Kiwis and Kangaroos will be main course come final
October 20th 2008 08:59
As the ten world cup captains gathered together at the SFS today, there were only two thinking of the ultimate prize.
Sure, everyone is in it to win but if one were to cast a magnifying glass, island nations Tonga, Samoa and Fiji will be playing for pride and entertainment.
And Papua New Guinea are there for a chance. A chance to perhaps grow the game they love back home into more than just a pathway away from violence and sexual abuse.
All those goals are what makes this League world cup so special for the participating sides not expected to win it.
All of them, bar Australia and New Zealand.
These two countries set the bar high. Although the Kangaroos have perhaps ruled alone for a fair while, the Kiwis have always come the closest to stealing the crown.
At least in the open era anyway.
New Zealand did it at one stage when they won the 2005 Tri-nations, casting the Kiwi national team with an aura of dominance not felt before.
It was an aura that nearly helped the Shaky Isles regain the title in 2006, only for Darren Lockyer to score a try in golden point extra time.
Despite the loss of power, New Zealand rugby league was never healthier.
At last, the Australians had more than competition. They finally had an opponent they could fear.
But whatever fear the Kangaroos had over their Trans-Tasman rivals, they were extinguished last October, when Australia beat them in Wellington by a record 58 point margin.
So here we are once again, wondering how this Kangaroos outfit can be beaten in a world cup on home soil.
Lets face it. There is not much that can be done.
Realistically though, Australia’s greatest threat remains New Zealand.
Sure, the results have not been there for Kiwis supporters to be optimistic, but their squad has class. The pride in their faces when performing the Haka is second to none and it will show big time when they play Australia after the opening ceremony.
They will cast aside the 58-0 flogging and the fact they have lost their past four matches against Australia.
Indeed history is only there as a guide and the Kiwis will use it as a spring board for revenge.
Kiwi captain Nathan Cayless now has the opportunity to lead a Rugby mad nation into a new age. An age where black shirts and a little bird will be the most feared site in rugby league.
There is no doubt then Australia will be in the final come November 22. Its also likely however they will be standing in the middle of Suncorp stadium bracing themselves for another Kiwi assault.
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