Australia 16-12 New Zealand (Half-time)
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
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606: DEBATE
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By Pranav Soneji
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"It has been a great display from both teams in the first half. The Kiwis have been a little unlucky but they are still in the game and I would like to see them put the ball in the air more in the second half and see if they can get some results."
Hull KR coach Justin Morgan on BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra
HALF-TIME - AUSTRALIA 16-12 NEW ZEALAND
39 mins: A massive hit from Sam Rapira gets the crowd going as Lance Hohaia makes a smart break from his own tryline to the 30m line as the half-time hooter sounds. What a half. This tournament has been crying out for a game of this class. About time I say.
"That is brilliant. The Australian ability to get the offloads away is pure class." Stroller95 on 606
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35 mins: TRY - AUSTRALIA 16-12 NEW ZEALAND
You have to stand back and admire some of the Australian passing. Darren Lockyer scores his second of the final after a wonderful sweeping move involving Thurston, Brent Kite and Anthony Watmough before Lockyer crosses over. Thurston adds the extras as the Kangeroos regain their four-point lead. What a belting match.
32 mins: Israel Folau is quite possibly the biggest 19-year-old unit I have ever seen. The Melbourne Storm centre cannot snatch a Thurston high, hanging crossfield kick on the sixth tackle, handing the Kiwis the opportunity to clear their defensive lines. The whole move is started off after an elementary handling error from Benji Marshall after New Zealand were awarded a penalty in Aussie territory.
"Aus getting killed by the refs."
makaay_10 on 606
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28 mins: TRY - AUSTRALIA 10-12 NEW ZEALAND
Unbelievable! Benji Marshall is tackled by Anthony Laffranchi, who attempts to strip the stand-off, but the loose ball is pounced upon by Sika Manu, who speeds into the 30m line and sends through a wonderful inside pass to Jerome Ropati to score. Ashley Klein goes to his video ref - and Steve Ganson confirms the loose ball came from Laffranchi's - not Marshall's - hands. Issac Luke adds the extras to give New Zealand the lead. Game. On.
26 mins: Another howler from Lance Hohaia, who drops the restart under his posts. He did that a few times against England last week, but the Kiwi defence hold firm as Joel Monaghan is bundled out to touch.
"Great try by Jeremy Smith - very simple play. We've seen him threaten throughout the tournament and this will get the Kiwis well and truly back into the game. Nathan Cayless has been instrumental in getting his team to go forward. He has been inspirational and now that he has been substituted it will be interesting to see how his team gets on."
Hull KR coach Justin Morgan on BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra
24 mins: TRY - AUSTRALIA 10-6 NEW ZEALAND
Brilliant 10m run from Jeremy Smith, who picks up the ball at dummy-half to power over the tryline under the posts to give Issac Luke the easiest of conversions.
22 mins: Excellent kicking from Fien sees Joel Monaghan concede a drop out from under his posts - and a fine Fien crossfield kick on the fourth tackle from 15m just evades the chasing Sam Perrett as Monaghan clears once again for another drop out.
20 mins: The fat lady is warming up her vocal chords as Cameron Smith's cheeky grubber kick is grounded by Darren Lockyer. But Ashley Klein is convinced something is awry - and Steve Ganson confirms his suspicions because the Brisbane Bronco did not ground the ball as he attempted to ground it. A costly mistake? I'll let you know in 55 minutes...
18 mins: Things are going from bad to worse for the Kiwis - their restart goes long, handing the Australians a penalty on the halfway line.
15 mins: TRY - AUSTRALIA 10-0 NEW ZEALAND
Unbelievable. Winger David Williams races down the right-hand touchline from the halfway line after a fine pass caught opposite number Manu Vatuvei sleeping. The Manly lad has some serious pace to burn, it's only his second appearance for the Kangeroos. And Thurston adds the extras with a simple kick in front of the posts.
"You can't give Billy Slater any space or he will burn you. Just when we thought the Kiwis were in the ascendancy, the Aussies hit back when nothing seemed to be on."
Hull KR coach Justin Morgan on BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra
11 mins: TRY - AUSTRALIA 4-0 NEW ZEALAND
Just when you thought the Aussies were on the back foot, out comes a superb break from Billy Slater, who scythes through New Zealand's defence on the 30m line before floating an inside pass to Darren Lockyer, who scores his first try of the tournament in his 50th appearance for the Kangeroos. But Thurston misses the conversion.
