Rugby League World Cup - Fixtures/Results and News

[Bravehearts_RL]

Kiwis shock Kangaroos for maiden Cup

New Zealand staged the biggest upset in World Cup history, shocking defending champions Australia 34-20 in the grand final for its maiden tournament triumph at Lang Park in Brisbane on Saturday evening.

The Kiwis, who were ignominiously defeated 30-6 in the opening match against Australia, stunned the hosts and nine-time World Cup champions in a seesawing and controversial decider sealed by a penalty try.

Australia had not been tested in its four previous matches, amassing an incredible 180 points and conceding just 16 en route to the final before surrendering the World Cup after 33 years in its possession.

Ricky Stuart's side, led by champions halves pairing Darren Lockyer and Johnathan Thurston, was ambushed as New Zealand exacted revenge for defeat in the two previous World Cup finals in 1995 and 2000.

The match was ultimately lost by Australia in the final 20 minutes as much as it was won by New Zealand, as nightmarish blunders from Billy Slater and Joel Monaghan gifted the Kiwis 10 points in as many minutes and along with it the winning momentum.

Slater looked far from the world's best player as he committed a schoolboy error on a kick return, throwing a blind infield pass to avoid going into touch that fell straight to Benji Marshall who crossed the line unopposed.

But it was Monaghan who was worst offender in the Kangaroos' capitulation, committing a blatant personal foul on Lance Hohaia on the tryline that resulted in a penalty try to kill off Australia's hopes of a comeback with 10 minutes to play.

"The lads... it was just a wonderful effort by them tonight," New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney, who was assisted by former Kangaroos coach Wayne Bennett, told Channel Nine following the full-time siren.

"We came here with a real plan and we put them in a place they're not used to and we got the goods tonight."

Marshall expressed his delight at shaking off a horror run of injuries and questions surrounding his ability to record his greatest career achievement since winning the NRL premiership with the Tigers in 2005.

"We've come a long way... I don't know what to say," he said.

"From where I've come from all the injuries I've had, all the setbacks to get here and pull that off I'm just stoked."

Hohaia was a pillar of strength in attack and defence, scoring the opening try of the second half as the Kiwis reclaimed the lead and held it until the full-time whistle, while at the other end of the park denying Israel Folau what otherwise would have been a certain try in the 59th minute.

Adam Blair put the final nail in the coffin when he scored an opportunistic try with five minutes remaining as Nathan Cayless led New Zealand's emphatic celebrations as a first World Cup trophy was all but confirmed.

Lockyer scored twice in the opening half to put Australia ahead 16-12 at the break, earning him the man-of-the-match trophy while Slater also took home a consolation prize as player of the tournament.


First half

Australia's quest for a 10th World Cup appeared to be on track after the opening 40 as it held a narrow 16-12 lead at the break.

Lockyer crossed for two tries and went close to scoring a third, with called-up Manly winger David Williams also scoring a four-pointer and Thurston adding two conversions.

Australia opened the scoring with the first two tries, but gave up the advantage when the Kiwis fought back to take a 12-10 lead on the back of quick tries to Jeremy Smith and Jerome Ropati.

But Lockyer showed his class with the Kangaroos' third try of the half, involving himself twice in the lead-up before gaining a third touch to collect the ball in support of Anthony Watmough and cross the tryline.

Slater was heavily involved for the Kangaroos in setting up the first two tries with blistering pace and clever hands.

New Zealand: 34 (L Hohaia 2, J Smith, J Ropati, B Marshall, A Blair tries; I Luke 3, B Marshall 2 conversions)

Australia: 20 (D Lockyer 2, D Williams, G Inglis tries; J Thurston 2 conversions)

[Bravehearts_RL]

I was at the game and here's my take.

Severe storms in the area had been forcast, so much so that the game was due to be postponed since a "Super Cell" was predicted, luckily it didn't show and the game went ahead. So it all started like any other game with the 2 teams striding on to the turf then standing for the National Anthems, this all changed once the haka commenced however. The Haka started and after about 10 seconds the Kangaroos did something I've never seen and marched forward and stood face to face about 1 metre away from the Kiwis. The crowd was electric and it seemed from that point the night was going to be a good one.

Video of the Final Haka: YouTube - Kiwis Haka in Grand Final 2008

So to the game, NZ butchered a try in the opening minuteds and Australia responded and got out to an early 10-0 lead and it looked as though it could be a long night for the underodgs, however to their credit they clawed their way back and took the lead 12-10 just before half time. The Kangaroos scored a try to go in ahead 16-12 at half time.

The second half was all the kiwis and had some controversial moments. The game was evenly poised until about 15 minutes to go when the kiwis ran in several tries to finish the game off. One of them was a debatable penalty try, just to give you an idea of how rare these are in the 180 NRL games played in 2008 there was only 1 awarded.

Kiwis were the better team on the night and outplayed a very strong Kangaroos outfit. Australia were something like $1.11 to win so that gives you an idea of just how dominant they were until this game. To add to NZ's victory is the fact they were missing gun players Brent Webb, Frank Pritchard, Roy Asotasi, Jeff Lima and more.

[Duthill]

Cheers for posting that Braveheart .
Man , thats Haka , from both teams . More power to your lads for going Kanohi ki te Kanohi .
There we see a true salute between nga hoa riri (opponents)

I flew into Brisbane about 7.00 pm on Saturday evening , and saw bits of the game at my brothers place .
Missed the haka tho ,

thanks again ehoa ,

Dut.

[Scottish_Republican]

Yes, thank you for posting this, I appreciate it.