Adrian Morley speaks to The Yorkshire Post's James O'Brien in Amsterdam.
Thumbnail: Paul Thomas/Getty Images
Thumbnail: Paul Thomas/Getty Images
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00:00Adrian, first and foremost, welcome to Amsterdam. Explain to us why you're here for this fixture.
00:08So I'm here as a representative of Rugby League Cares. I started a job with Rugby League Cares a couple of weeks ago.
00:14The title is player, ambassador and welfare manager. So I've been working with all the current welfare managers at each individual club
00:23and also being a bit of an ear and a bit of support for the coaches and also looking after players, current and ex-players.
00:33So it's a role I'm very passionate about. So I'm here just to observe and see how things are going.
00:39It's very exciting to be part of the first competitive rugby league game over in Amsterdam and Holland. Great to be here.
00:49You've got a flavour for what it's all about, the event and whatever. What do you make of it so far?
00:53I think it's fantastic. I think OKR in particular and New York have done a great job in organising the event.
01:01I know a lot of English have come over, but if we can tap into the local market, we all know rugby league is the best sport out there and the best product to watch.
01:12So if we can get a few of the Dutch locals interested and enthused, I think it would be fantastic.
01:20We keep banging the drum and to expand in different areas where we've not got a foothold is great.
01:28So both clubs and the game should be commended.
01:31You've obviously played both sides of the world. You've played around the world, haven't you, in World Cups and whatever else.
01:35Does the sport need more of this, like testing new markets?
01:39Without a doubt. We're all biased. We all bang on about our sport being the best entertainment sport out there.
01:49I believe it is. Countries such as Holland have maybe not seen a great deal of rugby league.
01:55So the more we can get the game out there and try and get it as big and as exciting as it possibly can, that can all be a good thing, really.
02:03If you were a fan and you got to pick a city, this would be right up there, wouldn't it?
02:07Yeah, it's one of the more exotic places to have hosted rugby league.
02:13But it's great. It's only an hour on a plane. If you want to get the ferry from Hull, it's very accessible.
02:20So it would be a fantastic venue to play rugby league and maybe take a Super League game on the road.
02:26Who knows? But it's exciting and let's hope it can be a success.
02:31We've obviously got a French team in the Super League. Would you be up for having more of a European influence, a Dutch team maybe?
02:39Who knows in 10, 15, 20 years' time?
02:41Definitely. If you look at football and rugby union, their strong competitions, their flagship comps are the European Cups.
02:52So it would be great to have more of a European flavour in the Super League.
02:58It would be great to have a team in Dublin and places like that.
03:01So I'm all for expansion and let's hope we can start the ball rolling today.