Last updated 11:47, Monday, 17 November 2008

ALTHOUGH it was nice to see Ireland and Scotland in the World Cup, which saw local lads Ben Harrison and Oliver Wilkes take part, will it create enough interest for both countries to stand on their own feet with fledging local rugby league players?

Will the game take off in a big way? That is the big question.

It was nice to see both teams record wins, Ireland over Samoa and Scotland over Fiji, however, there appears to have been no home-based players in the 17-man squads.

When you look at the teamsheets they were full of players who strut their stuff in England and Down Under.

However, a Scotland-based player in Paddy Cougar, of Edinburgh Eagles, came off the bench for 20 minutes in the 48-0 reversal at the hands of Tonga.

No doubt those players on view through parents, grandparents or great-grandparents would have been proud to pull on the international jersey.

But are there enough resources for these two countries to develop so one day they could become a force in rugby league?

They made up the numbers along with Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, but these nations produce homebred players.

I am not knocking them taking part, but I do hope the powers at RLHQ push out the boat and give them all the support to succeed.

Then again, money was put into places like Gateshead, Kent Invicta ,Mansfield Marksmen and one or two clubs from the Valleys, but they are not rugby league areas and the support is not there.

Even Carlisle had a few years in the pro game, but how many Carlisle-based players held down a shirt?

Australia look once more to be streets ahead of other nations and will be firm favourites for this weekend’s final against the Kiwis, however it all comes down to how teams perform, on the day.

Look back two years ago when they met the Kiwis in the Tri Nations final. Who would have thought the Kiwis would lift the trophy and nil the Aussies?

Even Des Johnston would not have won a bet that day!

The Aussies have new kids on the block all the time. I know they are a different kettle of fish in the way the production line never halts, but the game Down Under is mighty big.

We have players at international level for many years and there is the question of too many overseas players in vital positions at club level in the English game.

I know the domestic scene is what rugby league is all about, but we are not producing the Gary Scholfields, Andy Gregorys, Shaun Edwards etc, or are we and they are not given their chance because of the imports.