Jump to content

Toggle sidebar

WikipediaThe Free Encyclopedia

Search Wikipedia
Create account

Foo

Contents hide
(Top)
Background
Venue
Route to the final

Pre-match

Match

Post-match
Broadcasting
See also
References
2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup Final

Article
Talk
Read
Edit
View history
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2021 Rugby League World Cup Final
Kangaroos lift 2021 RLWC.jpg
Australia
Australia Samoa
Samoa
(ARL) (RLS)
30 10
1 2 Total
AUS Australian colours.svg 14 16 30
SAM Canterbury colours.svg 0 10 10
Date 19 November 2022
Stadium Old Trafford
Location Manchester, England
Man of the Match James Tedesco (Australia)
Referees Ashley Klein (Australia)
Attendance 67,502
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
BBC (United Kingdom)
Fox League (Australia)
Rugby League World Cup Final
? 20172025 ?
The 2021 Rugby League World Cup Final is the rugby league match to determine the
winner of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, played between Australia and Samoa on 19
November 2022 at Old Trafford in Manchester, England.[1][2]

Background
Main article: 2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup
The 2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup, was the 16th edition of the World Cup, the
IRL's rugby league competition for national teams. The tournament was held in
England from 15 October 2022 to 19 November 2022,[3] but was originally scheduled
to be held between 23 October 2021 and 27 November 2021 and was postponed due the
COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent withdrawals of Australia and New Zealand.[4]
16 teams are competing in the tournament, an increase of two from the previous two
tournaments and the first to feature 16 teams since the 2000 Rugby League World
Cup.[5]

Venue
Main article: Old Trafford

Outside Old Trafford ahead of hosting the World Cup final for the third time.
Old Trafford will host the World Cup final for the third time, having previously
hosted the final in 2000, when Australia beat New Zealand 40�12, and in 2013, when
they beat the same opponents 34�2.[6][7] It was confirmed as the venue to host the
final on 10 June 2020, when the fixture for the event was released.[8]

The ground is often used for major rugby league matches, being the primary venue
for the annual Super League Grand Final, which is the championship-deciding game of
Britain's Super League competition, and top-tier test matches such as the Kangaroo
tour and the now-defunct Four Nations.[9]

The ground is the home stadium of English football team Manchester United, and has
a capacity of 74,310,[10] which makes it the largest club football stadium (second-
largest football stadium overall after Wembley Stadium, and third largest in all
with the rugby union Twickenham Stadium coming in second) in the United Kingdom,
and the eleventh-largest in Europe.[11]

Route to the final

Summary
Australia Round Samoa
Opponent Result Group stage Opponent Result
Fiji 42�8 Matchday 1 England 6�60
Scotland 84�0 Matchday 2 Greece 72�6
Italy 66�6 Matchday 3 France 62�4
Group stage winners
Pos Teamvte Pld Pts
1 Australia 3 6
2 Fiji 3 4
3 Italy 3 2
4 Scotland 3 0
Source: rlwc2021
Final standings Group stage runners-up
Pos Teamvte Pld Pts
1 England (H) 3 6
2 Samoa 3 4
3 France 3 2
4 Greece 3 0
Source: rlwc2021
(H) Host
Opponent Result Knockout stage Opponent Result
Lebanon 48�4 Quarter-finals Tonga 20�18
New Zealand 16�14 Semi-finals England 27�26 (g.p.)
Australia
See also: 2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup Group B and 2021 Men's Rugby League
World Cup knockout stage

Australia warming up ahead of their semi-final against New Zealand

Australia won all three group stage matches against Fiji, Scotland and Italy all
convincingly.[12]

Finishing on top of their group, they played Lebanon in the first quarter-final,
where they won 48�4, advancing to a semi-final berth against Trans-Tasman rivals,
New Zealand.[13] In the semi-final, Australia were trailing 10�14 at half time to
the Kiwis. A 52nd minute converted try to Cameron Murray, ended up being the match
winner however, winning the match 16�14 which saw the Kangaroos qualify for their
12th consecutive World Cup final.[14]

Samoa
See also: 2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup Group A and 2021 Men's Rugby League
World Cup knockout stage

Samoa warming up ahead of their opening group stage match against England
Despite losing the opening match of the tournament 60�6 against host nation England
at St James' Park, Samoa finished the group stage in second place after large wins
against Greece and France. This qualified them for a quarter-final berth against
fellow Pacific island nation, Tonga.[15]

Samoa reached the semi-finals after a narrow 20�18 win over Tonga at Halliwell
Jones Stadium in Warrington. Despite both teams scoring three tries each, it was
Samoa that won the match, with Stephen Crichton converting all three tries and a
penalty goal.[16]

Junior Paulo captained Samoa through the World Cup.

They faced England in the semi-final at the Emirates Stadium in London. Tim Lafai
scored the first try of the game in the sixth minute to give Samoa a 4�0 lead, and
for the first time in the tournament, England conceded first. Five minutes later,
Junior Paulo was shown a yellow card, and also put on report, for a dangerous
tackle on George Williams. Elliott Whitehead scored England's first try on 25
minutes, with Tommy Makinson successful with the conversion, to give England a 6�4
lead. Five minutes later, Samoa scored again, this time from Ligi Sao to retake the
lead 8�4; Stephen Crichton was successful with the conversion to give Samoa a 10�4
lead at half-time.

Five minutes into the second half, England scored again, this time through John
Bateman, and Makinson was once again successful with the conversion to make it
10�10. Two tries in seven minutes saw Samoa take a 20�12 lead, with England now
needing at least two tries to draw level. Herbie Farnworth broke clear on 65
minutes, to race away and touch down near the posts, giving Makinson an easy
conversion. From the kick-off, England were awarded a penalty, after Sam Tomkins
was tackled in the air. Samoa used the captain's challenge, and after a quick
review, the video referee agreed with the decision to award the penalty, meaning
the challenge was unsuccessful. Makinson opted to kick the penalty and was
successful, levelling the scores at 20�20 with just over 12 minutes remaining.
Stephen Crichton looked to have won it for Samoa with sven minutes to go, as he
intercepted a Dom Young pass to touch down under the posts, converting his own try.
There was more drama to come, as Farnworth got his second try of the game with two
minutes remaining, Makinson once again converting to take the game to extra time.
[17]

Samoa attempted to score the golden point with a drop goal early in extra time, but
it was charged down by England. Samoa eventually won the match after a forward pass
from Sam Tomkins gave them possession 35 metres out. Crichton kicked the winning
drop goal to send Samoa to their first World Cup final, making them the first team
other than England, Australia or New Zealand to reach the final in 50 years.[18]
Pre-match
Ticketing
As of 16 November, it was confirmed by tournament chief executive Jon Dutton, that
almost 64,000 tickets had been sold for the match. Dutton conceded that the match
will unlikely to sell-out the 74,310 capacity Old Trafford due to tournament hosts
England being eliminated in the second semi-final to Samoa. The 2013 final
attracted 74,468 fans, but the 2021 edition "will gross three times more" in
revenue due to increased ticketing and hospitality prices.[19] The final ended up
attracting 67,502 fans in attendence.[20]

Officiating

Ashley Klein officated the final.

Ashley Klein officiated the match as head referee; it was Klein's second World Cup
final, having also taken charge of the 2008 final in Brisbane. The touch judges
were Jack Smith and Warren Turley from the Rugby Football League, Gerard Sutton was
the reserve referee, and the video referee and captain's challenge duties were
undertaken by Chris Kendall and Grant Atkins respectively.[21]

Team selection
Australian named an unchanged line-up from their semi-final victory over New
Zealand.[22]

Fa'amanu Brown suffered a concussion in the semi-final against England, which saw
him miss the final for Samoa. Chanel Harris-Tavita replaced him at hooker in his
final rugby league match, with Connelly Lemuelu taking his place on the
interchange. Samoan captain Junior Paulo also escaped suspension for a dangerous
tackle on Thomas Burgess in the semi-final.[23]

James Tedesco and Junior Paulo captained their respective nations in the final.

