A staggering effort from England – a performance for the ages – was not enough as Wayne Bennett’s warriors came up agonisingly short in a brutal World Cup Final.
A single try from Boyd Cordner separated the two teams. At times Australia, the best team in the world who had rolled their way into a final nobody saw them losing, were out on their feet.
When the hooter came, it was the underdogs who were pressing for the a score which would have sent us to extra-time. It was not to be.
Australia have won the Rugby League World Cup once against after beating England 6-0
A phenomenal performance by England was not quite enough as they pushed the favourites
Australian Bennett is yet to decide whether he will extend his stint in charge of England. RFL bosses should now be doing everything in their powers to make it so.
England’s cause was not helped by the loss to injury of hooker Josh Hodgson and captain Sean O’Loughlin. To say they were not fancied would be like stating that Australian cricketers are partial to the odd bit of sledging.
England had not lifted the trophy since 1972. They had not appeared in a final since 1995. As Great Britain, they had not won a Test series against the old enemy since 1970. In the TAB betting sections of the local bars, you could find odds of $7 on England – effectively 6/1 in a two-horse race. They came so close.
Boyd Cordner celebrates scoring the opening try of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup final
Australia were favourites to retain the cup and win their 11th tournament in 14 attempts
The England squad’s publicly-stated aim was to make the final, and talk had been of a relaxed training camp in the week building up to the clash. No pressure, and a coach who had already tripped up the Kangaroos in a World Cup final at this very venue.
Bennett was assistant coach for New Zealand, when the Kiwis stunned the hosts here to lift the trophy in 2008. The wily veteran was widely credited for that stunning upset. Could the Queenslander repeat the trick here?
Bizarrely the referee, Gerard Sutton, was an Aussie. Officials will blame a shortage of whistle blowers but can the sport really take itself seriously when the man in the middle is from the same country as one of the competing sides? Rugby league really does not do itself any favours, at times.
Mr Sutton did not do England any, either. He failed to spot an early high shot on Gareth Widdop but penalised England for a similar offence moments later. It was the first of many decisions that were, to say the least, debatable.
The hosts scored the opening try but were tested by England with the score 6-0 at half time
Australia thought they had scored a second try after break but was ruled out by video referee
After a ferocious opening quarter of an hour, with Wayne Bennett’s men matching their opponents in a furious arm wrestle, Australia landed a series of back-to-back sets on England’s line and, despite valiant defence, the wall of white could not stop Boyd Cordner from scoring what would be the only try.
The goal from Cameron Smith made it 6-0 and you feared the worst, but England roared back, and for a knock-on from Jermaine McGillvary, could have gone in level at the break in an opening stanza of back and forth.
Few errors will have pleased Bennett and his side, backed by staggering numbers, remained in the contest as the hooter sounded with Luke Gale’s last-tackle kicking much improved.
A word on those fans. Large swathes of the Suncorp Stadium were bathed in red and white. Flags dedicating allegiance to the likes of Oldham, Leeds and Widnes draped over dozens of exits. Many had come for the cricket and stayed for the rugby league. While it may not be the nation’s premier game, the loyalty of its followers cannot be questioned.
England made several chances in the second half at the Suncorp Stadium but could not score
Following the break, more shenanigans from the referee, refusing to give a new set off six after England regathered a kick that appeared to have been intentionally charged down.
With England out on their feet, Australia thought they had extended their lead when Michael Morgan went over. A try was given on the field, but English video official Ben Thaler correctly ruled it out for obstruction.
Somehow England managed to regroup but could not find a way through the home nation’s phenomenal defence. Chris Hill went within inches. An unbelievable ankle tap from Joshua Dugan stopped Kallum Watkins with the line in sight. It would turn out to be the tap that won the cup.
England were taking it to them with Australia, incredibly, now desperate to kill time. At times, the home fans in the 40,033 could barely believe what they were seeing.
Again, England sensed blood. Two minutes remained when a knock-on gave them the ball 30 yards from the. Again, they could not find a way. One final effort, as time expired, was stopped for a forward pass. Fittingly, Sutton had the final word.
It was more World Cup heartbreak for Sam Burgess, who played in the union failure of 2015