Golden age dawns with World Cup win
AUSTRALIAN coach Mal Meninga has predicted a golden age for the Kangaroos after celebrating the return of international rugby league by defending the World Cup.
The Kangaroos were rarely troubled against Samoa in the final at Old Trafford, turning the Theatre of Dreams into the stuff of nightmares for the Pacific Island nation.
The 30-10 win maintained Meninga’s remarkable record at the helm of the Kangaroos, a period during which the side has undergone a dramatic facelift.
The likes of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater have given way to a fresh generation of stars led by captain James Tedesco, Cameron Munster, Latrell Mitchell and Nathan Cleary.
They ran onto Old Trafford with the world against them but emerged with the World Cup, prompting Meninga to predict his new side was only at the start of a long and successful journey.
“This is only the beginning of this team, I can assure you,” Meninga said. “These guys are going to be together over the next three, four, five, six years.”
Tedesco was unstoppable in the final, running for more than 200m and two tries as he saved his best performance for the biggest game of the tournament.
“He has led the side really, really well through the whole tournament,” Meninga said of his captain.
Tedesco, who was named man of the match, scored his first try in the opening half when Josh Addo-Carr split the Samoan defence and he loomed in support.
He scored his second to put the game out of reach late in the second half after a smart set play involving Cleary and Munster.
He topped it off by lifting the World Cup trophy in what he hailed as one of the biggest moments of his career.
“To be able to captain your country to a World Cup victory … it is pretty surreal to be honest,” Tedesco said.
“A special period over here. Special group of blokes, staff. To be able to celebrate with a victory at the end of that is pretty special. I am just happy we could win.”
Cleary took his time to find his feet at Test level but had his best game of the tournament in the final. The Penrith playmaker finished with three try assists as he orchestrated the Kangaroos win.
Cleary turned 25 on this tour and already had two premierships to his name when he stepped onto the plane. He now has a World Cup to match.
He capped his night with a pass that sent Latrell Mitchell over in the last minute. It was the perfect climax to his breakout match as a Test star.
“It still feels like a dream,” Cleary said. “I am very grateful I was able to be part of it. I thought we played the best game of our tournament.
“There is still a lot to do. I still feel like there is a long way to go and I am just scratching the surface.”
Like so many of his teammates, Mitchell saved his best game for the biggest stage. It took him only 14 minutes to show he meant business as he took a Cleary pass, beat Brian To’o and overpowered Joseph Suaalii to score.
Samoan superstar Suaalii was one of the focal points of Australia’s preparation and it paid off. The teen had been making metres for fun in the World Cup but he was held to 94m by the Kangaroos.
They did a remarkable job on the 19-year-old. Nothing, however, should take away from what Suaalii or Samoa have achieved over the past six weeks.
“It is so humbling to see how we have touched so many people around the world,” coach Matt Parish said.