A fascinating 2013 Rugby League World Cup concludes with what should be an epic final between trans-Tasman rivals Australia and New Zealand. Join us for live scores and commentary from 1.30am AEDT.
The stage is set for one of the great rugby league world cup finals as the Kangaroos play a New Zealand side that arguably performed the greatest of escapes against England last week.
With less than a minute to go, Shaun Johnson managed to score the match winning try en route to sealing a 20-18 victory against the English.
Despite showing strong character to secure their place in another final, New Zealand will have to improve tenfold if they hope to defend their crown against Australia.
The Kiwis really struggled to play percentage football against England, committing numerous errors when in possession.
New Zealand’s forwards really must respect possession tonight against a Kangaroos outfit that does not need too many invitations to post points.
With this in mind, expect the Kiwis to knuckle down and really muscle up in the forwards against a tough Kangaroos pack.
The battle upfront should be tremendous to say the least with Origin stars Paul Gallen, Matt Scott and James Tamou coming up against premiership winners Sonny Bill Williams, Jared Waerea Hargreaves and Jesse Bromwich.
Cameron Smith’s battle against Issac Luke should also be intriguing, given that both players play a key role in igniting their team’s offence up the middle.
Australia however does possess an important advantage in the backline, with stars such as Darius Boyd, Jarryd Hayne, Billy Slater and Greg Inglis all accustomed performers on the big stage.
New Zealand’s backline however is more prone to producing errors when placed under pressure, and the likes of Bryson Goodwin and Kevin Locke in particular will have a tough time matching up against Slater and Inglis respectively.
The Kangaroos are also well served in the halves, with all time greats Cooper Cronk and Johnathon Thurston lining up against Kieran Foran and Shaun Johnson.
Johnson in particular will have to produce a career defining performance if he hopes to get the better of Thurston tonight.
Despite scoring the match winning try against England last week, Johnson remains a rock or diamonds type of player and really needs to play the percentages well against Australia.
If Johnson and Foran can treat every situation on its merit, then New Zealand will go a long way to matching the Kangaroos pound for pound in the final.
While their record in Anzac test matches remains poor, there is no excuse for New Zealand if they lose convincingly tonight.
On paper, they possess a squad very capable of beating Australia, and should provide the Kangaroos with their toughest test of the tournament to date.
With a titanic tussle expected, Australia’s class in the backline may just prove decisive in a final that signals the end to another terrific year of rugby league.
Australia by four.
dan
Guest
its acctually 5 mate but like the Gregan sentiment
dan
Guest
ur kidding yourself mate two completly differant games and I know which one was a spin off of the other you obviously grip to tight mate about a game that we have completly dominated in due to lack of development on an international level there is and only ever been three teams Aus NZ Eng the rest as light years behind. any one in the top 8 of union will give the top three a good go Itreland nearly beat the number on side and they are 8th how would say fiji go oh thats right 64 zip Union has so much more broader range of skills required then League ever will. oh its the fifth tackle lets throw up u bomb duh so take your predictable spin off of the true rugby and stick it where the sun dont shine your comp will never ever be even on a world stage NEVER!!! 100 points on the Wallabies your kidding yourself if they played half Union then half league im sure your find similar descrpeincies in scores Leagues would get absolutley owened at the break down and would not be able to adjust defense wide as quick as required Union playes would have a hard time matching the hit ups and thats the mojority of League games hit up really inventive exciteing stuff . Dont get me wrong tho id love a few of the Kangas to cross over Slater, Gallan, Thurston etc
Ron
Guest
Don't know they call this a world Cup when there is only 3 countries playing eac other, Australia, New Zealand and England - THE REST are just there to make the numbers and the draw, oh and yes to make those 3 countries to post "WORLD RECORD CRICKET SCORES" on us. I urge ALL Pacific Countries to have their own Pacific countries Cup so that we don't make these Giants make the Guiness Book of World Record stats on us I a entitled to my opinion right? PNG
davo
Guest
would of still won with all of thm there, Australia are just the better Rugby League Nation
nayfo
Guest
SBW actually had good stats 140+ metres, 5 offloads & 25+ tackles, problem was though that he made a mountain of errors but that was only because he was the only trying to spark his team. more of the blame should be pointed elsewhere at least SBW tried all game australia were just too good @ shutting him down.
