Kiwis stun rugby league world

Oh what a night.
Rugby league fans waking up today thinking it was all a dream can rest easy, New Zealand are world champions for the first time.

The Kangaroos weren't the only ones stunned by last night's historic 34-20 blackout in the World Cup final in Brisbane.

It comes just a year after New Zealand were beaten 58-0 by Australia and wiped 3-0 in a series against Great Britain.

"I'm a bit numb at the moment," victorious Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney said last night.

"I'm just very pleased for the lads.

"The game back home was in a bad state this time last year and some tough decisions had to be made and I was very fortunate to be given the opportunity to coach the side and I'm just very pleased for our game back home."

The scarcely believable result snapped an eight game Kangaroos winning run against New Zealand and is the Kiwis' first ever World Cup defeat of Australia.

Kearney rated his side's defence in the first 15 minutes of the second half as the key to the victory.

"It was real gritty, we dragged them into an arm wrestle and things just flowed on from that."

New Zealand are routinely thrashed by Australia in one-off tests but showed again that they can build nicely through tournaments, ala Tri-Nations 2005.

"That's the big difference, time," Kearney said.

Somewhat bizarrely, losing Australia captain Darren Lockyer was chosen as man-of-the-match, but Kearney refused to criticise the decision.

"I'm sure if you went in that [Kiwis] dressing room that wouldn't be an issue and it's not an issue with me."

The game's most controversial moment came with 10 minutes to go, when Kiwis fullback Lance Hohaia was held back by Kangaroos winger Joel Monaghan as he chased a Nathan Fien kick

English video referee Steve Ganson awarded a penalty try and Benji Marshall's conversion took the Kiwis to a 28-20 lead.

"That's the decision that had to be made," Kearney said.

Kiwis' assistant coach Wayne Bennett, who continues his knack of masterminding finals wins, again declined to speak to media after the match.

But Kearney, in his first year as New Zealand coach, was in no doubts as to his influence.

"It's been significant the whole campaign and his knowledge, obviously, of big games was very important."

The unflappable Kearney remained calm despite pulling off New Zealand's greatest ever league triumph, against a Kangaroos side rated one of the best ever.

"It's called tired," he quipped.

Kearney highlighted his dedication to the black jersey by pledging to not let the momentum slip.

"Because it's a wonderful achievement, I've certainly got no problem with that, but I want to be able to do is make sure that we back up again next year with a real competitive side."

Kearney paid tribute to Kiwis captain Nathan Cayless, who was handed the leadership following Roy Asotasi's withdrawal with injury.

"Nathan who has busted his backside off for the Kiwis for so long and obviously Parramatta – he hasn't had the opportunity to stand up on top of the podium after lifting a trophy," Kearney said.

"For guys like him, that's where I get my pleasure from, it was easy working with guys like Nathan and Jeremy Smith and the like."

Cayless said the win would "take a long time to sink in" and rated it as a clear career highlight.

"For sure, that's my grand final, that's the biggest thing for me. I just can't believe it."

The theme for New Zealand's World Cup campaign was ‘no regrets'.

"We certainly don't have any now," Cayless said.

The veteran prop hoped the historic win would be recognised fully in New Zealand.

"We deserve it, we deserve respect, we've worked hard and no-one can take it away from us."

- © Fairfax NZ News