Can Kiwis, Kiwi Ferns beat Aussies in finals?
The Kiwis' and Kiwi Ferns teams for the Rugby League World Cup finals in Brisbane on Sunday have been confirmed.
Left winger Ronaldo Mulitalo returns in the only change to the New Zealand Kiwis’ starting lineup.
The 26-year-old missed the Kiwis’ 34-10 semifinal win over Tonga last Saturday after accepting a one-match ban for a high tackle charge following the 78-0 victory over the Fiji Bati in Robina.
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Boasting 10 tries in 12 Tests for the Kiwis, Mulitalo replaces Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad who filled in impressively against the Tongans scoring a try and making a game-high 216 metres.
He moves to the six-man bench which again includes utility Te Maire Martin, middle forwards Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark and Xavier Willison plus fullback Keano Kini.
Loose forward Joseph Tapine, who debuted as Kiwi #800 in 2016, will make his 30th Test appearance in a familiar pack again including second rowers Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora and props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.
Winger Jamayne Isaako is on the cusp of claiming the New Zealand record for most Test points. His five goals against Tonga lifted his career points tally to 225 level with Shaun Johnson.
The Christchurch-born sharpshooter reached the target in just 18 Tests while Johnson played 35 internationals.
Isaako’s total has rocketed up during the World Cup with hauls of 10 points against Australia, a New Zealand record 38 against the Cook Islands, 26 against Fiji and 10 against Tonga for a tally of 84 points with a goalkicking success rate of just on 95 per cent.
He has also twice kicked a New Zealand Test record 13 goals against the Cooks and Fiji topping the previous best of 12 set by Tasesa Lavea in 2000.
Centre Casey McLean (20) goes into the final with 16 tries in just eight Tests including eight in four games in the tournament so far.
In a competition which started in 1954, the Kiwis will be making their fifth appearance in the final; all five have been against the Kangaroos. Following losses at Eden Park in 1988 and Old Trafford in 2000, they stunned Australia 34-20 at Suncorp Stadium in 2008 and lost the 2013 decider at Old Trafford
Meanwhile the Kiwi Ferns have an unchanged squad will assemble on Sunday to battle the Jillaroos as both sides hunt their fourth Rugby League World Cup title.
The Kiwi Ferns have a longstanding legacy of success, being the only team to have appeared in every Rugby League World Cup Final. This weekend will mark the fifth consecutive final against trans-Tasman rivals Australia, who have held the top spot in recent years.
“Our Kiwi Ferns have been so dominant in years gone by, and we want to bring dominance back to this jersey, so I think it will be a case of who wants it more,” said Co-Captain Georgia Hale of the impending clash.
The last time the Kiwi Ferns lifted the trophy was interestingly also at Suncorp Stadium, in a thrilling 34-0 win over Australia in 2008, which marked their third World Cup title on the trot.
RLWC Finals:
Kiwi Ferns vs Jillaroos- 6.10pm
Kiwis vs Kangaroos - 9.35pm
Sunday November 15
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kiwi Ferns:
1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Stacey Waaka 5. Mackenzie Wiki 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Alexis Tauaneai 9. Georgia Hale 10. Otesa Pule 11. Shaniece Monschau 12. Kaiyah Atai 13. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.
Interchange: 14. Ashleigh Quinlan 15. Annessa Biddle 16. Shannon Mato 17. Ivana Lauitiiti.
Reserves: 18. Brooke Anderson 19. Zahara Temara 20. Brianna Clark 21. Abigail Roache 22. Tenika Willison.
Kiwis:
1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Isaiah Papali'i, 12. Briton Nikora, 13. Joseph Tapine (v/c).
Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Xavier Willison.
Reserves: 18. Keano Kini, 19. Phoenix Crossland, 20. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 21. Scott Sorensen, 22. Leo Thompson.
