While in rugby union the international game is king, the attitude in rugby league has largely been, ‘Do we have to?’
England are currently playing their first games on home soil for two years after last year’s World Cup in Australia and this year’s mid-season Test in Denver, Colorado, which has collapsed for future years after promoter Jason Moore failed to hand over cash to the Rugby Football League and New Zealand Rugby League.
Talks over a tour for the reborn Great Britain side next year are ongoing but it is not known if they will face the Aussies or new force Tonga and head to rugby league-mad Papua New Guinea.
But as the NRL seemingly tries to tighten its grip over the 13-a-side game, with all kinds of moans and groans over the Denver clash, prop Graham believes the white shirt should get more of an airing as it could boost the chances of lifting the World Cup in 2021 in England.
The St George-Illawarra Dragons star said: “I'd love to play mid-season, three or four games mid-season, but you have got to balance the scales and I do empathise with clubs.
“I'm not privy to all the information but as a player you love playing for England, that goes without saying.
“But I do understand where the clubs sit and all the different things that come with that with the NRL and Super League.
“I’m a bit disappointed Denver’s not been given more time but that's from a player's point of view. I understand there are a lot of other things going on.
“The more games we can play internationally against quality opposition will help our cause to where we want to go to.”
Wayne Bennett’s men went as close as you can get to being world champions last year, losing the final to Australia 6-0 and beating New Zealand in June’s American experiment.
Now the Kiwis are over for a three-Test series and have already showed they are much better by beating the Aussies.
However, Graham is not buying into a theory that rugby league's world order is changing after several Kangaroos stars – including Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston – retired.
Just like he is not believing the absence of 12 of Wayne Bennett’s World Cup party – 10 through injury – leaves England weakened.
The 33-year-old, who will get to play in his home city of Liverpool in the second Test at Anfield, added: “It would be foolish to say anything like that.
“For the first time in a long time we have got really competitive international rugby league, we saw that with last year's World Cup with Tonga, with New Zealand beating Australia last week and with performances Eng;land gave in the World Cup, so I think it's great.
“Australia losing one game doesn't mean that that's the end for them I'm sure and I don't see the point in focusing on who is not here, lets focus on who is here.
“Granted there are some talented players who are unavailable but that doesn't really matter, let’s just focus on whose here and get behind them because these boys have got the chance to impress.”
Tom Johnstone certainly impressed with a hat-trick in Wednesday’s 44-6 warm-up win over France while Bennett admitted Reece Lyne is a project player looking towards the 2021 World Cup in this country.
But with 10 Wigan and Warrington players now available after their Grand Final exploits, both England and the Kiwis are hell bent on showing the future is bright.
ENGLAND V NEW ZEALAND FIXTURES
SATURDAY – KC STADIUM, HULL
SUN, NOV 4 – ANFIELD
SUN, NOV 11 – ELLAND ROAD
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