Support
In the lead-up to the match, American actor and former professional wrestler Dwayne
Johnson posted on Instagram his support for the Samoan team, as it is their first
appearance in a World Cup final.[24] Johnson has Samoan heritage through his mother
and grew up playing rugby in his youth.[25] Tua Tagovailoa, the quarterback for the
Miami Dolphins in the National Football League, also shared his support for the
team.[26]

National Anthems
Australia National Anthem of Australia Emilia Bertolini
Samoa National Anthem of Samoa TBA
Women's final
Main article: 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup Final
The match was played as a double-header with the women's final between Australia
and New Zealand for the second time in the tournament's history, and the first time
in England.[27] Australia won the match 54�4.[28]

Entertainment

Kevin Sinfield during half-time at the final.

Heather Small, the former lead vocalist of the Manchester-based dance music band M
People, performed at half-time and full-time of the men's fixture, as well as
bringing out the women's trophy before that match.[29]

Former England captain Kevin Sinfield was welcomed into the stadium at half-time of
the match as he completed his Ultra 7 in 7 Challenge marathon raising awareness for
motor neuron disease. Sinfield has raised over �5 million for his efforts.[30]
Match
Summary
First half
Samoa started the match well with early pressure but Australia's strong defensive
performance laid the foundations and more than lived up to their billing as
overwhelming favourites.[31] Samoa were unlucky not to have been awarded a 40/20
kick, and despite a competitive start to the match, were hit by two tries in four
minutes;[32] Latrell Mitchell breaking the deadlock on 13 minutes before Josh Addo-
Carr and Liam Martin extended Australia's lead to 14�0 at half-time.[33]

Second half
After the break, Angus Crichton was sin-binned for an elbow that ruled out Chanel
Harris-Tavita for the remainder of the match with a head injury, but even with a
man down Australia added a fourth try through Cameron Murray.[33] Brian To'o scored
a consolation for Samoa to make it 20�6, before Tedesco and Stephen Crichton
exchanged tries prior to Mitchell rounding up the scoring with his second try in
the final minute.[33] The match finished 30�10 with Australia winning their 12th
title and third consecutive.[34]

