Kangaroos Take World Cup Title

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Kangaroos Take World Cup Title

Manchester, England, November 30, 2013 – This wasn't supposed to be how the Rugby League World Cup final should go. Not according to New Zealand hopes and calculations anyway. But the fact is that the Kangaroos had one of those days when they could do little wrong - and they wound up with a 34-2 victory before a record crowd of more than 74,000 at Old Trafford in Manchester.

The Kiwi hopes depended on their forwards winning their battle, on restricting the damage that Johnathan Thurston, Greg Inglis and Billy Slater might do - and having some luck on their side as well. That's not how it worked out though.

In fact, they lost one of their most potent attacking weapons early on when Roger Tuivasa-Sheck had to limp off with a recurrence of the leg injury he suffered at Wembley last Saturday. Then, on the occasions when the Kiwis were able to mount a threat, it ended each time with no more than a close call. To add insult to injury, when they were throwing caution to the winds late in the match in an effort to salvage at least one consolation try, things kept coming further unstuck.

By contrast, the Kangaroos had the Midas touch for almost all of the game. Only twice was there a concern - once when Jarryd Hayne took a head knock and on another occasion when Issac Luke managed to prevent Cooper Cronk from grounding the ball for a try.

But otherwise they operated as the slick, unflustered, calculating team of professionals that, too often, can handle anything their opposition throws at them.

“Australia's performance was nothing short of outstanding," said the Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney. "We just couldn't get ourselves into the contest. I thought their performance was pretty faultless. They gave us a real lesson today.”

The Kangaroos had power (and major metres) from their forwards. There was constant menace from Thurston and Cooper Cronk, whether they were kicking or having a dab. And, often arriving at 100 miles an hour, or soaring into the stratosphere, was Billy Slater. His reward was two tries. Brett Morris nailed two as well - and Cronk got the other one. Thurston topped things off nicely with seven goals.

You might assume from that 34-2 score line that the Kiwis didn't offer much on attack. They did at times though, with an exceptional contribution from Manu Vatuvei and some lovely touches from, for example, Dean Whare and Sam Kasiano. But, despite his characteristically high work-rate, Sonny Bill Williams could never quite get clear or set up any of his mates. And Shaun Johnson couldn't shake free either, although his penalty goal after 15 minutes did at least get New Zealand on the scoreboard.

Sadly for them and the other Kiwis, the Aussies brought their A game on defence as well on attack and were worthy World Cup champions.

At Old Trafford, Manchester:
Kangaroos 34 (Bill Slater 2, Brett Morris 2, Cooper Cronk tries. Johnathan Thurston 7 goals)
Kiwis 2 (Shaun Johnson goal)

Halftime: 16-2 (Kangaroos)
Referee: Richard Silverwood
Crowd: 74,468

Kiwis: Kevin Locke, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Dean Whare, Bryson Goodwin, Manu Vatuvei, Kieran Foran, Shaun Johnson, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Issac Luke, Jesse Bromwich, Simon Mannering (C), Sonny Bill Williams, Elijah Taylor. Interchange: Frank-Paul Nu’uausala, Sam Kasiano, Ben Matulino, Alex Glenn. Coach: Stephen Kearney.

Kangaroos: Billy Slater, Brett Morris, Greg Inglis, Jarryd Hayne, Darius Boyd, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Matt Scott, Cameron Smith (C), James Tamou, Greg Bird, Sam Thaiday, Paul Gallen. Interchange: Daly Cherry-Evans, Josh Papalii, Andrew Fafita, Corey Parker. Coach: Tim Sheens.

ENDS

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