AUSTRALIA will this morning lift the lid on its latest sporting extravaganza when the 13th Rugby League World Cup kicks off in the northern city of Townsville. Whereas for much of the union world it might register only flickers of interest, there is
a Scot with experience of both codes who is certainly worth paying attention to.
When the last Rugby League World Cup was staged, in 2000, Jon Steel was making his international debut for Scotland in a 53-6 victory over the USA at Murrayfield. A week later he faced up to Matt Burke as Scotland took on, and lost 30-9, to Australia.
Even in 2001, when Steel was hauling down the world's most recognisable sportsman, Jonah Lomu, in front of 67,000 fans at Murrayfield, he was still a skinny 21-year-old with pace but, he says himself, no great rugby nous. Seven years on he has filled out a bit, still has speed on his side but, in a world of slick hands, highly-pressurised defence and scintillating tries, his rugby skills are light years ahead of those of the naïve youngster back then.
The irony is that few who witnessed and cheered Steel's exploits in the other life with Glasgow Caledonians, Glasgow, the Borders and Scotland may have much interest over the next fortnight as he again graces the international stage. But as he follows in the footsteps of Alan Tait, in proving himself a worthy Scottish dual-coder, Steel is hopeful of surprising a few who do tune in, as well as those who believe the Scots will be as swiftly beaten as they were in the last World Cup.
"That is just the way it is," he shrugs. "Union is a much bigger sport across Scotland than it is in the north of England or, certainly, here in Australia so I am well ware that although I know I'm a much better rugby player now there is probably not the same interest in what I'm doing in Scotland as back then.
"But I have no regrets about going to League at all. I had a great time in union and playing for Scotland at a capacity Murrayfield was an unbelievable experience. As a player you want to play at the highest level you can and against the best players in the world, and I got that chance with Scotland and it is hard to put into words how it felt running out to play against New Zealand.
"But it is in the past now. I had to think about my future when the Borders was on its way out, and I decided to take up the challenge of League at Hull KR. It was a really tough first six months, learning the ropes of a new sport, and I suffered a broken leg in my time there too, but I stuck at it and am very proud now of making it to the World Cup.
"It's been nice pulling one on the Scottish jersey again this week and the excitement and buzz around Canberra about our game is amazing – there is quite a big Scottish ex-pat community here – so they key now is just making sure we can all gel as a team because we have some fantastic players."
Scotland kick-off against France tomorrow morning (6.25am BST), and then face Fiji on Wednesday (also 6.25am BST), but they must win the opener against a largely Catalan Dragons Super League side to have a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.
The Scots have some real strength, notably Michael Robertson, the Manly Sea Eagles winger who scored 16 tries for the NRL side this season, including a hat-trick in the Grand Final, who has turned to his grandparents' roots. He has been selected at full-back.
But there is also much interest around the Henderson brothers, Andrew, Ian and Kevin, and whether they will all feature at the same time on the field, while Canberra Raider Scott Logan has ensured much local support for the 'Bravehearts' this weekend.
Steel admitted: "We've all been waiting for this for a while now and no matter what sport you're playing it is still very special to be representing Scotland in a World Cup."
The full article contains 735 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