Details
19 November 2022
16:00 GMT (UTC�00:00)
Australia 30�10 Samoa
Tries: Mitchell rugby ball 14', 80'
Tedesco rugby ball 18', 69'
Martin rugby ball 30'
Murray rugby ball 53'
Goals: Cleary 3/5 (19', 55', 70')
Addo-Carr 0/1
Report Tries: To'o rugby ball 61'
Crichton rugby ball 71'
Goals: Crichton 1/2 (63')
Old Trafford, Manchester
Attendance: 67,502
Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia)
Touch judges: Jack Smith (England), Warren Turley (England)
Player of the Match: James Tedesco (Australia)
FB 1 James Tedesco (c)
WG 4 Valentine Holmes
CE 10 Jack Wighton
CE 8 Latrell Mitchell
WG 9 Josh Addo-Carr
FE 7 Cameron Munster
HB 14 Nathan Cleary
PR 5 Jake Trbojevic
HK 3 Ben Hunt
PR 6 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
SR 21 Liam Martin
SR 17 Angus Crichton
LF 24 Isaah Yeo
Interchange:
IN 20 Harry Grant
IN 13 Patrick Carrigan
IN 11 Cameron Murray
IN 18 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
CS 2 Daly Cherry-Evans
Coach:
Australia Mal Meninga
FB 1 Joseph Sua'ali'i
WG 2 Taylan May
CE 25 Tim Lafai
CE 4 Stephen Crichton
WG 5 Brian To'o
FE 6 Jarome Luai
HB 7 Anthony Milford
PR 10 Junior Paulo (c)
HK 20 Chanel Harris-Tavita
PR 15 Royce Hunt
SR 12 Jaydn Su'a
SR 11 Ligi Sao
LF 13 Oregon Kaufusi
Interchange:
IN 22 Kelma Tuilagi
IN 8 Josh Papali'i
IN 16 Spencer Leniu
IN 17 Martin Taupau
CS 26 Ken Sio
Coach:
Australia Matt Parish
Statistics
First half
Statistic Australia Samoa
Tries 3 0
Conversions (attempts) 1 (3) 0 (0)
Penalty goals (attempts) 0 (0) 0 (0)
Field goals (attempts) 0 (0) 0 (0)
Possession
Possession �% �%
Minutes in possession � �
Completion rate �% �%
Attack
All runs � �
All run metres � �
Post contact metres � �
Line breaks � �
Tackle breaks � �
Average set distance � �
Kick return metres � �
Average ruck speed (sec) � �
Passing
Offloads � �
Receipts � �
Total passes � �
Dummy passes � �
Kicking
Kicks � �
Kicking metres � �
Forced drop outs � 0
Kick defusal �% �%
40/20 0 0
Bombs � �
Grubbers � �
Defence
Tackle efficiency �% �%
Tackles made � �
Missed tackles � �
Intercepts 0 �
Ineffective tackles � �
Negative play
Errors � �
Penalties conceded � �
Ruck infrigements � �
On report 0 0
Sin bins 0 0
Interchanges
Used � �
Head injury assessment 0 �
Reference: NRL Match Centre
Second half
Statistic Australia Samoa
Tries 3 2
Conversions (attempts) 2 (3) 1 (2)
Penalty goals (attempts) 0 (0) 0 (0)
Field goals (attempts) 0 (0) 0 (0)
Possession
Possession �% �%
Minutes in possession � �
Completion rate �% �%
Attack
All runs � �
All run metres � �
Post contact metres � �
Line breaks � �
Tackle breaks � �
Average set distance � �
Kick return metres � �
Average ruck speed (sec) � �
Passing
Offloads � �
Receipts � �
Total passes � �
Dummy passes � �
Kicking
Kicks � �
Kicking metres � �
Forced drop outs � 0
Kick defusal �% �%
40/20 1 0
Bombs � �
Grubbers � �
Defence
Tackle efficiency �% �%
Tackles made � �
Missed tackles � �
Intercepts 0 �
Ineffective tackles � �
Negative play
Errors � �
Penalties conceded � �
Ruck infrigements � �
On report 1 0
Sin bins 1 0
Interchanges
Used � �
Head injury assessment 0 �
Reference: NRL Match Centre
Overall
Statistic Australia Samoa
Tries 6 2
Conversions (attempts) 3 (6) 1 (2)
Penalty goals (attempts) 0 (0) 0 (0)
Field goals (attempts) 0 (0) 0 (0)
Possession
Possession 53% 47%
Minutes in possession 28:06 24:16
Completion rate 70% 72%
Attack
All runs 214 200
All run metres 1,949 1,471
Post contact metres 568 483
Line breaks 9 3
Tackle breaks 45 34
Average set distance 52.69 44.58
Kick return metres 240 69
Average ruck speed (sec) 3.28 3.62
Passing
Offloads 8 20
Receipts 391 371
Total passes 209 205
Dummy passes 14 8
Kicking
Kicks 17 15
Kicking metres 437 491
Forced drop outs 2 0
Kick defusal 50% 60%
40/20 1 0
Bombs 4 2
Grubbers 4 2
Defence
Tackle efficiency 82.31% 84.57%
Tackles made 307 318
Missed tackles 34 45
Intercepts 0 2
Ineffective tackles 32 13
Negative play
Errors 15 10
Penalties conceded 3 1
Ruck infrigements 2 3
On report 1 0
Sin bins 1 0
Interchanges
Used 7 7
Head injury assessment 0 2
Reference: NRL Match Centre

Tedesco post match interview

Tedesco with the MOTM award

Meninga post match interview

Parish post match

Junior Paulo post match interview

Tedesco celebrating victory with fans

Post-match
James Tedesco was named man of the match for Australia, scoring two tries in the
final.[35]

Broadcasting
In Australia, the match was broadcast live on Fox League, with kick-off starting at
03:00 AEDT (UTC+11:00). It had an audience of 151,000, with 51,000 watching the
pre-match coverage and 44,000 watching post-game.[36]

