2022 showed rugby league what can be achieved – but NRL class won through

SO THAT was 2022, a year dominated by injuries and the realisation that if a rugby league player wants to be the best, they have to do it in the NRL.

Injuries because they robbed England boss Shaun Wane of world class talent in Alex Walmsley, Harry Newman and Jonny Lomax for the World Cup.

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Had that trio been available – and had James Roby come out of international retirement – we may be sitting here as champions.

Instead, it was another case of what might have been as the semi-final golden point extra time loss to Samoa hurt.

England should have made the final, they had the talent to get there, they had the coach as earlier matches proved.

But on the day, they did not have enough of that big-game temperament that proves the difference on the biggest of stages.

One that is fostered in the NRL, where every game is a big game. Teams finishing bottom there would challenge for a play-off spot here.

Which is why Dom Young, Herbie Farnworth, Victor Radley, Elliott Whitehead and Thomas Burgess were stars in a tournament that promised so much.

Which is why John Bateman has gone back there and Kai Pearce-Paul and Will Pryce will join him in 2024.

It was not all doom and gloom in rugby league – although some may have you believe it was, and worse.

The World Cup showed it has what it takes – on the field – to live with the biggest sports. It also showed how it needs to act in future to stay there.

And at domestic level, at least the Super League and Rugby Football League ‘split’ is over and both admitted change was needed by recruiting media giant IMG as strategic partner.

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The Channel 4 broadcast deal – Super League’s first free-to-air live games – was a masterstroke and plenty of talent came through.

Who had Andy Ackers down as best hooker before a ball was kicked? Who had Joe Batchelor as one of the prime back rowers? Who had Lewis Murphy as the shining light on the wing?

Women’s rugby league has as high a profile as ever and the wheelchair game was arguably the star of the World Cup show.

England winning the trophy only added to what had already won the hearts, minds and competitive nature of many who had not seen it before.

So there is hope for the future, 2022 was not all bad – but you cannot escape the feeling it was one that got away.