New Zealand could simply not get into the Rugby League World Cup final and ended the tournament on a very disappointing note.
For all the hype about it being the Kiwis best team ever, the damaging attacking players they have in their squad and the impressive form the side showed early in the World Cup, they never really fired a shot of anger at the Australians at Old Trafford.
The Kangaroos were brilliant and put on a masterclass of rugby league. It wasn’t just some of the tries they dished up, like Brett Morris’ freakish first effort, but the fact they kept their own try-line in tact.
The Kiwis have some real weapons, some power and speed and creative playmakers who can crack a defence. But they just weren’t on song at all in the final.
When you look back the semi-final, where New Zealand just scraped past England, you can say it was back-to-back below par performances for the 2008 Cup holders.
But just why was that the case? This is what Stephen Kearney has to work out.
The Kiwis were flat against Australia and got out of jail against England. At the business end of the tournament they just couldn’t step up.
Star Kiwi five-eighth Kieran Foran couldn’t really put his finger on exactly why the men in black weren’t at their best, apart from crediting the classy Aussies.
Manu Vatuvei was another who wasn’t blaming the brutal battle against England as the reason why New Zealand struggled to get into the final. Vatuvei said the Kiwis prepared well and the Aussies simply outplayed them.
Kiwi captain Simon Mannering doesn’t believe the big occasion got to his team.
“I’m not sure,” Mannering said in the post-match press conference. “I know the guys were up for it, they were excited.”
There’s no denying that losing Roger Tuivasa Sheck early in the game was a big setback.
The Roosters winger had been on fire in the NRL this season and carried his stellar form into the World Cup.
At this tournament only Paul Gallen made more metres than him and he also scored eight tries, just one behind the leading try-scorers Jarryd Hayne and Brett Morris.
But one player does not make a team.
The simple knock ons and mistakes typified a terrible night for the Kiwis.
The New Zealanders need to learn from this experience and use the pain and hurt from losing the World Cup to regroup. They have a young side, a core of young talent that should only get better as they further develop together.
Foran, Tuivasa-Sheck, Whare, Hoffman, Johnson, Bromwich, Luke, Waerea-Hargraves, Matulino, Moa, Locke and Kaisano should be all around in five year’s time to go again.
Australia fielded the oldest team in its history but the Kiwis have a way to go.
Even Kangaroos captain Cameron Smith believes the New Zealanders will be back in a big way, and he is tipping a massive contest in 2014’s ANZAC Test when they next meet.
“They’ve had a wonderful tournament but unfortunately they couldn’t get it done but as we all know there can only be one winner. The thing about the Kiwis is that they’ve got a very young squad, they’ll bounce back, they’re a confident bunch of boys. This will be a fairly big setback for them for a couple of weeks but it’ll make them hungrier next year I can guarantee you that.”
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
ph1lstar
Guest
Best thing to come out of it is proof the Stephen Kearney has really no idea, and there was enough evidence of this when he was at the Eels. If Kiwis want to get serious they need to hire a 1st rate coach be it an Aussie
Damien
Roar Guru
You know that it is possible for more than one player to have a brilliant game right ? Sam Burgess played out of skin and deserved to be MOM. (special mention to James Graham) That doesn't mean SBW didn't also have a brilliant game. As for the final, I thought Gallen was the best forward on the park but using your definition of doing nothing he didn't do much either . Just carted it up like a trooper and tackled his heart out like he always does..
Muzz
Guest
I guess when playing at fullback there is no organising that needs to be done,mmm .What position did Darren Lockyer use to play before Bennett moved him to Five-Eight???.....Didn't Slater mention that he would consider moving to Five-Eight???...Hayne has played at Five-Eight hasn't he???.....I think he would make a great NSW number 7.
Renegade
Roar Guru
That's a good question...Hayne was in Disneyland when that happened and then he copped another knock shortly after he got up
Renegade
Roar Guru
Hard to disagree with any of that
maximillian
Guest
Hayne to 7?! He is a ball runner 1st & foremost & not an organiser so I think any position 1-5 is good for him. On a side note, what are the rules on concussion in RL? Im pretty sure Hayne was knocked out when he tried to tackle Mannering early in the 1st half & probably shouldve been taken off given what we now know about the long term effects of concussion.
Muzz
Guest
Im a big fan of Jarryd Hayne and he had an amazing tour and i could see him at 7 for NSW.... Watching SBW play in the final was like watching Hayne at Parra V Easts,Souths,Manly or Melbourne.
The eye
Guest
After the England game,Sonny said he'd never been in a harder match.He seemed to get quite a few injuries this season in the NRL was in doubt before a couple of WC games and put his body on the line in both of these finals games and got relatively hammered in tackles.So,I doubt he was anywhere near fit before the game and would have been 10 times worse the morning after. I thought he led his side couragously from the front,no one tried harder,he was just far too closely marked by the best defensive pack anywhere. To say he's the best footballer of the modern era is a bit of a leap,Darren Lockyer would give that a nudge but he's an extraordinary player who even in defeat earns respect for relentlessness to task when a few of his so called tough teammates sat down.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Blowouts happen. Australia losing 24-0 in 2005 was a shock but it happened and they got over it. New Zealand will get over this shock too.
harry hopworthy
Guest
Australia were just brilliant. The benchmark in Rugby League, as New Zealand are in Rugby Union, and Brazil in Football. I've never seen a better dummy-half than Cameron Smith. Other all-time greats : Billy Slater, Johnathan thurston, Greg Inglis and so on. New Zealand were just blown away. The World Cup has been a marvellous success, I've thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of it. Looking forward to the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. Also, before that, the 2015 Rugby Union World Cup. To get nearly 75,000 for this year's World Cup is wonderful for international Rugby League. Well done to one and all.
Mike from tari
Guest
I was just reading the Brissie paper & a journalist called Brown wrote that SBW had a brilliant game against the Poms, I'm not sure that he was watching the same game that I was, the game I watched had Big Sammy Burgess playing right over the top of SBW, then Mr. Brown stated the stats for SBW against the Aussies & that SBW didn't have a bad game, said he had more offloads than the whole Aussie team, well I guess he didn't watch the same game as I did because regardless of his stats he did nothing, when he ran the edge he was crunched by Inglis & Bird, when he tried to take it up the middle he was crunched, he did nothing, Johnson & Foran did nothing & being a Souths fan I was hugely disappointed with Isaac Luke, seems that in the big games he fails to produce. Lastly where was Hoffman, can't believe that he was left out.
DR
Guest
Kangaroos far too good. Until NZ address their issues around coaching and development we can never expect more than the odd result here or there. League continues to feed of NZ Union and OZ League to develop talent. We need a second NRL team and more presence at schoolboy level outside Auckland but mostly the structures and coaching needs to be addressed. We just can’t produce enough quality in the pivotal positions and we are not exposed to enough high level competition from a young age. Our own rep fixture would be helpful too. Still really disappointed, not so much the result but our inability to give a good account of ourselves hurts. Perhaps that isn’t fair on the kangaroos who were brilliant but we are better than that. I hope the international game can build on the momentum garnered from a fabulous tournament and we see more effort in between cups with regards to international footy. Well done Oz and congrats to their supporters. Time to go Steven. A full time coach is needed.