Rugby League: Screen test for forgotten code

THE forgotten game will suddenly reappear on your television screen on Saturday. Leeds are playing Castleford in rugby league's Silk Cut Challenge Cup and supporters without satellite dishes or cable will be able to watch it on BBC Grandstand and be reunited with a game they used to watch quite frequently.

Out of sight, out of mind is an old saying that seems very appropriate to rugby league which used to enjoy a very high profile when you consider that is more of a regional than a national game. When I "went north" in 1989, I didn't think I'd enjoy as much personal publicity as I had in union but after a year or so I found my reputation had been enhanced - that's how much exposure league received from television then.

When Sky came on the scene to add to the BBC's coverage, league attracted a big and appreciative television audience. But the transfer to summer, although still in its infancy as an experiment, has changed all that. The game greatly appreciated the millions that Sky paid for the summer Super League but the result over the past nine months is that league has almost disappeared from the terrestrial screens.

It didn't help that last summer's competition between the top British and Australian clubs was such a flop from our point of view. To make matters worse, the Great Britain Tests against Australia were not on BBC as once they were and a great series was missed by most of league's old fans.

We have hardly seen any league for ages and the game has lost a lot of leeway. This is a shame because it is such a great game and if people could become more familiar with the rules it would get very popular. A lot of union fans are closet league supporters as well but the union clubs have provided so much exciting and entertaining rugby this season that league will have to start winning people's attention all over again.

The move to summer has so far failed to improve league's image for other reasons than a lack of exposure. The game has become so fast and the scores so high that the traditionalists have been yearning for the tough, hard and close-fought games of old. A similar change has overtaken union but to much better effect. Once league could brag that it had more action than union and that its handling and running was better to watch - but that doesn't apply so much any more, because union has become more like league with ball retention so important.

That's why the next couple of months are going to be vital for league. Grandstand are going to be showing the top teams in Challenge Cup action on alternate weeks during the Five Nations' Championships.

League will be getting a rare chance to be compared to the modern union game and it will be interesting to see the contrast. I hope league makes an impact because I happen to love both games and admire the qualities players need to compete in them these days. You still need as much if not more ability to shine in league as you do in union.

The traffic between the two codes has died down which means that young players still have a big choice to make. This adds to the importance of league make their presence felt and, luckily, a number of the bigger clubs have been putting together excellent squads.

The fortunes of Wigan will, as usual, play a big part in recreating the attraction of the game. A dominant Wigan is vital for the game and, under their returning coach, John Monie, they could soon find their old mastery. They've signed two excellent Australians in Tony Mestrov and Danny Moore and are still trying to get Wendell Sailor.

London Broncos might be the team to stand in their way. They've signed a shedful of Aussies, including Mark Carroll and John Timu, and I'm looking forward to seeing them play. St Helens, with Paul Sculthorpe, will be a threat and last year's champions, Bradford, will help to make it tight race at the top after signing Shaun Edwards and the potential superstar Tevita Vaikoma.

Under their new Australian coach, Graham Murray, Leeds might fulfil their potential at last. It will be an important season for Iestyn Harris who needs to establish himself quickly at full-back or stand-off in the Leeds team to claim his Great Britain place. For Iestyn, and all the league players there is an urgent need to make a big impression. Their futures could depend on it.