By Andrew Henderson Gateshead Thunder and Scotland

It's been a while since I last updated this column as it's been a really tough period in my life.

My father passed away a couple of months ago after a long battle with leukaemia, so I've had to take a little time out. I flew back to Australia to be with my family and get a bit of closure and the support I have had in the UK has been overwhelming.

I really want to thank the wider rugby league community for all their messages, their goodwill and their support. It means the world to me.

Dad was very poorly which makes it a little easier to deal with. The doctors did all they could to save him but it just wasn't meant to be. I do have a little bit of closure now having spoken to the doctors on duty when Dad passed away.

He explained to me and my brothers what shape Dad was in when he was rushed to hospital, and the extreme measures that they went to to try and save his life.

I have to say goodbye now and keep his memory alive as he too was a passionate rugby league man. He flew over in 2006 to watch my Super League relegation decider for Castleford against my brother Kevin's team Wakefield. It was just after then that we learned of his illness. He loved his footy and was fiercely proud of his three sons.

We have since had bereavement counselling and I have returned to the UK to captain Gateshead in, ironically, another battle against relegation!

Gateshead have five Championship games to go and each one is monumental. Two sides go down, and we are second bottom.

Batley and Leigh are down there too and we still have to play them both so I reckon it is just about still in our own hands. I would much rather be us than Batley right now, I think we've got a great run-in.

It has been one of the most competitive seasons ever as nothing has been decided at either end. There is no promotion to Super League and that is why the talent has been spread out through the league, so in that respect the RFL have made a good call.

Jamie Rooney has dropped into the Championship and signed for Barrow. This was a massive coup as a few months ago he was Wakefield's golden boy. This was a huge surprise, he has been linked with Bradford and now here he is on loan at Barrow!

I don't know what's going on with him at Wakefield but obviously something's not right as he is very much as Super League player. No disrespect to Barrow but I'm sure several clubs in Super League must want Rooney, even if Wakefield don't.

Wakey lost last week to my old club Castleford in that bitter local derby. I really miss that game, the result always shapes the mood in the town that night and it was the best feeling in the world to be a winner in the pub after.

Wildcats coach John Kear still thinks both sides will make the play-offs and I agree - on form they should, and I'll be there supporting Cas if they do.

Nathan Brown has enjoyed a good season so far at Huddersfield

We have the Challenge Cup semis coming up too and I love this competition. Growing up as a kid in Australia it was always shown live and got massive audiences. It is a very special tournament and is talked about a lot in Australia.

Huddersfield's Aussie coach Nathan Brown can reach Wembley in his first season and that would be an awesome achievement. The Giants are absolutely on fire and they have a great chance to topple St Helens and make the final. I reckon Warrington may trouble Wigan in the other semi too.

I was really surprised when I heard the UK would host the 2013 World Cup. It struck me as a strange call. The RFL lost thousands when hosting the event in 2000, and it was a massive success in Australia - they made millions.

I thought it would be held there again as the interest is guaranteed. I hope the RFL will learn from their previous failures and put on a good tournament.

I've no idea whether I'll still be holding on to a Scotland jersey in four years! I certainly won't have any hair left if I am. I'll be 34 so it's not beyond the realms of possibility that I could play. But it looks a big ask. The legs may have gone the same way as the hair by then. Scotland still have to get there too.

Both myself and Kevin will be available for Scotland later this year for the European Nations Cup. Our other brother Ian won't be able to play this time.

If I play in our two group games against Russia and Lebanon and we make the final, then that would give me the chance to become the highest capped player in Scotland history. That would mean the world to me.

Andrew Henderson was talking to BBC Sport's George Riley

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