Australia win Rugby League World Cup after emphatic victory over Samoa
This is just the beginning, Mal Meninga has warned the world after he guided the Kangaroos to victory in the World Cup final hailing a new era of Australian rugby league.
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Australian coach Mal Meninga has predicted the Kangaroos are about to enter another golden age after celebrating the return of international rugby league by defending the World Cup.
The Kangaroos were rarely troubled against Samoa in the final at Old Trafford, turning the Theatre of Dreams into the stuff of nightmares for the Pacific Island nation.
The 30-10 win maintained Meninga’s remarkable record at the helm of the Kangaroos, a period during which the side has undergone a major facelift.
The likes of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater have given way to a fresh generation of stars led by James Tedesco, Cameron Munster, Latrell Mitchell and Nathan Cleary.
They ran onto Old Trafford with the world against them but emerged with the World Cup, prompting Meninga to predict that his new side was only at the start of a long and successful journey.
“This is only the beginning of this team, I can assure you,” Meninga said.
“All these guys are going to be together over the next three, four, five, six years. We go back to the early 70s with the Kangaroos …… it has been a dominant time for an Australian team.
“The expectation is that we win tournaments. It is not a burden to us. We carry that with great humility and respect.
“We understand everybody doesn’t want to see us win except the most ardent Australian supporters.
“We accept that and get on with business.”
CAPTAIN TEDDY
James Tedesco was unstoppable in the final. The Sydney Roosters fullback ran for more than 200 metres and crucially finished with two tries as saved his best performance for the biggest game of the tournament.
Tedesco has simmered throughout the World Cup without ever really exploding. He was clearly keeping something in reserve for the Kangaroos appearance at the home of Manchester United.
United have seen some inspirational captains of their own over the years - think the likes of Bryan Robson and Roy Keane. Another great leader has now graced the hallowed turf.
“He has led the side really, really well through the whole tournament,” Meninga said.
Tedesco, who was named man of the match, scored his first try in the opening half when Josh Addo-Carr split the Samoan defence and he loomed in support.
He scored his second to put the game officially out of reach late in the second half after a smart set play involving Nathan Cleary and Cameron Munster.
He topped it off by lifting the World Cup trophy in what he hailed as one of the biggest moments of his career.
“To be able to captain your country to a World Cup victory ... it is pretty surreal to be honest,” Tedesco said.
“A special period over here. Special group of blokes, staff. To be able to celebrate with a victory at the end of that is pretty special.
“I am just happy we could win.”
CLEARY EXPLODES
Nathan Cleary took his time to find his feet at Test level. Meninga retained faith when some were pushing for Daly Cherry-Evans and he got his reward on Sunday morning (AEDT) as Cleary had his best game of the tournament.
The Penrith playmaker finished with three try assists as he largely orchestrated the Kangaroos win. Meninga afterwards suggested the speculation over Cleary’s position was laughable.
“I thought he was excellent,” Meninga said.
“It has been ridiculous to be honest with you the banter that has been going on. We had belief in our team and what we are doing.
“He was exceptional tonight.”
Cleary turned 25 on this tour and already had two premierships to his name when he stepped onto the plane. He now has a World Cup to match.
He capped his night with a pass that sent Latrell Mitchell over in the last minute. It was the perfect climax to his breakout match as a Test star.
“It still feels like a dream,” Cleary said.
“I am very grateful I was able to be part of it. It has been a blur - won the comp and straight into camp. I had the best week of preparation.
“I had to play well and link the team together if we wanted to win. I thought we played the best game of our tournament.
“There is still a lot to do. I still feel like there is a long way to go and I am just scratching the surface.”
LETHAL LATRELL
Like so many of the Kangaroos, Latrell Mitchell saved his best game for the biggest stage. He turned up with plenty of intent and it took him only 14 minutes to show he meant business as he took a Cleary pass, beat Brian To’o and overpowered Joseph Suaalii to score.
Mitchell was off and running. Afterwards, he revealed that he had a dream on final eve that Australia would lift the World Cup.
“To be honest I actually dreamt about this last night,” Mitchell said.
“It woke me out of my sleep. It was just this moment - holding the trophy. They (Samoa) are a very passionate mob and when they do their war cry it is something very special.
“I think Spencer Leniu got in my face which poked the bear a little bit. The first try was alright, the second one I nearly hit the brick wall (around the ground). It was awesome.
“How good.”
