And in spite of an AFL assault on rugby league heartlands across the nation, Anderson says rugby union poses the greatest threat.  

"Our biggest danger is rugby union," the former Canterbury, Melbourne, Cronulla, Sydney Roosters and Kangaroos coach told AAP.

"Not as in it taking it over, but a Murdoch or a Packer coming in and saying rugby union in Australia needs grassroots competition. They (the ARU) haven't got enough money to make it happen.

"We've got the best grassroots competition in Australia so if Murdoch came in and said to every player 'we're going to double your wages and you're going to play rugby union next year'.

"It's a big world sport. It's taken over Europe. Rugby league's died in Europe. All good players now go to union; in England, in France.

"So it's a big game. It's growing in America. That's our danger. If we don't get our house in order, our danger is we'll be playing rugby union in 10 years."

As well as rugby union and AFL, Anderson said soccer also posed a danger considering the growth of the A-League and Australia’s rise in the world game.

"All our kids played soccer til they were eight or nine and then came to rugby league. Now they've got a reason to stay in soccer," he said.