Manly chief executive Grant Mayer, the man who spearheaded Catalans Dragons' entry into Super League in 2006, labelled the English competition "second tier", a view echoed by one of Australia's leading coaches.
Mayer, who flew into England with the Sea Eagles squad yesterday, told the Australian Rugby League Week magazine: "Super League, to me, is still very much a second-tier competition which is for NRL players coming to the end of their careers."
The Sea Eagles take on a Leeds side at Elland Road on March 1 without star forward Gareth Ellis, who has joined West Tigers but was today warned he could struggle to adjust to the National Rugby League.
Tigers coach Tim Sheen took a swipe at playing standards in Super League by claiming Ellis needs re-educating in some of the game's basics.
While he believes Ellis will eventually emerge as a top-class NRL second rower, Sheens is content to bring the Englishman on slowly.
"You can see why England is behind us," he said. "The decision-making in defence isn't always the best thing.
"There are things Gareth is learning that I don't think he has ever learnt. There has been a lot of back to basics."
Sheens warned Tigers fans not to expect Ellis to become an overnight sensation to match Ellery Hanley, the former Great Britain skipper who proved such a massive hit with Balmain in the late 1980s.
He admitted the club are unlikely to see the best from the 27-year-old England international until much later into his three-year stint.
Sheens explained: "He's not Ellery Hanley as a pivot, who's going to touch the ball 50 times a game.
"You're not looking for him to be involved as a ball player. He can play with the ball - he's certainly going to add to our game - but it's a three-year deal and he will build over that period.
"He's going to have teething problems but nothing great - the kid can play."
Ellis is the first to admit he has a lot to learn, with his education to continue in Saturday night's Foundation Cup trial against Sydney Roosters at the Sydney Football Stadium.
"I'm under no illusions that I'm going to set the world on fire," he said.
"I know that I need to improve and be better than ever to be a success down here and that's what I'm setting out to do." Tweet
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The "best athletes" in a given country will always gravitate to the best known or most played sport in that country. In Oz, the most popular sport is RL whereas in UK football predominates,hence RL in OZ attracts the premier athletes in that country. Torred
Nobody listens, nows the time they have a perfect opportunity to change things. With Richard Lewis unbelievably moving on to greater things, after steering the English game in the wrong direction on so many fronts. The game needs a leader with a genuine vision, enthusiasm and courage of conviction. Unfortunately I'm sure it'll be a case of jobs for the boys the same way Lewis got the nod, because it certainly wasn't on performance.
Ex champions Rielly, Murphy, Bishop, Watson, Hanley, Myler and many more, should be a united voice for change. Instead of having Lions reunions to pat each other on the shoulders and see who's still alive they should be a voice, the respected elders should combine, insisting on change and have some input into the game.TV, business, cigar smoking Ceo's and coaches have not earned their stripes and should come a distant second when directing the game.