British politicians have recently discovered a passion for rugby league. Prime Minister Andy Burnham made an appearance at Magic Weekend rating league players, culture secretary Lisa Nandy expressed her disappointment at the World Cup being behind a paywall as a “rugby league fan [herself],” and if I wasn’t dreaming, the words “Wigan Warriors all the way yeah?” actually came out of Nigel Farage’s mouth. There is little doubt that Burnham and Nandy have an interest in rugby league, as both have spent all their time as MPs in and around the rugby league towns of Leigh and Wigan. They should, as politicians, have an interest. 

But their voicing of that interest is wrapped up in the image they are carefully curating for themselves, how they are showing it to the public. Having ditched the tie, Burnham has taken to rating old-school pub snacks in his PR. He’s got his Harrington on, he’s drinking a pint, and he’s bemoaning VAR. He is understandably keen not to lose his status as ‘King of the North’ now that he is the figurehead we can blame for the country’s problems. 

The imagery surrounding his royal title is so important because many seats across the north of England will be key battlegrounds at the next election. The battle, presumably at this stage between Labour and Reform, will be particularly fierce in the post-industrial towns across the north where rugby league is so present, and so important to communities. 

Many of these constituencies swung to the Conservatives in 2019, then back to Labour in 2024- Leigh, Wakefield and Workington to name a few. Now, the government is fighting to hold onto these constituencies. And after becoming the MP for the constituency, Burnham said that all his future decisions would have to pass the “Makerfield test” (that’s Wigan to you and me). 

This theme has to be partly why this week Lisa Nandy urged the International Rugby League to “work with UK free-to-air broadcasters, so the millions of fans can follow the tournament”. Call me a cynic, but I think she knew this quote wouldn’t generate any consequences, after the exclusive rights deal with Premier Sports had been signed. It did however generate a couple of pieces that allowed her to proclaim herself as a rugby league fan. 

The Prime Minister recently donated part of his monthly salary as a Member of Parliament to community club Ashton Bears. The donation was a great gesture and will no doubt be of significance to them, but is not something that will significantly impact the game as a whole, and Andy, you are the Prime Minister, mate. 

Rugby league is desperate for more eyeballs and from that, more fans. From that perspective the publicity on its own could be seen as mutually beneficial. But the sport needs genuine help. The NRL’s first offer of a deal was viewed as disappointing from many quarters, but it was never going to be a silver bullet. The NRL has consistently said they would only strike a deal that is commercially viable, and the Super League is not in a great place. That is not to say that the government can solve these problems on their own either, but the RFL are in as prime of a position as they ever will be to ask for help in areas they think they need it.

The Tory government funded the 2021 World Cup in England to the tune of ￡25 million as part of their ‘Northern Powerhouse’ agenda,The stated aim of which was to ‘level up’ the north. Now, Burnham is talking a similar game from the other side of the aisle, lamenting the neglect from Westminster that communities in the North have suffered.

Rugby League clubs are mostly concentrated in towns and cities of post-industrial Northern England, thus the areas Labour is so desperate to keep hold of. And the relatively small sums of money involved in Rugby League would probably make any ‘investment’ in the sport an attractive offer for the government. So it seems only right that we ask for a little something in return for giving his ‘King of the North’ moniker more credibility with appearances on Sky Sports and at community clubs. 

Investment in rugby league would surely pass the ‘Makerfield test’.