GREG Dowling has delivered a blunt message to rugby league officials across Australia - fix the game or watch it die.
The rugby league expert and State of Origin great said the game was facing a dire future because of woeful crowd figures, salary cap demands, the rise of other sports and a lack of vision from officials.
"We all love this game and to see it fall down now when it should be going ahead is really sad,’’ The Cairns Post columnist said.
Dowling has outlined an action plan that would target expansion and would include the relocation of existing NRL clubs.
Dowling also says the league should be doing more to tap into the wealth of talent in the Pacific Islands to help find the next generation of NRL stars.
Dowling’s fears for the game come in the light of Mark Gasnier’s decision to quit St George Illawarra to sign a rich deal to play rugby union in France.
Soccer and Australian rules have made significant inroads into rugby league’s heartland in recent years.
"We’re going to get swallowed up by union,’’ Dowling said.
"That was my fear five to six years ago and now it’s a reality.
"A lot of players went to union years ago not because of the money but because of the playing experience and now they are paying them as well.
"And it doesn’t take as big a toll on the body.’’
AFL crowds dwarf those of NRL, with 173,413 more fans attending the AFL’s eight games last weekend.
The Bulldogs played in front of just 12,973 at ANZ Stadium despite New Zealand, Fijian, Samoan and Tongan passport holders being allowed in for free.
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