The Leeds chief executive, who pushed for the concept to be expanded for years only for his club to miss out when it finally happened in 2015, says the World Club Series in in jeopardy because of antipodean apathy.

Hetherington also said the Rhinos would not accept a player in exchange for contract tied James Segeyaro and rubbished reports Cronulla's Luke Lewis was going to Headingley.

"The Super League has been consistent over the past 10 to 12 years to build and develop the World Club Challenge and World Club Series," Hetherington told Fairfax Media.

'Those efforts have not been met with the desired response from the NRL.

"Some NRL clubs have been very supportive and visionary but the NRL has not given the required attention to the World Club Challenge and World Club Series for it to maximise its potential.

"The NRL doesn't appear to think the World Club Series, in particular, is worthwhile or at least they have not made their position clear.

"It takes two to tango. I don't know what more Super League can do."

In 2011, St George Illawarra secured favourable financial terms to compete in the WCC, claiming the NRL had told them the fixture was not compulsory.

"That's reflective of a weak administration, if true," said Hetherington. "Of course it is compulsory for our clubs.

"We have had to deal with clubs directly to make the fixtures happen, without much support at all from the NRL. That is weak, in my view."

Ian Lenagan, the owner of Wigan who will take on Cronulla this Sunday, has revealed the opening match of the 2018 Super League season – along with the WCC – may be played in Australia.

The NRL has held discussions about an incursion into the UK market with a season-opening match in London. It would be a surprise if their less-wealthy sister competition could invade their territory first.

But Lenagan told reporters on Tuesday he had already held discussions about Warrington and Wigan opening the 2018 Super League season at an Australian stadium.

The World Club Series was cut from six teams to four this year and Hetherington says the experiment appears in danger of being abandoned once more – as it was after a disastrously lopsided 22-team competition in 1997.

"I think the World Club Challenge itself has established itself as competitive and viable," said Hetherington.

"We saw when Wigan went down to Sydney to play the Roosters in 2014 and 35,000 people showed up that there is an appetite for it among fans there. It was a breakthrough for our clubs and the concept.

"It has diluted the World Club Series this year with only four sides taking part, down from six over the previous two seasons.

"I think the World Club Challenge itself is well established but the World Club Series, you'd have to say there's a question mark over it."

Hetherington has also said Leeds will not accept a player as part of any deal allowing hooker Segeyaro, who walked out on the Rhinos with two years left on his contract, to resume his NRL career.

Leeds want £250,000 ($407,600) for Segeyaro, who has been training at the Sharks. "We're not looking for players," he said.

"There is a story doing the rounds in Sydney that we are after a swap deal to get Luke Lewis. That is a made-up story. There is absolutely no truth in it at all."

Cronulla trained in Teddington, South London, on Tuesday ahead of a day off – which will see the majority of the travelling party visit Paris. Forward Sam Tagataese, whose wife is expecting, arrived in London after his departure was delayed while he waited for her parents to travel from New Zealand to take care of her.

Brisbane, who play Warrington on Saturday, will train at the Honourable Artillery Company in central London. Wayne Bennett will face the media in his capacity as England coach in Manchester on Thursday morning.

He is expected to give, for the first time, his view on the planned training camp in Dubai last month being abandoned.

At the same time, the Sharks will run an opposed session at the Lensbury - their Teddington training facility - against the London Broncos.