AHEAD of this season, I heard it said from key figures many times that 2013 would be such an important year for rugby league.

This ‘extraordinary’ season was supposed to be the one more than any other to showcase what the game has to offer, culminating in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

Well, a right mess is being made of it: 1) The product on the field is yet to peak halfway through the season – not surprising now that the 27 regular rounds are treated by many teams as a warm-up to a play-off system that allows for any one of eight clubs to be crowned champions by finding form at the end of the year. The sooner it reverts to a top five or six format the better.

2) Attendances are dropping – because the fans have seen through the fact that not every game means as much to every team as it does to them, and so in these hard financial times they are ‘picking’ their matches.

3) Young British talent is being lured to the NRL in Australia – because it is a stronger competition in a warmer climate with higher wage opportunities from far greater revenue being attracted to the game Down Under.

4) Decision-making at the top is influenced by clubs’ own agendas – expanding dual registration and encouraging club partnerships instead of introducing an under 23s competition for developing talent is just one example.

5) The game’s leadership strength in this country is being questioned by one and all – not only Warrington’s Tony Smith who spoke so passionately on that issue this week (see his full outburst and fans’ reactions in our additional Wolves coverage at warringtonguardian.co.uk/wolves).

There are too many examples to highlight where rugby league in this country is eating itself at the moment.

Why time a policy review – opening up a can of worms in terms of future league structures – at ‘such an important time for the sport’ when it generates a profile for all the wrong reasons, painting rugby league in poor health.

Fans, key to any sport’s sustainability and future, are growing increasingly fed up with it all and it is not surprising.