Rugby League World Cup: Brian Carney urges RFL to implement plan to fix sport's key issues after England's exits

Brian Carney has urged the Rugby Football League (RFL) to get serious about its ambitions to strengthen the domestic game in England by implementing a strategic plan.

Following England men's and women's teams exits from the Rugby League World Cup, the RFL established an advisory panel consisting of multiple former Great Britain and England players to hold discussions and plot out a roadmap to improve the international game.

In February, the RFL also released 144 strategic recommendations detailing key issues within rugby league in England, relating to governance, financing, and improving player pathways.

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But Carney called on the sport's governing body to show it can action the solutions to those problems, instead of discussing them.

"Rugby League doesn't need another discussion about what is wrong," Carney said. "We know what is wrong.

"Rugby League needs to demonstrate it is capable of doing something about what we already know.

"Before we go to another review, if indeed Sunday's news is a suggestion of another review, I would like to know what have we done to turn those 144 recommendations into a strategic plan?"

'We know the problems in rugby league'

England's performances at the World Cup have heightened concerns that the gap between them and southern hemisphere sides is becoming wider.

"If you want to review England men's and women's performances on their own, knock yourself out. But that is merely a symptom of a greater problem," the former Great Britain winger said.

"We're trying to fix a leaky roof by buying more buckets. We know the problems in rugby league: better pathways, better coaching, stronger academies.

"The big question is whether we have the leadership, the resources and the determination to put those recommendations sitting in front of us in place."

Ian Nolan, who had previously worked as a senior executive at Manchester United, was appointed RFL chief executive in July, and has been clear about his ambitions to grow the game's profile and bring in more revenue.

"Nolan is not long in the job, so I'm not throwing all of this on his doorstep," Carney said. "He is entitled to challenge what's gone on before him.

"But you would imagine his role is to turn those recommendations into a strategic plan.

"A change of leadership doesn't mean the sport gets to reset the clock every time.

"We're very good at strategic reviews, but strategic plans are harder to come by."

Carney added: "They haven't yet suggested to us that a strategic plan is about to be delivered forthwith. So, we get this statement on Sunday, and I can't help but think: 'Is this window dressing?'

"What I had expected to come after these recommendations is a plan. These recommendations have been sitting on the RFL's desk for months.

"We are past masters at producing recommendations. But you have to go a step further, and we're never willing to take the next step."

'Hard work will start if RFL agrees deal with NRL'

The RFL is in talks with the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC), the body that governs the NRL and NRLW, over potential investment in the domestic game in England.

That investment could be monumental in helping Super League grow and bring more eyes to both the men's and women's games.

For Carney, a partnership with the NRL is only the start, with the former Wigan Warriors winger emphasising that success will come down to how Super League clubs and the RFL allocate funds and make decisions to improve the sport across the pyramid.

"If we get an agreement with the NRL for them to become a strategic partner in the game, to invest capital, and take management control, that's the easy bit done," Carney said.

"Improvements will not happen by osmosis. Just because you're now NRL-linked, that will not transform the game over here. It's going to need significant investment; it's going to need better people and more money to take charge of the game.

"You will not just be a better competition with a stronger international team, a stronger England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, France, just because you're now linked with the NRL.

"The hard work will begin as soon as that contract agreement is signed."

Reflecting on the key issue of improving player pathways, Carney added: "What we need to do is draw a line in the sand and get very serious about whether or not we want to properly resource international teams and growth of the game over here at a player participation level, the grassroots levels.

"Because only when you do that do you increase the popularity of the sport and the participation.

"The greater law of numbers will suggest you will then get better players playing for the international teams if you widen out that playing pool.

"At the moment, we're not doing that. We haven't got the resources and we don't appear to have the inclination to do it."

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