LAURIE Daley knows a thing or two about the significance of a Kangaroo tour, and the former Australia international believes the return of rugby league’s Ashes series is just the boost the game in England needs.
Daley featured for the Aussies on both the 1990 and 1994 tours, helping them to series wins over Great Britain on each occasion, and the 55-year-old is delighted to see his country heading back to the Northern Hemisphere in October and November for a three-test series.
The first Ashes tour for 22 years comes at a time when the domestic game is riven with divisions amid a club-led review of all levels taking place and possible NRL involvement in the top level of the sport.
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But ticket sales for England’s series against Australia have been strong, with the second and third tests in Liverpool and Leeds selling out, and over 30,000 sold for the first match at Wembley, and Daley expects that combined with renewed Australian interest in the international game to provide a much-needed spark.
“It’s going to be massive and it’ll be good for the English game,” Daley told James Graham’s The Bye Round podcast.
“I reckon that will give them an injection of enthusiasm and a connection to the game and might inspire the game to kick again over there.
“All the players who are playing in the NRL would love to go and play on a Kangaroo tour.
“They all want to be part of that and [Australia head coach] Mal [Meninga] has done such a fantastic job of creating that environment that they all want to get there.”
Along with returning as New South Wales head coach for this year’s State of Origin series, Daley has served as an independent director on the board of global governing body International Rugby League since 2024.
The former Canberra Raiders centre and stand-off is enthused by the growth of the international game in the Southern Hemisphere following the emergence of Tonga and Samoa in challenging the established order.
He believes the number of English players scattered across NRL clubs will only benefit Shaun Wane’s side when they aim to end the hold Australia have had on rugby league’s Ashes since 1970 as well.
“I think it’s great international football is on the rise, and one of the great things we’re seeing is the rise of Tonga and Samoa,” Daley said.
“But Australia hasn’t been left behind, the Kiwis are still producing good players and the English are still produce good players.
“With the players they’ve got our here in the NRL helping the boys when they go back home at the end of the year, I think we’re in for a wonderful test series.”
