Australia has taken out the 2016 Four Nations with a convincing 34-8 win over New Zealand this morning in the tournament final at Anfield.
Four tries in the first half against a slow-starting Kiwi outfit was enough to push the New Zealanders on the back foot and keep them there for the rest of the game.
A much tighter second stanza eased the pain a touch for New Zealand who were able to get some points on the board and hold it to a 10-8 second 40, but Australia never looked like losing the game.
An undefeated campaign for the Kangaroos ended with plenty of tries, talking points and a big new trophy for the cabinet.
Here are six of those talking points.
England aren’t too bad at hosting
Despite being in the midst of the EPL season and the Spring Tour of rugby union in full motion, the English still managed to draw a packed house to the Four Nations final despite the home side not being in the game.
Rugby League is certainly not the number one sport in the country, but the final was well orchestrated and had plenty of local support.
England’s team may not have had the best of tournaments, but they played the host quite well in the end.
Anfield pitch only 91 metres?
English grounds have famously shallow in goal areas for Rugby League, an issue that reared it’s head on multiple occasions throughout the World Cup in 2013, causing a few injuries as players slid into the advertising boards.
Even if the in goal areas are a little short, should the whole pitch be nearly ten metres shy of normal?
Is that allowed?
Anfield, the famous home of Liverpool in the EPL, was measured out to be just 91 metres in length for the final. An international sporting finale and the ground was the wrong size? It’s an odd thing to happen.
Phil Gould hates Jordan Kahu for some reason
I’m not sure what Jordan Kahu has done to Phil Gould in the past, but he was on the receiving end of some good old fashioned Gus criticism multiple times before and during the game.
As the teams were being announced before the game, Gould was quick to point out his displeasure of Kahu at fullback, comparing him to his opposite number Darius Boyd and being described as a poor attacking option.
Early in the contest, Gus chipped in again, saying that Kahu just wasn’t suited to the modern fullback role and doesn’t know how to perform as a playmaking fullback in the backline.
After Australia’s second try, even though Boyd’s role in the play was a simple draw and pass, Gus was straight off on a tangent about how Kahu can’t make plays like that because he’s not a good attacking fullback like Boyd.
It may not have been intentional, but Gould constantly berated Kahu throughout the pregame and during the match. It just came across as vindictive as he continued to point out his flaws.
Johnson runs the show for NZ
Shaun Johnson had a strange game for the Kiwis. He made plenty of mistakes but was a standout in the contest at the same time and a shining light amidst a pretty dull performance.
One thing for sure was that he ran the New Zealand side. He was making everything happen, setting up line breaks, making them himself and completely overshadowing his partner in the halves.
He was the only one looking likely to fight back against the Australians in the first half as the Kangaroos ran rampant over a hapless Kiwi defence.
Penalty goals making a resurgence
On two separate occasions in the first half, despite carrying all the momentum in the world and picking up penalties deep in attacking territory, Australia went for the shot on goal instead of the try.
It wasn’t like the contest was tight and points were hard to come by. They could have very easily had six instead of two, but both times they barely hesitated before taking the two points despite already having a decent lead.
It’s a mentality that’s been strong in any Wayne Bennett coached teams and has seen the penalty goal become more and more common in the NRL in recent times.
It’s not a bad thing, it was just a weird choice to take when a two-point play was near redundant at the time.
Australia has to be World Cup favourites for next year
The Kangaroos pretty much walked through this competition on their way to an undefeated Four Nations victory.
This tournament is the second biggest on the planet behind the World Cup in rugby league and is just about the best gauge for form and predictions you can get.
With the World Cup around 12 months away and being held in Australia’s own backyard alongside co-hosts New Zealand and PNG, it’s very difficult to see anyone seriously challenging them for the title especially after this performance.
Honorable mention: Freddie’s moustache
What is that? Brad Fittler’s moustache is a shocker. Nothing he says on the panel can be taken seriously with that bit of last week’s vegemite stuck on his top lip.
It is, I imagine and hope, for the Movember foundation and raising awareness for a good cause, but I hope it doesn’t stick around beyond November.
Doubles
Guest
too big, too hard, too strong, too smart, too fit, too talented
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
I've been bagging Dugan and Ferguson for most of last season for their pretty ordinary performances at club level and their good fortune in being picked for Origin and the national side based on form - but credit given where credit is due - they really stood up in the Four Nations final. Ferguson in particuar had a wonderful series and showed how damaging he can be. And Duges even showed that he can come up with a pass/off load in attack. Promising signs for their upcoming seasons methinks. Still makes me think what could have happened if they'd pulled their heads in and stayed at the Raiders but we move on - one door shuts and another one opens - the Raiders wouldn't have picked up Leilua, Rapana, Austin etc if they had both stayed.
