL version or maybe an international version?
Definitely - it's the T20 version of league - it is the future.

Kevin Locke - failure on Salford’s part, his part or a bit of both?
I hear he is a problem child - so there is your answer.

With the failure to have the future World Cup in the USA, if NRL do achieve the plan of kicking off the 2018 NRL season in the USA, how can we follow up the interest it will create in that country?
They need to play at least one game there a year - as the NFL does in the UK... if not more.

What's your view on the "dual nationality" of players and how do you stop such favouring Australia?
It has become a joke and strict rules need to be put into place to favour the developing nations.