If the northern hemisphere ever wins back dominance over - or at least equilibrium with - the southern in the world of club rugby league, the process will probably be remembered as having started on Sunday.

OK, it's a long shot that this will happen in our lifetimes. The NRL keeps getting bigger and bigger television deals and its biggest enemy seems to be itself, with a couple of commissioners recently quitting in disgust at the erosion of their independence and the increasing power of self-interested clubs.

Start of something big? The Toronto Wolfpack after their first game, against Hull at the weekend. Credit:Toronto Wolfpack

Meanwhile in Britain, government funding keeps being cut, clubs keep going to the wall and Super League players walk out on contracts. At times it seems to be barely the same sport playing in front of massive TV audiences Down Under.

But the saviour of the game in the UK may be something for which officials can't really take much credit for: geography. Or more specifically, Britain's proximity to the US.