Rugby league: Australia beat New Zealand 32-12 in the final
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on SABC News
Australia beat New Zealand 32-12 on Sunday at Lang Park in Brisbane to win the Rugby League World Cup for the 13th time in 16 editions. The Kangaroos thus claim their fourth successive title, after New Zealand’s only win in 2008, according to SABC News.
Australia beat New Zealand 32-12 on Sunday in the final of the Rugby League World Cup at Lang Park in Brisbane, winning their 13th world title in 16 editions, according to SABC News.
Before a crowd of 52,461, the Kangaroos pulled clear before half-time, leading 24-6 thanks to two tries from second row Liam Martin. Winger Jack Bostock, who scored two tries either side of half-time, was named Player of the Final. Centre Bradman Best, winger Tom Trbojevic and five-eighth Cameron Munster, who kicked three conversions and a penalty, completed the Australian scoring. New Zealand could only respond with a try from centre Casey McLean before half-time, then one from Isaiah Papali’i in the 65th minute. It is Australia’s fourth consecutive title, whereas New Zealand had won the competition only in 2008.
Australian captain Isaah Yeo praised a performance worthy of his team’s ambitions. New Zealand fullback Kalyn Ponga, who returned after a broken arm suffered in the opening match and won the Golden Boot, the award for the world’s best player, on Thursday, acknowledged a disappointing performance marked by too many defensive errors.
The one-sided final closes a tournament that revived the idea of a World Cup, notably thanks to Samoa and Tonga, both eliminated in the semi-finals. The next edition, in 2030, will be played as 'Magic Rounds' in five cities in the Pacific and the United States, organised by the ARLC, the Australian rugby league commission.
