Rugby Football League executive chairman Richard Lewis has made it clear that he wants to lift international rugby league's profile and has called on Super League bosses to put country before club.

The newly-appointed RFL boss believes that Great Britain's record 64-10 defeat by Australia last month has underlined the need for change.

Lewis is set to push ahead with proposals to cut the number of overseas players in Super League and introduce a break for international rugby.

But, writing in his club's programme for Bradford's derby match with Leeds, former Super League chairman Caisley said he would not support the proposed reforms.

"I support any reasonable attempt to improve our international team but not at the expense of premier club rugby league," he said.

"It is vitally important that our club competition improves year on year and strength at international level will only come on the back of a vibrant Super League competition.

"If the league competition falls away, there will be no infrastructure to support the international team."

'Collective loss'

And Caisley said a reduction in fixtures would be a huge blow to Super League clubs.

"If somebody can come up with a way of adequately compensating the clubs for their losses, there may be some who would give it a go," he said.

"But the collective loss to Super League clubs of reducing the number of home fixtures and having a mid-season break for internationals would be substantial and, at the moment, unsustainable.

"Hopefully, this message will hit home and we will not embark on any more knee-jerk reactions."