ENGLAND GO SO CLOSE IN EPIC BATTLE
BRUTAL game, brutal result.
England put in a performance for the ages — and had red-hot favourites Australia out on their feet — only to come up agonisingly short in Brisbane.
A solitary first- half try from Boyd Cordner, converted by Cameron Smith, separated the two teams at the hooter on an evening dominated by heroic defences.
However, had it not been for the fingertips of Kangaroos’ Josh Dugan, one of the greatest upsets in the sport’s long history may well have unfolded at a scarcely believing Suncorp Stadium.
With around 15 minutes to play, Leeds centre Kallum Watkins broke free and had the line in sight. Parity — and extra time — beckoned. Out of nowhere, Dugan brought him crashing to the turf with an outstretched hand. There were further English assaults as the hosts were reduced to wasting time in desperation. Alas, it was to avail. Brave, brave England could not find away through the incredible walls of green and gold defence. No victory, but plenty of plaudits.
Smith, Australia’s great hooker, has won all there is to win. He has starred in State of Origin, the ferocious annual three- match war between New South Wales and his native Queensland, and he summed it up succinctly. ‘As hard a game as I’ve played in my career,’ he said. Some accolade.
England’s Australian coach Wayne Bennett agreed. ‘I’m really proud of them,’ he said. ‘That was State of Origin standard.’
As the hooter went, with England again pressing, the warriors in white sank to their knees while their opponents celebrated wildly. It said it all. A distraught Watkins, with multiple cuts to his face from the gruelling battle, admitted that he thought he was in.
‘I am just devastated,’ he said. ‘I thought I was all right, I thought I was away but just couldn’t keep my balance. I’m not even sure whether he got my ankle, the bottom of my studs or whatever. It is just so disappointing.’
Bennett agreed. ‘It was certainly a moment,’ he said, matter- offactly. The 67-year-old is yet to decide whether he will extend his stint in charge of England. RFL bosses should be doing everything in their powers to make it so.
‘ I ’ m not t alking about t hat tonight,’ he said as a typically curt, five-minute post-match press conference drew to a close.
The sense, however, was that the players want the wily guru to stay. ‘I’d love Wayne to continue the job he’s doing,’ said a bruised and battered forward James Graham. ‘I think he has been great for this group. That’s plain to see. People who watch the game can see what it means.
‘We’ve come to Australia, away from home for seven weeks, and put in a performance like that where the game was on the line.
For 80 minutes we were only one score away. He gets my nod.’
England had a mountain to climb and were not helped in the build-up to the final 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.
No World Cup Final win since 1972, with victory then as Great Britain. No appearance in the final since 1995. Local bookmakers were even offering odds of 6-1 in a two-horse race.
England may also claim that they were not helped by referee Gerard Sutton, himself an Aussie. Tournament organisers 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 si des? Rugby l eague really does not do itself any favours at times. Mr Sutton did not do England many, either.
‘That’s just football,’ said Bennett. Others may have had different t hings t o say. A bone- shaking opening — Graham took an almighty whack on the head in the first hit-up — saw both sides go close in an early arm wrestle. The try that would win it came after 15 minutes, when Cordner took advantage of a series of repeat sets of six to plunge over on the left. His score was converted by Smith and the scoreboard remained static for the remainder. That, however, tells only half the story. A see-sawing second stanza saw Australia gain the upper hand first and have a try disallowed for obstruction. Somehow England managed to regroup. Warrington’s Chris Hill went within i nches. Then came Dugan’s dramatic late intervention.
Still England pressed, with Australia, incredibly, rocking like a punch-drunk heavyweight. The men in white sensed blood. Two minutes remained when a knock- on gave them the ball 30 yards from the line. Again, they could not find a way over. One final effort, as time expired, was stopped for a forward pass. Fittingly, Mr Sutton had the final word.