The World Cup - no, not that one!

Well, after 5 weeks the Rugby League World Cup came to a thrilling end this afternoon. And congratulations to the magnificent Aussies who proved once again that they are a league above any other nation in the sport. The final may have been a disappointment for England supporters but it was by no means the one sided affair some had predicted and after the heroics of last week the Samoa team can hold their heads up high - how things have changed since that 60 - 6 hammering in the opening game.

There was much criticism of some of the group games and the cricket scores conceded by some of the emerging nations but as the tournament went on the matches got better and better and, in fact, the two semi-finals must rank amongst the greatest games ever played. 

Together with the women's tournament and the wheelchair version, this has been a great advertisement for the sport which can hardly be considered the poorer of the two codes any more.

So congratulations to Mal Maninga  (who I can remember as a superb player himself) and the Australian victors and here's hoping that the sport can continue to flourish and, just maybe, England will be a match for anyone come 2026!