The appointment of Shane Richardson to what is essentially the second most senior post at the NRL is simultaneously a huge boon for the international game and terrible embarrassment to it.

In an interview with me just before the 1pm announcement on Wednesday – which I posted right on the hour for people who have been kind enough to donate to my website – Richardson said he hoped to work with the existing team at League Central to "work towards establishing rugby league on the world stage."

Step up: Shane Richardson departs Redfern for Moore Park. Credit:Christopher Pearce

When the denizens of Super League said that, 20 years ago in 2015, it was laughed at. But in the current environment, with globalisation of the sports industry and a well-resourced NRL, it should be music to our ears.

Richardson doesn't just know the doormen at Runaway Bay and the groundsman at Cairns Brothers, he knows the boss of the Czech Rugby League and rock promoter Simon Moran, the owner of Warrington.