Raugeee
Guest
Agree with all but "farce that was the 2013 RLWC"' I really enjoyed it. Yes, Old Trafford very dangerous for RL Manu Vatuvei could have died! I am trying to decide between Phoney Bill Williams or Sorry bill Williams.
karlos
Guest
Australians got the final they deserved. A great Kiwi team were kept tryless by a team of Aussies who were tenacious, skilful and focussed. The game last week was more exciting, but to see an almost perfect team performance by Australia was awesome. I wouldn't expect a many Kiwis would like to admit that and who cares? Go back to your bragging about your All Blacks who play more like a Rugby League team thanks to the exposure they have been lucky to have via NRL etc. The Kangaroos are a 100 point better side than the Wallabies, but they can beat most of the International teams playing Union. What a joke. People like Johnno cant believe Australian kicking skills because Union types cant master them or many of the other basic skills of Rugby, because the rules in Union don't allow for them to be learnt or exercised through play. .
duecer
Guest
There's a few countries that play soccer, not just one or two, so that World Cup may elude us for some time - now if they could get the AFL WC going, it would be another to add to the list.
FlameThrower
Guest
Thank goodness the FARCE that was the 2013 RLWC is over. It proved three things: 1. SBW is a fraud when it comes to being the best player in the world. 2. Ashley Klien should go and learn the rules of the game if he wants to continue as a referee or get out of the game. 3. That the Australian Rugby League Commission allowed the Final to be played at that disgraceful ground Old Trafford is a joke and proves to me that they have no idea how to run the game and that the RLWC was a FARCE.
Bryce
Guest
Haha aus is the only country that plays the game and take it serious the rlwc is a joke and all you Aussies no it and don't compare the abs to anyone because they are in totally different league and respected world wide and let's not forget nz has a population of 4 million which is basically the size of Sydney so their is really only limited things that you can do with a game that most people in nz have never heard of I thought it was pathetic that in 2008 that we won it considering the hundreds of millions the Aussies put into the game every year and for all those comments on sbw lol people grow up you no deep down he's the man
I'mastormtrooper2
Guest
Renegade, you're braver then most :-) ... I fully agree, and thanks for putting that out there !!! It's difficult seperating any player/s from the team and I hope that those players who didn't play in the final are feeling as proud to be part of the squad, of their coach, trainers and minders, as the Australian public should be ... Regardless of what the media or commentators have expressed about players, their clubs or SOO, tespect and admiration seemed to be flowing freely at Old Trafford last night ... GO AUSSIES GO! - QUEENSLANDER - GO THE MIGHTY STORM !!!
In Brief
Guest
When you have guys like Roger TS and Kongrad H coming straight out of NZ school rugby systems and doing very well in NRL you realise that the standard of rugby union is in NZ is very high. That doesn't mean Kangaroos aren't a great team, but league followers underestimate NZ talent. .
Crank Yanker
Guest
Lucky kicks? More like brilliantly executed kicks from the best playmakers in world rugby.
Crank Yanker
Guest
I would pick the Leagueies on every front, no debate necessary.
James P
Guest
Australia won the knock out part of the competition 160 - 2. That doesn't exactly speak wonders for the quality of the international competition
Renegade
Roar Guru
I wrote in 'The Wiz's column that after witnessing the semis I couldn't see how Australia could lose. I didn't think they would absolutely trounce the kiwis though... It was an enormous difference in talent. As I mentioned the Australian pack are far better. On a separate note, a few people questioned Billy Slaters position.., he was easily the best on ground as he was against England. I've said it before and I'll say it again - he is the best fullback in the world. Inglis will always be number 2 for as long as billy is a kangaroo, the same goes for DCE and Cronk. The Melbourne 1,7,9 combination is the best in the world and has been for a decade... You would be a fool to change that. SBW also got owned by Paul Gallen and Greg bird all game... Sure his a world class player but his not the best in the world. Very proud to be an Australian in Manchester today, absolutely phenomenal performance and the English appreciated the class on show today. That's 5 matches straight and almost 7 hours since the kangaroos conceded a try. Not a doubt in the world who the champions are.!! Well done to Tim Sheens, Cameron smith and the entire squad... One of the greatest sides we will ever see.
DR
Guest
Nah.
Renegade
Roar Guru
+1
DR
Guest
Skills and coaching my man. Too much feeding off Union here.
DR
Guest
Because a second team creates opportunities and viable pathways for talent. It creates and puts in systems that can only assist in the development of the game here. Locke? Not sure there but if i was him i would look at other clubs. RTS i thought was bring looked at fullback long term? Hooker, hmm. Not sure. He doesn't take punishment too well.