A relentless Australia has destroyed New Zealand 34-8 to claim the 2016 Four Nations and retake rugby league’s world number one ranking.
The Kangaroos burst out of the blocks, scoring through winger Blake Ferguson in the third minute and did not let up, adding three more tries before halftime to build a 24-0 scoreline that if you were being honest, felt like it was 50.
New Zealand were a shambles from kickoff to siren. Their first half included 18 missed tackles, nine errors and a completion rate of 47 per cent (9/19 sets completed).
Unlike the most recent meeting between the two sides, the Kangaroos made the Kiwis pay for their carelessness over and over – and if Australia had decided to play on rather than take two first half penalty goals, things could have devolved from embarrassing to shameful.
Under direction from player of the tournament Cooper Cronk and using the guile of captain Cameron Smith, the Kangaroos made metres at will and brought a level of pressure in defence that New Zealand simply couldn’t handle.
Australia had performers all over the park. Josh Dugan grabbed a first half double, Boyd Cordner played strongly as did David Klemmer while Ferguson continued his great form on the wing.
Man of the match for the Final was given to Darius Boyd, who created two tries, three line breaks and got over for a try of his own. Boyd was involved in two key plays getting the ball out of his own in goal area to lay an attacking platform, demonstrating an urgency that any player in the Kiwi side would struggle to admit they matched.
New Zealand looked tired, flat-footed and bereft of ideas and creativity in attack – their battle to score points this tournament was laid bare and the puzzling selection of Tohu Harris as starting five-eighth ahead of young tyro Te Maire Martin showed that perhaps there’s also a lack of creativity in the coaches box.
Harris is a great forward and in an unfamiliar role was caught out of position on many occasions.
Jordan Kahu scored a double and tried hard, as did Jason Taumalolo and Jordan Rapana, but errors and lack of fluency or purpose damned the New Zealanders from the beginning.
Kiwi coach David Kidwell will surely come under the microscope ahead of the 2017 World Cup as will the positions of some veterans like Shaun Kenny-Dowall, who had a Four Nations to forget.
As for Australia, they will feel they are back where they belong, at number one.
Australia 34 (Josh Dugan 2, Blake Ferguson, Trent Merrin, Darius Boyd, Boyd Cordner tries; Johnathan Thurston 5 goals) defeated New Zealand 8 (Jordan Kahu 2 tries) at Anfield, Liverpool. Crowd: 40,042.
Republican
Guest
Broadly speaking yes but not as an excuse for Australia's sporting accolades or failures unlike Nzers who use this card ad nauseam - as an excuse. This has afforded them a smug comfort for as long as I can recall, because win or lose v us, they always win.......
Republican
Guest
Jacko jacko jacko You take the pav when it comes to ranting..........
Terry
Guest
kiwijack But they were all born in OZ ...34- 8 34-8 34-8.... HAHAHAHA....
Terry
Guest
Republican HAHAHAHAHAHA..... You just got owned BREW ...HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Doubles
Guest
Republican Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Republican
Guest
.....interesting but the NZ collective pass their incessant vilification of us off as innocuous sibling rivalry. I prefer to tell it like it is - which is a deep seated irrational contempt that sadly is all about making themselves feel better about who they are.
Broadly Speaking
Guest
So Republican, as a dinky di Aussie, you have NEVER mentioned the population differences in any of your comments about NZ's rise to number 1 in Rugby League and your belief that NZ would win this tournament?
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Me, a consumer? Ha! I'm more of an observer.
Republican
Guest
......ah a citizen of the global world, so a consumer as opposed to a supporter then.
Republican
Guest
.........no more insulting than those NZ'ers he was perhaps vilified by.
Republican
Guest
......I get that Jacko but he still indulged in the old per capita chestnut just the same. I believe he retreated in the process as well. I won't be retracting form my sentiment here because the myth i.e. 'Brand NZ' must be dispelled at every opportunity........
Republican
Guest
........oh very well precious. I have also had first hand experiences of NZ bile at local Super games in my home town as well as in general conversation both in Australia and when visiting NZ. We hear what we want to hear and disregard the rest Jacko and I assure you, none of my experiences were as a result of provocation or a figment of my imagination.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Probably but New Zealand still had enough talent to be better than what they showed this tournament.
kiwijack
Guest
Wouldn't be hard to have Harris sorted, those 40/20 and exiting 5th tackle options are every second rowers dream. The Kangaroo's knew that he would just run it up. No X factor there.
kiwijack
Guest
Love Sydney my favorite place.
kiwijack
Guest
Australia are very good at poaching wether it be league or union they are the best. Mal as coach of Qld pestered the hell out of every player showing any potential until they declared for Qld no matter where they came from.
Bruce
Guest
The prefect example was when the Kiwis got 2 cheap penalties to enable them to get near Aussies line to score first try - if I were a bookie I wouldn't lay the losing team in the second half in a little C game. And republican is surprised that the northerners went for the underdog given the cricket history in the north of England and the Ashes battles of many years. - too many hitups I am afraid...
Knight Vision
Guest
2 future immortals ? I get tired of hearing it. there are NO future immortals in the current Australian side. Great players ? You bet ? Immortals ? Pleeease
Long Black
Roar Rookie
I think you're taking this a bit too personally mate. It was just a hollow prefatory remark before giving the team a wrap for how they'd come together, definitely not fishing for bites but it seems I've lost my hook, line and sinker. I see you made a similar statement earlier in the morning regarding Mal's unifying effect, let's leave it at that. I enjoyed the game and the series. Watching Smith go the bear-hug cuddle on Duges or JT and Cordner embrace post-try made me proud of the camaraderie among the team especially after how SOO has taught us to hate the Southerners just as it has apparently given you the same distaste for Northerners.
Mack
Guest
Like the wallabies for the last decade...