League is the far superior game however, soccer has a few things that League doesnt:
The barreir to entry for Rugby League is far higher. You could be a fast/skillful little kid and not get a look in as some goliath pacific islander is hogging the limelight. In soccer, the fast and skilful are the standouts. Additionally, the cost to enter soccer is very low and there is ample opportunity as it is played everywhere. This means any kid can have a go at it.
There is far more ingrained tribalism in soccer. Personally I think its because its such a boring game where bugger all happens, that even the scoring of a solitary goal is epic for the crowd. I also think that as nothing really happens in soccer, the crowd tend to interact with each other far more, creating a brotherhood that lends itself to this tribalism.
If you take these two factors out, and Rugby League buries soccer where it lays because as you pointed out, ther is far more spectacle and entertainment within it.