9 mins: The Aussies are rattled - they are not playing to anything like the standards they have been during these past four weeks. Greg Inglis sends a wild offload skywards, a pass which sees Israel Folau lose 10m in possession. Top tackling from Jerome Ropati to ensure Folau is grounded.
7 mins: Massive error from Benji Marshall, who attempts to gain tons of ground from a penalty, but doesn't find touch, giving Australia the opportunity to go exploring inside NZ territory. But excellent defence sees Jonathan Thurston wrapped up on the sixth tackle attempting a powerplay on the final tackle.
5 mins: Benji Marshall runs on towards a wonderful grubber kick from Nathan Fien on the 10m line, but Marshall, on-side when the kick was made, cannot ground the ball and video ref Steve Ganson has one of his more easier decisions as the "NO TRY" sign is met with a round of cheers from the Suncorp faithful.
3 mins: A lovely, jinky run from Benji Marshall culminates in a testing high kick for Joel Monaghan, who not only bags the catch but makes at least 15m with a powerful surge. Good start from the Kiwis though.
2 mins: Not the best start from Jonathan Thurston, whose clearance kick from Australia's first set of six goes long. Good pressure from New Zealand's runners on the scum-half.
"Best Kangaroos side ever, my poor Kiwi's probably (almost definitely) don't stand a chance. Let's give 'em hell anyway!"
Player0 on 606
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0902: This is awesome! The Australians are eyeball-to-eyeball with the Kiwis as they do the Haka. The crowd goes bananas - this is going to be painful... Lockyer to kick off after Australia won the toss. Super League is very much at this final - Ashley Klein takes charge, while Steve Ganson is on duty as video ref.
0859: A fella, not too dissimilar to British crooner Darren Day, belts out "God Defend New Zealand" before giving it "COME ON NEW ZEALAND". That will endear him to a nation of 20m...
0855: A thoroughly pumped Nathan Cayless leads his side out lined up alongside Darren Lockyer, who is winning his 50th cap for the Kangeroos.
0853: So just how are the Kiwis going to win this match? The wet football could make the sweeping passing moves the Australians love so much redundant, which means Nathan Fien could have a major role to play with his tactical kicking at scrum-half. Queensland has been hit by the worst storms in over 20 years, but tournament organiser Colin Love scoffed at the thought of postponing the final at the Suncorp Stadium:
"This is a major venue that is used to accommodating large crowds in all conditions - we have every confidence in their procedure."
0845: Australia coach Ricky Stuart has made a couple of enforced tweaks to his side, with prop Brent Kite coming in for the injured Steve Price, while Anthony Watmough takes his Manly team-mate's place on the interchange bench. New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney has no such issues, with his 17-man team coming through their pre-final training sessions unscathed.
0834: Apparently we're expecting a downpour in tropical Queensland, wonder if that will play into the Kiwis' hands. The bookmakers obviously don't think so, they've got the Green and Gold down for 10-1 on favourites.
0830: So here it is, the four-week extravaganza is almost over - it's time for Australia v New Zealand - anyone have a punt on that particular fixture a month ago? Thought so.
TEAMS
Australia: B Slater (Melbourne); J Monaghan (Canberra), G Inglis (Melbourne), I Folau (Melbourne), D Williams (Manly); D Lockyer (Brisbane, capt), J Thurston (North Queensland); P Civoniceva (Penrith), C Smith (Melbourne), B Kite (Manly), G Stewart (Manly), A Laffranchi (Gold Coast), P Gallen (Cronulla). Interchange: K Hunt (Brisbane), C Fitzgibbon (Sydney Roosters), A Tupou (Sydney Roosters), A Watmough (Manly).
New Zealand: L Hohaia (NZ Warriors); S Perrett (Sydney Roosters), S Mannering (NZ Warriors), J Ropati (NZ Warriors), M Vatuvei (NZ Warriors); B Marshall (Wests Tigers), N Fien (NZ Warriors); N Cayless (Parramatta, capt), T Leuluai (Wigan), A Blair (Melbourne), S Manu (Melbourne), D Fa'alogo (South Sydney), J Smith (Melbourne). Interchange: I Luke (South Sydney), G Eastwood (Brisbane), B Harrison (Wests Tigers), S Rapira (NZ Warriors).
Referee: Ashley Klein (England).
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