I'd rather England and France - if it worked. But despite having a presence in SL for 20 years the French remain an international walk over. This isn't about what's good for French RL, it's about giving England the best possible chance of pushing Australia. And by the way, I think you are under playing the rivalry. I believe we still play Roses games at both amateur and academy level so it's not like it's something that's dead to the sporting culture. Just check out the attendances for the T Twenty cricket matches if you think it can't be sold to folk. Anyway, it looks like it's going to happen, so I guess we won't have to wait too long to gauge its appeal.

If Wane wants the Roses match to be our Origin then IMG need to earn their corn for once and market it and push it and stick with it.

FWIW , I’d run a campaign and compare it to Origin and in short stress the history and extreme violence of the Roses and compare it to State of Origin.

Compare 40 odd years of origin and a few punch ups with a war that lasted 32 years with over 100,000 dead.

Show the skull found at Towton with the big hole in the back. Explain how Game of Thrones was based on the war of the roses.

Mention 28,000 dead at Battle of Towton

Get Sam Burgess talking to Gordon Tallis or modern age players ask them how many have been killed in the NSW v Queensland wars?

Then market it as

The Roses
Real war since 1455
See the next battle…

I get the points about us having less quality to pick from but I think if Wane backs it which he seems to be , players like say Minchella would see it as a great chance to put down a marker

It's not happening anytime soon

Not with the Ashes apparently back on the menu.

The Tonga vs Aus game was excellent. Aus are there for the taking. The international game down under at least, is as strong as it’s been in a long time.

For me it’s up to England to A, take advantage of that and challenge, and B, take a bit of a lead for the game this side of the world.

Granted B is much harder.

The game doesn't have the cash, especially at a central level. The NRL bankrolled the Samoa tour.