The dust is settling, with the Kiwis still not quite believing that they are world champions after executing one of the great rugby league upsets of the modern era.

Equally, it appears that many Australians, both of the fearsome green and golds and the media, are in a state of disbelief. But, private conspiracy theories by coach Ricky Stuart aside, the Kangaroos and the powerful administrators of the ARU and the RLIF need to build on the tournament’s momentum.

Certain responsibilities will need to be met by the nations for the impetus to continue. This World Cup recorded a $5million profit and created a wave of optimism throughout the Pacific nations and Papua New Guinea.

However, much has been pledged previously for international rugby league – with RLIF chairman Colin Love and his deputy Richard Lewis giving a poor synopsis of the event. 

They have compared this World Cup to the first union tournament in 1987, pointing to the humble origins of what was then an amateur game and how, 21 years on, it is the third largest sporting event on the planet.

They seem to have forgotten that the first RL World Cup was played 54 years ago, and that this was the 13th edition of the event. 

Mammoth ideals and failed promises were supposed to deliver us a flourishing international calendar – but the 2008 World Cup showed that precious little depth has been developed.

Depth is not an issue in Australia. Despite the final loss, the Kangaroos have been an all-powerful force, awesome in their talent, supreme in their ability. The talent in the NRL is bottomless and, with essentially 15 top-level feeder clubs filled with local players, Australia must take huge responsibility to grow the game.

The talent pool in the Pacific is considerable, but there is the classic battle of club versus country, with NRL clubs unwilling to release players unless it is for a Kangaroo jersey – and equally abhorrent to paying players a bonus unless they turn out for Australia or New Zealand.

Likewise, the farce over “taking back” players such as Anthony Tupou was a disgrace, when Australia has a plethora of playing talent. With over 40 international-class players available to Australia (i.e. two origin teams), some leeway needs to be given to the minnows from the most powerful rugby league nation on earth.

The ARU and NRL have far more ability to act than the RLIF, as long as the latter frees up the money. Imagine NRL clubs sending teams to tour the Pacific in the off season!

In New Zealand, this World Cup win will do much to lift rugby league from the dominant black shadow of the nation’s glamour team, the All Blacks. The Warriors’ unexpected success in the NRL this season will boost interest and the Auckland-based franchise should be pumping capital into their marketing campaigns now to capitalise on both their success and that of the Kiwis,

Furthermore, if ever there was a time to fast-track a second club into New Zealand, it would be now. Sure, such an undertaking cannot be completed in a short turnaround, but the NRL would be remiss not to capitalise on the momentum gained by the Kiwis’ unprecedented success.

The game continues to revive in Europe to some degree.

The French will continue to grow, with their league clubs having greater success spearheaded by the Catalan Dragons, and this in turn will boost their development.

But the game in the Northern Hemisphere depends much on England. Severe post-mortems are already being released, the foremost being that local talent is not being nurtured as foreign players are seen as a better investment by Super League clubs. 

The rugby league world needs England to be strong. They have been hurt by their World Cup performance, and sometimes that is the greatest incentive for sporting Englishmen.

More time should be spent on the “genetic make-up” of such teams. Fifteen members of England’s 24-man squad were from sworn enemies St Helens and Leeds, whose hatred was obvious on and off the field at the World Cup. 

While England coach Tony Smith may have lost his Midas touch at this World Cup, there is enough money and quality in Super League that British teams should be able to lead a new era for Northern rugby league. Just look at recent results in World Club challenges.

However, much depends on delivering on the promises to Fiji, Samoa and Tonga - poor countries that need support or tours to develop their faint resources.

Papua New Guinea will have up to three players signed to NRL contracts; further light to their ambition to one day field a team in the Premiership.

Before this World Cup, New Zealand last played an island nation back in 1999. England have played as a nation for over 100 years, but have not yet played 150 games. In 1978 France twice beat the Kangaroos but despite such early promise, little has been done to develop their game.

Tournaments breed competition – players who play against the best develop competitiveness. This World Cup has started the proverbial ball rolling, now the RLIF needs to kick it hard.

And don’t wait eight years until the next tournament. Why not challenge yourself and take advantage of the Olympics in London and the huge sporting sentiment developed in 2012 – instead of postponing until a year later?