Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has put pressure on the NRL to allocate an international window at the end of each year, giving it more authority with a shortened NRL season.

Australia played just two Tests this year following a lengthy 2018 season that was drawn out by the 2017 World Cup, while Tongan coach Kristian Woolf recently complained about the nation’s minimal opportunities with uncertainty around their international calendar.

New Zealand will enjoy a total of five Tests this year after the completion of their three-match series against England, combined with a mid-year Test in Denver and a shock upset victory against the Kangaroos.

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But Meninga believes it isn’t enough if the NRL is serious about growing the international brand, highlighting the intense passion and electric atmosphere surrounding Australia’s emphatic victory over Tonga on Saturday as a reason why more games should be on the calendar.

‘’The only real way to do it (more international games) is to minimise what we do pre-season, try and find some way where we can reduce the domestic competition and then have that international window at the back end of the year,’’ Meninga told Sky Sports’ Big Sports Breakfast.

‘’That’s the ultimate way to continue. Obviously we’ve got television rights commitments, they insist on 25 games every year.

‘’It’s about maybe negotiating with Channel Nine and Fox Sports and say listen, ‘can we shorten the season? Can we have a look at games like the one on the weekend.’’’

While he realises there may be resistance from the broadcasters, Meninga insists international football can pull in the same numbers as the NRL competition.

‘’If you talk about ratings, I’d imagine an Australia-Tonga, New Zealand-Samoa and those type of games at the end of the year would rack up the television ratings anyway,’’ he added.

‘’It’s just a matter of sitting around and having a look at the balance for the season. Based on what happened on the weekend you’ve got to think we’d play more international games.

''It’s just as passionate and just as important as State of Origin.’’

Former NSW coach Laurie Daley pointed out fans have a thirst for the international game.

‘’There’s an appetite for it and I think a lot of people that saw that game on the weekend, and the numbers would have been huge, they want to see this,’’ Daley said.

A shortened NRL season could also lessen the injury problems post-season international football faces with a number of high-profile stars sidelined with ongoing issues or off-season surgery.

Australia were unable to name James Maloney (neck), while England will be without star duo Gareth Widdop (shoulder) and Sam Burgess (shoulder and wrist).

The Kiwis were hit the hardest on the injury front though, missing Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Tohu Harris, Issac Luke and Nelson Asofa-Solomona.