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Scores updated regularly. REFRESH NOW
Australia vs New Zealand |
||
|---|---|---|
Four Nations Rugby League Final |
||
| Anfield, Liverpool | ||
| Australia | New Zealand | |
| 34 | SCORE | 8 |
| 6 | Tries | 2 |
| 3/6 | Conversions | 0/2 |
| 2/2 | Penalty Goals | |
| Field Goals | ||
Australia has won the Four Nations Tournament and regains the world number one ranking in rugby league with a thumping win against New Zealand.
The Kiwis were incredibly poor while the Australians were fantastic – error free with ball in hand, right up and strong in defence and disciplined.
Mal Meninga really has sharpened some immense talent into a formidable unit.
Where to for New Zealand? They had nothing to offer in attack and have serious questions to ask themselves from top to tail – including the coach.
So the 2016 Rugby League season comes to an end with Australia reasserting themselves at the top of the pile.
Final score:
Australia 34
New Zealand 8
Rugby League’s top two fight for the Four Nations title when Australia and New Zealand meet in Liverpool on Monday morning. Join us on The Roar from 1:30am AEDT for live coverage.
Here it is – the final we all expected but for a brief moment thought might not happen. New Zealand’s 18-all draw with tournament minnow Scotland left a door ajar for Wayne Bennett’s England, but a comprehensive 36-18 defeat at the hands of Mal Meninga’s Australian side slammed that door well shut.
What do we make of New Zealand? Their four nations tournament form has been less than excellent – a one-point win over England, a six-point loss to Australia (in a strange game where depending on your take, they were either unlucky to lose or lucky not to get blown out), then a draw in atrocious conditions with the spirited Scots.
The Kiwi forwards have not made the impact expected and their attacking play has solely depended upon the mercurial Shaun Johnson, who is playing in fits and starts this tournament. With his halves partner Thomas Leuluai out with a broken jaw, Johnson will be accompanied by either rookie Penrith sensation Te Mare Martin or Storm veteran Tohu Harris.
Coach David Kidwell might know what he’s doing, but it sure is a mystery to the rest of us. Against Australia, the Kiwis were abject for the first 20 minutes and but for some sloppy Kangaroo finishing should have been far away in the rear vision mirror.
Once they got themselves organised their defence was resolute, but their attack was toothless until they nearly stole the game with two Johnson-inspired efforts in the dying minutes.
Leuluai’s absence leaves somewhat of a defensive gap that Australia’s forwards will look to exploit. Watch for Woods, Klemmer and anyone who gets the ball up the middle to direct 99.7 per cent of their runs at the replacement five-eighth. Harris could handle that amount of business, indeed he might well find himself doing it anyway as cover for Martin if Martin gets the nod.
The Australians have been methodical in their approach on and off the field during the Four Nations. Mal Meninga has made sure his team are as fresh as possible and the team has ground down its opponents in all three games. Sam Thaiday is out injured, but there’s more than enough cover in Tyson Frizell, Trent Merrin and Boyd.
What we do keep in the back of our minds for this game though is history. New Zealand have played through tournaments looking uninspired and ‘rabble-ish’ before, only to turn it on at the critical moment. On the other side, Australia have been shown in the past to perhaps stiffen a little under the intensity of a final.
Don’t believe me? How about this little fact then – Australia have never beaten New Zealand in a Four Nations final. The Kiwis got home in 2014 (22-18) and 2010 (16-12).
Prediction
So, we have a history of New Zealand showing up to roll the Kangaroos in big games and a possible Johnson/Martin halves combination sure is a mouth-watering prospect… Can the Kiwis do the unlikely?
No, they can’t. A massive year of Rugby League will come to an end with Australia holding the silverware.
Australia by 22.
Join us from 1:30am AEDT for live coverage on The Roar.