Rugby League World Cup: Australia edge out England to retain trophy

Australia edged out England in a tight and nervy Rugby League World Cup final to retain the trophy at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

Britain delivered a resolute and versatile execution in their first last for a long time, however the Kangaroos clutched win an eleventh world title.

Boyd Cordner crushed through for the main attempt of the amusement as England confined Australia to six focuses.

They had odds of their own, however couldn't break the hosts' protection.

There was no minute that summed this up more than a urgent yet splendid lower leg tap by Josh Dugan on Kallum Watkins in the second half after the England focus had gotten through.It was a monumental effort from England against a team who came into the game as overwhelming favourites.

Having lost to Australia 18-4 in their opening game, Wayne Bennett's side both improved and impressed during the World Cup, holding off Tonga 20-18 for a memorable semi-final win before this thrilling final.

Australia's victory, though, completed a World Cup double for the country, with the women's team having beaten New Zealand 23-16 earlier.

The tightest of margins

Britain were compelled to splash up wave after rush of Australian assaults in the principal half as the Kangaroos manufactured persistent weight, finishing 23 of 25 sets before the break.

Just a five-minute spell of indiscipline cost Bennett's side, a high handle from Luke Gale beginning a spell in which Australia delighted in four straight sets.

Watkins bobbled a Cooper Cronk kick over his own particular line and Ryan Hall got another as England were constrained into consecutive in-objective dropouts, previously James Roby was pulled up for another punishment.

From that point, Australia influenced them to pay. Aaron Woods attracted a few tacklers yet figured out how to escape and the Kangaroos promoted as back-rower Cordner hit the line at speed to crash over.

Michael Morgan thought he had added to Australia's lead after the interim when Dugan got Gale's cross-field kick past his own particular touchline and broke clear to set the field position, before Jordan McLean put Morgan over.

Be that as it may, arbitrator Gerard Sutton got back to it for a deterrent by Cameron Smith, and from that point on England looked the more prone to cross.

Jermaine McGillvary was eminent to England's right side however the perilous Huddersfield winger couldn't discover the holes to add to his seven tries in the competition, while the Watkins lower leg tap was seemingly the amusement's most emotional minute.

A missed opportunity?

Britain partner mentor Denis Betts said in the development to the diversion that "no one ever recalls the washouts" - however the man who captained the group in their last World Cup last thrashing may alter his opinion after a mammoth exertion.

The bookmakers had the Kangaroos as 1-7 top choices, however there was unquestionably not that edge between the groups as England created a strong cautious show and Australia appeared to be out on their feet come the last shriek.

Many did not anticipate that England will achieve this stage - but rather, having achieved the last, Bennett's group gave an awesome record of themselves.

Gareth Widdop caused issues as he joined the line from full-back, and in addition perusing Australia's kicking amusement and situating himself sublimely in safeguard, while commander Sam Burgess, alongside James Graham, drove a brutal forward pack without experienced captain Sean O'Loughlin.

It might have been an alternate story however for that Dugan lower leg tap on Watkins, and had England's execution been exceptional at key minutes, McGillvary spilling in a decent position in the primary half and Gale going behind John Bateman in the second.England international Sam Tomkins, not selected for the tournament, said it was "a missed opportunity" for the team.

"We could have won that with just a matter of minutes left," the Wigan Warriors full-back told BBC One.

"I don't think we have played them in the last five or six years and got that close, one ankle tap, one moment, but we are making strides."

End of an era for Australian greats?

It won't not be an Australia side to match some of their most prominent throughout the years, yet there can be no contending the Kangaroos are merited title holders having won six recreations from six and yielded only 16 focuses.

It is additionally a side that has seen legends, for example, Cronk, Smith and Billy Slater, the last two of whom played in the side staggered by New Zealand in the 2008 last in Brisbane.

Kangaroos commander Smith, who won the 2017 NRL Grand Final and State of Origin for Queensland close by Slater and Cronk, said this was "one of the hardest recreations I have played in my profession".

"The three of us have had an exceptional year for club, state and nation. In the event that this is the last time we get the chance to play together what an extraordinary memory to have," the 34-year-old included.

Full-back Slater has returned from different shoulder operations to return, however said at the last shriek he "will likely resign" toward the finish of next season and may have played his last diversion for his nation.

With respect to Cronk, the 33-year-old playmaker was getting it done against a versatile England protection and his amusement administration demonstrated key to closing down the diversion late on.He later confirmed it would his last appearance in green and gold.

"I've had a fair ride," said Cronk. "This is the best-case scenario for me and the team moving forward."

What next for England and Bennett?

Bennett said before the diversion that achieving the last was his objective when he assumed responsibility two years prior.

The Australian's agreement with the Rugby Football League is viably now up, and he is yet to focus on another arrangement.

The veteran Brisbane Broncos manager helped design a New Zealand annoy against Australia in the 2008 last, and verged on stunning his home country again nine years after the fact in England's limited misfortune.

Gotten some information about his future after the annihilation, Bennett stated: "I'm not discussing that today around evening time, I'm not in a decent state to discuss those things."

Britain, with or without Bennett, will take certainty from their best execution at a World Cup in 22 years as they head into a three-coordinate Test arrangement with the Kiwis next harvest time.