International competition remains very much the poor cousin in rugby league, due to the lack of depth in countries playing at the highest level, and the intensity and passion surrounding the domestic scenes.

Until the establishment of New Zealand as a top-ranked league power, the only show in town was the Ashes, played between Great Britain and Australia.

However, over the years even this match-up has lost its allure, with the Lions failing to claim the prize since 1970, despite a number of near misses.

The Australian dominance has also applied to the World Cups, which have been held sporadically and in varying formats down the years, but which have all perhaps bar the 1995 event, seen some predictable and unexciting matches.

The disastrous 2008 World Cup, where England performed so badly effectively leaving the tournament down to just two teams, saw the international game take another body blow.

Hopes really rest on the creation of the Tri-Nations, soon to become Four Nations, tournament, which was an attempt to create a credible rugby league international competition to spark spectator interest and has so far proved to be a much bigger success.

The Ashes are still likely to be contested, despite the split of the Great Britain side in 2007 into its constituent parts, with the Lions continuing as a touring party only, similar to that in rugby union.

Currently, the only possibility of a tour down under appears to be in 2012, which will almost certainly be regarded as an Ashes battle.