RLWC Final Great for the Sport

Australia had not failed to win a Rugby League World Cup since 1972. With the tournament held at sporadic intervals and in varying formats over the years, that's a total of six in a row. Australia had also won nine of the twelve world cups ever held since 1954. The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was written off as a contest for second from the start, and claims that the cup was pointless mounted as Australia continued to dominate through the ealy matches. Poor New Zealand surely wouldn't stand a chance in the final.

But for some reason, they went ahead and held the grand final yesterday anyway. Predictably, Australia jumped to a 10 lead in the first quarter of the match. Amazingly, New Zealand battled back and took a 12-10 lead shortly before the half, the first lead Australia had rescinded in any match all year. Then Australia recaptured a 16-12 halftime lead, and things seemed to be back on track to a ho-hum conclusion.

Except that the Kiwis forgot to follow the songbook and won 34-20. In perhaps the greatest upset in rugby league history, New Zealand won the nation's first ever Rugby League World Cup. In an era where rugby league is criticized as a sport played in only a few nations (though some point out that rugby union is not as much of a "world game" as it is purported to be either) and some call a Rugby League World Cup pointless, Australia suddenly cannot be found on the comfortable seat at the top of the heap after the Kiwis shocked the world. Even an Australia fan has to enjoy that.

There are sad stories, such as seeing Australian legend Darren Lockyer walk off the ground with a loss, but Lockyer has had plenty of great wins as well. Everybody loses when the same side always wins, but this time that wasn't the case. The sport will surely benefit from the grand final result, just as it will from the great tournament in general.

If you missed the grand final, here are a few highlights. If you've never been interested in rugby league, this is a good match to start with!



And here's an extra video of the Kiwis arriving home with a trophy that had sat in Australia's trophy case for more than three decades: