SUPER League’s finest want to take on the best of Australia in their own back yard.
Then the plan is to take the World Club Series and World Club Challenge to America.
But Wigan chairman Ian Lenagan believes there is only one way to convince the Australians to have them – to best them this weekend.
The Warriors take on NRL champs Cronulla in the World Club Challenge after Warrington take on Brisbane in the World Club Series.
However, Lenagan revealed talks are ongoing over moving next year’s event Down Under before looking Stateside.
He said: “That would be great for Super League and we proved that by playing the Roosters in Sydney in 2014.
“There is an appetite and the more we can open eyes of the Australians particularly to the international club arrangement the better.
“If that means we have to go to them then we go to them or the concept of going to America.
“There’s a great future for international club rugby taking place in America. We came very close to playing this game this year in Australia.
“But we have to win to earn the right to play more games. The fact that we’ve lost six in a row is our fault.
“I wouldn’t like to lose another three or four games – what’s the point of expanding something that isn’t being successful?
“And I’m still a great believer that some of it has to be in Australia.
“I think 2018 will probably be an interim because it’s immediately after the World Cup and it will probably be something similar to what we’re doing now, maybe slightly more advanced if one of us were to win.
“2019 is where it will all change again and we have to maintain, as we have always maintained, that international club football is one of the important routes forward.
“The whole success of the Champions League and rugby union’s European competition is the way to grow internationally.”
Lenagan also revealed talks over Super League’s structure are taking place behind the scenes, and it may change again.
Currently, Super League splits after 23 rounds, with the top eight playing each other and the bottom four playing the top four of the Championship.
But Lenagan admitted discussions have already started over its future – and he would be happy to see a change towards the successful clubs after the Super 8s failed in 2016.
He added: “The question of where rugby league is going is something that occupies all of our minds.
“There are many benefits in the innovative nature of the Super 8s and Middle 8s, but I have a personal view that although I didn’t vote for it three years ago we should give it a good go.
“There’s one fundamental problem as far as I’m concerned which is splitting after 23 weeks, which means not knowing what the fixtures are for the last eight weeks of the season.
“There’s no doubt that the Super 8s didn’t work last year. I think any suggestions that end up equalising the points, or going 8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 are just non-starters.
“It’s right that we’re addressing it. We’ve still got a superb game but we’re not utilising it to the best effect.
“Not many rugby league fans know there is a demarkation of that at the moment – of £25,000 per place – but that’s probably not enough.
“I like the Premier League approach of £750,000 a place, but we’re not in that position unfortunately. But there are some creative opportunities.
“There’s a sense that some change is needed across most people but I think we’ve probably got to give a bit more weight to the bigger clubs in some respect.”
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