New world order great for Rugby League
November 23rd 2008 07:45
2008 for some, will be remembered for Manly’s record breaking grand final triumph over Melbourne or indeed Barack Obama’s presidential election victory that united the world. But it will undoubtedly reign as the year that saw New Zealand wrestle rugby league supremacy away from Australia courtesy of a 34-20 win that really shook the southern hemisphere.
Before a record breaking test crowd of over 50,000 people, the Kiwis defied a dark recent history against the Kangaroos which yielded eight consecutive losses, including a 58-0 drubbing last November prior to their efforts on Saturday night.
They defied the thoughts of millions of Australians around the country that this world cup had a Kangaroos victory written all over it.
Indeed they defied all those pessimistic views surrounding international league, with many suggesting this rugby league world cup was a joke.
And didn’t the Kiwis do it in style.
After a shaky start which saw Benji Marshall bomb a certain try early in the game off a Nathan Fien grubber, (not to mention falling behind by 10 points) New Zealand displayed courage in defence and creativity in attack to put themselves 12-10 up midway through the first half.
Jeremy Smith powered his way over to get the Kiwis on the scoreboard, while a lucky try to Jerome Ropati left Australia in shock.
It was the shock that Ricky Stuart’s Kangaroos needed to produce the try of the tournament.
Brent Kite took a seemingly normal hit up only to offload to Johnathon Thurston, who played catch and pass with Darren Lockyer, which provided the Kangaroos with an overlap.
From there, Thurston offloaded to Anthony Tupou, who did likewise to Anthony Watmough, who summed up the situation beautifully to send Lockyer over for a try befitting of Australia’s dominance in test football over the last 50 years.
New Zealand on the other hand were left stunned. But most importantly, they remained composed throughout the first half to only find themselves behind 16-12 at the break.
What came in the second half would prove to be the most significant forty minutes of football played in years, let alone 2008.
The Kiwis come out with a dominant attitude and forced a Craig Fitzgibbon knock on right from the kick off.
Lance Hohaia eventually made the Kangaroos pay with a four pointer to give New Zealand the lead.
A brain explosion from Billy Slater, who was named the world’s best player on Tuesday, gifted Benji Marshall a try which put the Kiwis ahead by six with twenty or so minutes remaining.
Despite a quick reply from Australia, courtesy of Greg Inglis’ 13th test try, the Kangaroos found themselves on the wrong end of an ill informed decision by Joel Monaghan, who tackled Hohaia without the football when the Kiwis were on the attack.
Monaghan’s ill discipline was punished with a penalty try, which mean’t the conversion attempt is automatically from under the posts, granting the Kiwis an eight point buffer and a hand on the world cup trophy.
Soon enough, New Zealand had a firm grip on world domination as Adam Blair provided the icing on the cake for the Kiwis, who found themselves 14 points ahead against an Australian side who knew defeat was now a formality.
New Zealand’s victory has now given hope for international league around the world. Like Obama’s presidential triumph, change has now reared its head and it seems this time it could be for the better.
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