AS THE inquests began into England’s World Cup failure, Rugby Football League supremo Richard Lewis launched a stout defence of Super League.

England won just one of their four matches and bowed out of the 10-team tournament after a 32-22 defeat by New Zealand in Saturday’s first semi-final in Brisbane.

Australia coach Ricky Stuart insisted England have gone backwards since the last World Cup in 2000 and accused Super League clubs of selfishness by packing their teams with overseas players at the expense of British talent.

But Lewis, who was among the 26,659 crowd at Suncorp Stadium, remains confident the RFL are on the right track – claiming the decision by Super League clubs to cut back on overseas players was a "step in the right direction" – but admitted lessons need to be learned from England’s disappointing showing in Australia.

"It’s definitely a setback," he said. "It would be silly to pretend otherwise. But I don’t think it’s much more than that. We’ve clearly got lessons to learn.

"The current crop of players did their best, but have come up short and we have to learn from that.

"We also have to look at the bigger picture. We have to look how we can produce the next generation of players who can deliver, and the next general of coaches frankly.

"I think it’s a fairly wide issue. We’ve made some steps in the right direction – licensing for example will allow clubs to invest in young British talent and give them a chance if they are good enough."

Lewis delivered a vote of confidence in Tony Smith, who has 12 months left on his contract as national coach and RFL technical director – and the former Leeds coach insists he will not walk away from the job.

Smith believes in the quality of Super League but concedes it may be at odds with the need to be competitive at international level.

"It’s entertaining, and there are no complaints about the style," he said of the English competition. "Whether it’s the right style to compete at international level is something we’re all going to have to discuss at some stage. We have to decide what’s more important – to entertain the crowds or become number one in the world?

"At some stage that question needs to be asked, and it’s not for me to make the sole decision on that. No one person in the Rugby League should make that decision for the rest of the competition."

Lewis believes it would be wrong to adapt to the Australian way, especially at a time when the National Rugby League is being criticised for replacing free- flowing football with wrestle and grapple.

"The sport is growing in popularity rapidly in England, because it is magical and exciting for people to watch," he said.

"I don’t want us to move away from that. It is a fundamental principle.

"As Tony has said, we have to look at and think through what we have to do be successful at international level, but not at the expense of Super League.

"I do feel very strongly that we mustn’t slavishly follow the way the Australians play the game. We have to look after our own sport and grow our own sport."

"We have to get more people playing the game - and we are succeeding in doing that. We’re doing something right.

"A lot of good things are happening, which haven’t been reflected in this tournament, and we need to find out why."

Lewis’ comments come just 48 hours after Australia’s Channel Nine bought the rights to screen live Super League and Challenge Cup matches down under from 2009.

Lewis also insists that income from sponsors and Sport England will not be affected by England’s dismal World Cup performances.

"I’ve already been told that, even since the match finished," he added.

"The sponsors know that you don’t over-react to a setback.

"They look at the wider issues and they know that there are a lot things right about the sport."

Lewis, vice-chairman of the International Federation, maintains that the World Cup is on course to generate a profit - compared to a £700,000 loss in 2000 - and that the RFL remain keen to host the next tournament in 2013.

"I think the tournament has looked good and felt like a world event," he said.

"It’s been terrific for a lot of the second-tier nations, and Scotland and Ireland have done a terrific job for the northern hemisphere.

"It’s been very a successful tournament from many angles. It’s going to generate a profit, and rock-solid foundations been put down for the future of the game.

"We’re more keen than ever to stage the next World Cup. We’re due home advantage, and I think the business plan we’ve put together so far stacks up well.

"I don’t think there is anything that has happened here to make me believe we can’t stage an even more successful tournament."

end

The Kiwis pulled and twisted England’s defensive line out of position with alarming ease to create tries for Lance Hohaia, Sam Perrett and Jerome Ropati that put them into a 16-0 lead after 23 minutes.

The Kiwis managed to recover a 16-point deficit to win 36-24 in their ’dress rehearsal’ in Newcastle, but it was a task beyond Smith’s chronically misfiring side.

England briefly gave themselves hope by carving out tries for captain Jamie Peacock and Danny McGuire, with Rob Burrow adding a goal, to trail 16- 10 at half-time. But an error- strewn performance continued after the break as England fumbled their way to another depressing defeat.

Bronson Harrison, Ropati and Benji Marshall added further tries for New Zealand – rendering McGuire’s second touchdown and Martin Gleeson’s effort irrelevant.

Super League Man of Steel James Graham has been short- listed for the Rugby League International Federation’s inaugural player-of-the-year award. St Helens’s Graham is vying with England team-mates Leon Pryce (also St Helens), Jamie Peacock and Rob Burrow (both Leeds) for the prestigious award. They are going up against the Melbourne Storm trio of Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Greg Inglis and Manly’s Dally M Medal winner Matt Orford.

It will be one of several International Federation awards to be presented for the first time at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium. They will be based on achievements from mid-October 2007 to mid-October 2008 and, therefore, performances in the World Cup will not count.

The awards night is in addition to the Golden Boot Award, which will be presented at the Australian Rugby League Players’ Association annual dinner in Sydney on November 29.