Mitchell became emotional as he spoke about the tour. At one point, he contemplated making himself unavailable. As he savoured one of the great moments in his career, he acknowledged he was glad he changed his mind.
“All in all very emotional, but in a good way,” Mitchell said.
“Just a country boy from Taree, I suppose. Dad gave me a kick up the arse at the age of 15 to move out of Taree and be something and achieve something.
“I have been able to do that. Six or seven weeks away from my two kids. I just want to get back to the farm. It is all worth it now.
“I get the trophy, the medal and that jersey to hang on my wall.”
STIFLING SAMOA
Australia made teenage Samoan superstar Joseph Suaalii one of the focal points of their preparation during the week and it paid off.
Suaalii has been making metres for fun through the World Cup but he was held to 94 metres by the Kangaroos.
They did a remarkable job on the 19-year-old. Nothing, however, should take away from what Suaalii or Samoa have achieved over the past six weeks.
They have galvanised the Pacific and turned Samoa into a rugby league force that has won admiration from around the globe.
“It is so humbling to see how we have touched so many people around the world,” coach Matt Parish said.
Samoa’s ability to replicate their heroics in this tournament may hinge on several issues that are out of their control.
Some are pushing for Samoa to become a tier one nation, which would mean their players would be forced to choose between State of Origin and Samoa.
Others want the ARL Commission to alter the eligibility rules and restrict Origin to players who side with Australia.
Coach Matt Parish’s view is if it isn’t broken, why fix it.
“Do we want these guys to play Origin? Yes we do,” Parish said.
“Do we want these guys to play for Samoa? Yes we do. Samoa can’t be a tier one nation. Is the international game not as good as it has ever been?
“If we want to change the rules, we will go back to three teams again.”
JILLAROOS MAKE HISTORY
Ali Brigginshaw led the Jillaroos to a World Cup win at the Theatre of Dreams on Saturday night (AEDT) and then promptly declared she wasn’t done yet.
Brigginshaw, at 32, was named man of the match after inspiring an opening half assault from the Australians that set up a 54-4 win over New Zealand.
Within minutes of the full-time siren sounding, she made it clear that she had her sights set on France in three years’ time.
“All the people who said I am too old, I am still here and I am going to France,” Brigginshaw declared.
“I don’t think I want to put a [date] one when I finish playing. I will be the decider of when I stop. I am going to keep going. I set my sights on France so let’s go.
“It has probably been a challenging year going in and out of form. I will admit that. When I have the support of the coaching staff and the girls, no matter what anyone says the girls believe in me.”
Brigginshaw’s age had become the butt of good-hearted jibes from her teammates during the week when Australian players were asked about whether this would be the final fling for some of them.
She played more like spring chicken than mother hen at Old Trafford, putting on show the range of passing and kicking that has made her the pre-eminent player in the women’s game for the past decade.
It was Brigginshaw’s kick that sat up perfectly for Julia Robinson in the first half. Her inside ball sent Emma Tonagato away early in the second stanza.
Even when she wasn’t getting the try assist, she was in the thick of it - she put Kezie Apps through a hole in the leadup to Jessica Sergis’s second try later in the second half.
With the game well and truly beyond doubt, others stepped up. Sergis and centre partner Isabella Kelly both scored doubles. Tarryn Aitken had three try assists of her own as the Jillaroos ran riot.
The loudest cheer of the day was reserved for the one New Zealand try, scored by Madison Bartlett in the 64th minute.,Normal service quickly resumed as Kennedy Cherrington changed onto a pass from Lauren Brown and crashed over, celebrating by mimicking the renowned goal celebration of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Aitken and Cherrington were at it again three minutes later - Aitken’s chip kick was grabbed by Kelly and she sent Cherrington away. There was still time for Evania Pelite to swat aside New Zealand defenders and grab herself a try.
It was the most emphatic of victories. Just over a week ago, the Jillaroos scraped past New Zealand by two points. There was nothing close about this result as the onslaught began in the fifth minute and didn’t stop.
Brigginshaw was a member of the Jillaroos side that won the World Cup a decade ago and they have now won three in a row, matching New Zealand’s trifecta of victories.
“The trophy has grown a little bit,” Brigginshaw said when asked about her memories of lifting the trophy 10 years ago.
“I think it makes you resilient going through those times. We play women’s sport and it seems to be quite challenging regularly. We have no idea what next year looks like.”
Originally published as Australia win Rugby League World Cup after emphatic victory over Samoa
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