tmt3
Roar Rookie
The Aussies are better. They have players who work together as a leadership group, and who can organize the team around the paddock. The Kiwis are a one-trick pony, and are predictable, error prone, and who have a player who is very inexperienced as a captain. Getting yardage, and having good stats does not equate to good leadership skills. Bring back Simon Mannering. Being a good player, does not mean you are a good coach either. Not that Kidwell was a good player/hall of famer, but the results speak for themselves. Being expert in a field, does not make you a good teacher (my mathematics teacher was an example of that!:)) Picking the right coach is important. The responsibility lies with the NZRL board. They need to take responsibility for the screw up. They need to do the due diligence. The results speak for themselves. They have a small window of opportunity to correct things. NZ is a one trick pony. They rely on Shaun Johnson too much. They need a coach who can pull the team together, and create plays/system that can give the Kiwi team their own identity, which plays to their strengths. Going from an assistant coach head coach of the Kiwis is a Red Flag. They need someone who can get the best out of the players. I honestly think Stacey Jones would do a better job as coach. If NZ cannot find good coaches from the pool of NZ coaches they have, then they should look elsewhere. They could try asking Craig Bellamy, Des Hasler, Michael Maguire, Trent Robinson, or even Anthony Griffin could even do a job for the Kiwis. If Kidwell is the best coach New Zealand can come up with, that's worrying!
Raugeee
Guest
No one's mentioning the refereeing? A terrible display. As much as I was happy to see the Kangaroos win by a large margin, it was a poor advertisement for the game. 19 penalties? There were more pedantic rulings than a normal NRL round. I am not saying Cummings got anything wrong but I hope the RLWC is reffed with a better attitude. I have to say I was wrong about Josh Dugan. Meninga's really brought him along and he is well suited to the team structure. As for Aaron Woods? Well, as a Queensland supporter I sincerely hope NSW buy all the guff and persevere with him in the side. He is useless, Jesse Bromwich just brushed him aside like a cobweb when he nearly scored. There were several similar incidences from the match where he was one on one. In his favour he did get 2 very good offloads away and even snuck through the defensive line once. Oh yeah, having a pitch with Primary School dimension was an absolute insult. Especially in the country that is home to Rugby League. Unforgivable.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
It seems too easy to blame Johnson. His teammates dropped a million balls and were all over the place in defence. What is Roadrunner supposed to do?
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Now you are hurting my feelings.
kiwijack
Guest
One day NZ will be able to put their best team on the field, hopefully for the WC. If there no injuries to the top players next year and Foran is allowed to play it will be an interesting time. Missing up to 6 topline players did not help in the 4 nations. NZ need to develop more halves as that is where the have little depth. Hopefully with good selections and coaching they will be a big threat in the WC. Kidwell will stay but they need to get him help.
kiwijack
Guest
Johnson isn't the whole team. The loss is not his fault, do you want him to take all the hit ups as well. He needed another playmaker to help him. People need to stop blaming Johnson when things go bad, he can only do so much. Martin should have played not Harris at 5/8 if not maybe they should have sucked it up and when Tommy got injured flown Benji over. That would have been interesting.
Realist1975
Guest
Dont know if you are kidding so please dont take offense. Imho he wouldnt lace the boots of players such as Des Drummond, Martin Offiah, Joe Lydon, etc - geez nor even Paul Newlove or Greg Eastwood. Place him the same mold as Keith Senior very overrated.
Realist1975
Guest
Like anything in life you need a sound foundation, make good decisions and then be a recipient of a bit of fortune. In terms if the game itself after 1 and 2 being deployable it didnt really matter how much luck they received. All i could see from the Kiwis was that they do a good Haka and thats it. Btw i have always preferred a Haka performed after victory - its like icing on a cake. Imagine the joy in players doing it after a victory when they r tired. NZ have gone back to 2007 and desperately need to get their foundations right. Otherwise why bother.
Rob
Guest
Good Rep Coach in Mal Meninga. Great Captain and dummy half. Brilliant playmaking combo in Cronk and Thurston with good finishers outside them. Strong hard working forward pack with quick back rowers. No dumb ball hogging forward wanting the ball all game. Average Kiwi side.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Thundercat!
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Here we go.
Jacko
Guest
NZ is in rapid decline
Jacko
Guest
Haha on the field for 80 but only plays 10. Someone needs to tell him to actually try to run as his kicking is rubbish
Jacko
Guest
Geez I hope Kidwell is gone. Why does NZ not play a no 6 at no 6? When did we last win with Tohu Harris as a no 6? Where was the attack? The defence was shoking and the attack worse. Johnson is a 10 minute man and Im sick of him. How does so much talent do NOTHING for most of the game? It was like watching the Warriors play it was that bad.
Jacko
Guest
Not wrong. Sack him quick or dont extend contract. Pathetic selections. Whan did picking harris at no 6 work? NEVER
Gus Paella
Guest
So Shaun Johnson played like Shaun Johnson.
Stu
Guest
This tournament is in a rapid decline - I didn't see the attendance or TV figures, but I doubt they are good. The game is developing forwards and no quality backs. Both NZ and UK have big and good forward packs (with potential) but no decent depth in backs and they just seem to lack80 minute fitness. I don't think any of the backline in NZ or UK would crack it into the Australian team.
Mike
Guest
What this shows that ultimately the game is not doing well, but more importantly it shows that league is a small boy that cant even fill up stadiums, it must know its place!