Jason Moore, the man behind the 2025 World Cup in North America, confirmed the proposal to Set Of Six in Brisbane on Sunday.

"What is the proposal? It's to play a fully fledged, internationally sanctioned Test match in the United States of America on the bye weekend afforded to us by the Sunday State of Origin game," he said.

It's understood Denver, Colorado, is the favoured venue and that the plan will be put to NRL clubs on Tuesday.

Given the groundswell of support for the international game following the World Cup, it's difficult to see any reasonable grounds upon which clubs could refuse to release players, considering there are no NRL matches on the weekend in question, June 23-24.

"It's an opportunity for the players to go to a new market and showcase the elite level of rugby league," Moore said.

Loose lips...

Billy Slater's admission on Saturday night he wants to play Origin next year but not the end-of-season trans-Tasman Test may have unwittingly provided NSW with a bargaining chip in a looming political battle over Andrew Fifita.

"That will probably be my last Aussie jumper," the fullback said on television.

Loose lips: Billy Slater may have caused himself issues for Queensland selection on a technicality. Photo: Eddie Jim

Despite the fact Origin players are now free to represent tier-two countries, it remains an agreement between the states that all Origin participants must be available to play for Australia.

Cronulla prop Andrew Fifita has strongly hinted he wants to continue with Tonga, which Set Of Six expects to lead to a protest from Queensland who have previously copped it from south of the border for picking players bound for rugby union.

But now the Blues can fire back that Slater has publicly stated his unavailability, in contravention of the policy. Far be it for us to suggest they should both have shut up, given it was we in the fourth estate asking the questions.

Smith of all trades

Wearing two hats isn't easy. As general president of the Rugby League Players Association, Cameron Smith was involved in the talks that allowed the Australian team to secure a break during the spring following each World Cup.

The green-and-golds have just one international next year. But as the national captain, Smith wants to play.

"In all honesty, if there was Test matches on next year that the Kangaroos have, I'd put my hand up to play them," he said.

As an NRL player, he benefits from the massive TV deals the game attracts - but as a rugby league statesman he knows a shorter club season would solve a lot of its problems.

"The revenue that's coming into our game is via a broadcast deal which means we have to play a certain amount of games," he said.

"The players understand that, so we're committed to fulfilling those commitments." But shortening the club season is "the simplest way" to squeeze everything in, he conceded.

Bidding war for Bennett?

The biggest obstacle to New Zealand making a play for England coach Wayne Bennett will be money; Red Hall has a lot more of it than Beasley Avenue.

Bennett's contract expired with Saturday night's 6-0 defeat to Australia and Rugby Football League chief executive Nigel Wood told Set of Six on Sunday: "We will sit down and discuss things in due course".

Decisions, decisions: Wayne Bennett will be weighing up his international options after his contract with England expired at the conclusion of the World Cup. Photo: Darren England

That's the standard response in such situations, but complicating things is the possibility the Kiwis will be looking for a new coach after being eliminated by Fiji at the quarter-final stage.

It is currently in the NZRL's charter that the coach be a New Zealander, which narrows the field considerably. Bennett might be considered an honorary Kiwi after helping them win their first World Cup in 2008. But then there's the cash he'd want???

Those who dug the well

Maurice Lindsay, who could fairly be described as the godfather of modern British rugby league, was an intrigued spectator at the World Cup final.

It was Lindsay, in 1995, who promoted the likes of Fiji and Tonga to 13-a-side rugby league after their early involvement in the World Sevens and gave us the entire idea of "second tier nations".

"I was embarrassed by our four-team World Cups - our idea of just awarding World Cup points in the last match of a Test series was rubbish," he recalled.

"I had the idea of inviting these countries to the World Cup. The Australians had a lot on their hands at the time with Kerry Packer [and the Super League War]. They said 'just go and do it, whatever you think'.

"When I invited the likes of Tonga, they said 'we have no money - how do we prepare?' We are seeing that sort of thing still, right? So I gave everyone ??100,000. Quite a lot of money???"

Certainly the game owes a lot to the likes of Lindsay and sevens promoter Colin Love, along with his long-time foil Bob Abbott and the tireless Tas Baitieri.

???Lobbyists in hotel lobbies

There was a game around the game in Brisbane over the weekend with administrators, sponsors, promoters, team owners, agents and just about every other stakeholder you can imagine in town to network.

Brisbane chief executive Paul White gave Toronto Wolfpack owner David Argyle a tour of the Broncos' new $27 million Red Hill training facility on the morning of the match, with Leeds CEO Gary Hetherington along for the ride.

Moore and his associate John Paul Basile from the 2025 North American World Cup were guests in an NRL box as they explained their plans for the tournament and for a domestic league.

Would-be New York CEO Ricky Wilby was also sounding out players, coaches and media contacts.

The common theme? A nervous holding-of-breath to see if the Rugby League International Federation can capitalise on the ground made during the tournament.

Nigel Wood as the new CEO and John Grant as chairman is accepted by most of these people as a fait accompli.