Wow, New Zealand just smashed Australia in a record-breaking rugby league match! They won the Pacific Championships in Waikato, but the crowd was nowhere to be seen. The Aussies missed a whopping 47 tackles and couldn’t even score a single try. This was the Kiwis’ biggest win over the Kangaroos ever, and it was the worst loss ever for the Australians on the international stage. However, the low attendance in Waikato put a damper on the victory.
Last week, New Zealand suffered a heavy defeat, but they bounced back in an incredible way. They completely shocked the Australian Kangaroos with a crushing 30-0 win to claim the maiden Pacific Championships trophy. From the start, it was a nightmare for the Aussies. The Kiwis dominated every aspect of the game, with nine line breaks to one, 14 offloads to three, and five tries to zero. It was an absolute rout!
Injured Roosters hooker Brandon Smith expressed his pride in being a Kiwi, saying, ‘I’m so proud to be a Kiwi right now.’ The New Zealand team showed their dominance right from the beginning and handed the Aussies their worst-ever loss on the international stage.
On the other hand, the Australians barely put up a fight. Former Aussie halfback Cooper Cronk pointed out their shortcomings, saying, ‘If you look at the Australian team, well, they missed 47 tackles, not a single forward ran over 100 metres, and no player had a real impact. But if you look at New Zealand, they dominated possession, scored multiple tries, had nine line breaks, and their best players were outstanding. Tapine was dominant through the middle, Hughes and Brown ran the ball effectively, and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was fantastic at the back.’
The lack of attendance was the only downside for the Kiwis. Rugby League fans took to social media to express their disappointment as the cameras showed empty seats. Only 13,000 fans turned out for the final. One fan posted, ‘That crowd is abysmal. Where is everyone? And why was the final held in Hamilton instead of Auckland?’ Another fan added, ‘The stadium is practically empty…? WTF?’ It seems like the decision to hold the final in Hamilton instead of Auckland was not well-received.
Despite the low turnout, the victory was still emotional for the players. Kiwis skipper James Fisher-Harris admitted that they were stung by Australia’s win last week, but they learned from it. He said, ‘For the Kiwi boys, this is our moment, this is our group. New Zealand, stand up because this is our time.’
The player of the match was New Zealand fullback Nicoll-Klokstad, who was overwhelmed with emotion as he thanked the Kangaroos for a great game. He acknowledged that they made the Kiwis work hard for the win. He also praised his teammates, saying, ‘To my brothers, what a campaign. From week one, we had this belief.’
Queensland coach and Channel Nine commentator Billy Slater commended the Kiwis for their high energy throughout the match. He said, ‘It all started with their energy. They had high energy for the entire 80 minutes. Once they took the lead, they could sense the upset.’
Former Melbourne Storm champion Cameron Smith mentioned that the absence of Cam Murray was a big loss for the Aussies even before the game started. He said, ‘I thought they (Australia) really missed Cam Murray today. He has a great ability to change the momentum of the game.’
This victory by New Zealand will definitely go down in history. It was an outstanding performance that showcased the Kiwis’ strength and determination. Despite the disappointing crowd, the players gave it their all and came out on top. Congratulations to New Zealand on their well-deserved win!