It was the late great John Kear, then the coach of Wales, who spoke at the 2017 World Cup about the growing gap between the Pacific nations and those in the northern hemisphere.
After the Welsh had been flogged 50-6 by Papua New Guinea and 72-6 by Fiji in that tournament, Kear remarked: “The eye-opening thing for me is, from the last time I came Down Under to the time now, things have moved on so greatly.
“I believe in the international game and I would like to improve it, but we have had our bottoms spanked and we have got to learn from it.”
Few knew more about rugby league or were more passionate about the 13-man code than the former Wales, England and France head coach, who sadly passed away in May. The 71-year-old was correct in his remarks nine years ago, and nothing has changed since.
If anything, the gap between those southern hemisphere countries aligned with the NRL and those associated with the European game and Super League, has become a chasm.
That was one of the takeaways from Saturday after Tonga handed England a stunning 30-12 defeat in Perth, the first time they have ever lost to the Polynesian nation. Of course, Tonga beat Great Britain in Hamilton in 2019, but England avenged that result with a 3-0 series whitewash on home soil three years ago.
However, that tour, and the one that followed against Samoa, has arguably masked some of the long-running issues in the British game. In the past five years the NRL has gone from strength to strength, soaring in revenue, ratings, fans and sponsorship.
And dragged along with it has been the likes of New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and Papua New Guinea, who can call on players who ply their trade for clubs in the NRL and make their national teams infinitely better.
Meanwhile England, a powerhouse of the sport a half-century ago, continues to decline. The birthplace of rugby league, England, nor Great Britain have ever failed to reach the semi-final stage of a World Cup since the tournament started in 1954.
But this appears to be their destiny after falling to Tonga at HBF Park. While World Cup games against France and the Kumuls are to come, England will need to rely on other results and scores to have any chance of staying alive in the reduced tournament.
The Tongans, coached by former St Helens boss Kristian Woolf, have a team filled with NRL talent. They can also count on some of the world’s best players, such as centre Tolatau Koula, halfback Isaiya Katoa and forward Haumole Olakau’atu. And in the Western Australian heat, in NRL-style conditions in front of their passionate fans, they ran riot.
Burly back-rower Olakau’atu grabbed a brace, Koula picked up a try and classy Katoa set up a handful of four-pointers. While England were brave, chancing their arm and forcing their opponents into some desperate defence early, they struggled to finish off their attacks or handle the intensity and the size, pace and power of their physical Pacific opponents.
It was a similar story in last year’s Ashes series, where Australia romped to an embarrassing 3-0 whitewash in the UK. The Rugby Football League (RFL) reacted by sacking coach Shaun Wane and replacing him with former Leeds boss Brian McDermott.
But again, it was a case of treating the symptom and not the disease. Until England improves its development systems, increases participation, coaching set-ups and succeeds in making rugby league more popular at home across the UK and not just around the M62, the same struggles at international level will continue.
Super League and the Championship are awash with foreign players, meaning there are limited opportunities for local talent to develop or thrive.
Arguably the only way that England will regain its status globally is through a partnership with the cash-rich NRL. Peter V’landys and his Australian competition have moved into Las Vegas and are expanding into Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. They want to promote the sport in Europe and are aware of the deep-rooted problems in Albion.
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RFL and Rugby League Commercial executives will meet with V’landys and NRL officials on Monday in Sydney, in an attempt to resurrect a deal with the NRL. Despite reports in Australia, the likelihood of a game-changing investment from the NRL has not been completely ruled out just yet.
Only change at the top, an injection of capital and the experience, expertise and connections of the NRL that could halt England’s international decline. And it is not just England that needs help, but France, who were smashed 78-4 by Samoa in Parramatta on Friday, and Wales, who also need support.
With so much at stake, one can only hope that some sanity in Sydney prevails and a deal can be agreed. The other option is not worth considering.