See also
2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup Final
2021 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup Final
References
"Full RLWC2021 fixture schedule announced". www.rlwc2021.com. Retrieved 22
November 2022.
"Kangaroos v Samoa: Australia unchanged; Harris-Tavita to hooker". National Rugby
League. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
Walter, Brad (26 August 2021). "New dates announced for rescheduled World Cup".
nrl.com. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
Walter, Brad (5 August 2021). "2021 World Cup officially postponed due to COVID-19
pandemic". nrl.com. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
"Rugby League World Cup to feature 16 teams in 2021". Sky Sports. 2 February 2016.
Retrieved 11 September 2016.
"Australia win epic World Cup final". 25 November 2000. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
"New Zealand 2 Australia 34: match report". Daily Telegraph. 30 November 2013.
Retrieved 2 December 2013.
"Manchester to host World Cup finals". BBC Sport. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 10
February 2022.
"Old Trafford extends Grand Final deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
"Old Trafford". premierleague.com. Premier League. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
"Manchester Sightseeing Bus Tours". Archived from the original on 16 July 2015.
Retrieved 15 July 2015.
"Halves impress as Australia beat Italy". National Rugby League. 29 October 2022.
Retrieved 22 November 2022.
"Addo-Carr bags five as Kangaroos march into semis". National Rugby League. 4
November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
"Australia Men's road to the Rugby League World Cup final". www.rlwc2021.com.
Retrieved 22 November 2022.
"May scores four as Samoa beat France to advance". National Rugby League. 30
October 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
"Samoa advance to semi-finals with thrilling win over Tonga". National Rugby
League. 6 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
"World Cup overnight: Samoa stun England; Paulo on report". National Rugby League.
12 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
"Samoa Men's road to the Rugby League World Cup final". www.rlwc2021.com.
Retrieved 22 November 2022.
Bower, Aaron (16 November 2022). "Jon Dutton provides ticket update for Rugby
League World Cup finals day". YorkshireLive. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
McAllister, Josh (19 November 2022). "Australia win Rugby League World Cup final
over Samoa in front of 67,502". LoveRugbyLeague. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
"Klein, Sharpe to referee World Cup deciders". National Rugby League. 16 November
2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
"Kangaroos name squad to face Samoa in World Cup Final". National Rugby League. 17
November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
"Lemuelu in for Brown as Samoa name squad for World Cup Final". National Rugby
League. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
Proszenko, Adrian (18 November 2022). "'Make history': The Rock urges Samoa to
take World Cup fight to Kangaroos". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22
November 2022.
 "Pacific Magazine: The Rock's Royal Homecoming". 27 September 2007. Archived from
the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
Pattison, Cam (19 November 2022). "NFL star quarter-back has message for Samoa
ahead of World Cup Final as star player enjoys heartwarming moment". Retrieved 22
November 2022.
"Jillaroos v Kiwi Ferns: Final teams confirmed for women's final". National Rugby
League. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
"Rugby League World Cup 2021". www.rlwc2021.com. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
"Iconic singer Heather Small to perform at Rugby League World Cup 2021 finals".
www.rlwc2021.com. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
"RLWC2021 Chief Executive to join Kevin Sinfield on epic ultra marathon".
www.rlwc2021.com. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
"Australia 30-10 Samoa: Kangaroos claim third consecutive World Cup with hard-
fought victory". BBC Sport. 19 November 2022. Archived from the original on 19
November 2022.
Laybourne, Ian (19 November 2022). "James Tedesco inspires Australia to Rugby
League World Cup glory against Samoa". The Independent. Archived from the original
on 19 November 2022.
Bower, Aaron (19 November 2022). "Australia retain Rugby League World Cup after
cruising past Samoa". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 November 2022.
Martin, Paul (19 November 2022). "Australia 30-10 Samoa: Talismanic Tedesco guides
Kangaroos to glory". rlwc2021.com. Old Trafford. Archived from the original on 19
November 2022.
"Tedesco and Meninga find the perfect formula for all-conquering Kangaroos".
www.rlwc2021.com. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
sportsindustry [@footyindustryAU] (20 November 2022). "Sunday RLWC Finals Men:
Aus/Samoa Foxleague 151,000 Womens: Foxleague 53,000 Pregame 51,000 Postgame 44,000
Data: Oztam" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 21 November 2022. Retrieved 2
December 2022 � via Twitter.
vte
2021 Rugby League World Cup
vte
Rugby League World Cup
vte
2022 in rugby league
Categories: Rugby League World Cup finals2022 in English rugby league2021 Rugby
League World CupSport in TraffordNovember 2022 sports events in the United Kingdom
This page was last edited on 29 December 2022, at 16:03 (UTC).
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0;
additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and
Privacy Policy. Wikipedia� is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation,
Inc., a non-profit organization.
Privacy policyAbout WikipediaDisclaimersContact WikipediaMobile
viewDevelopersStatisticsCookie statementWikimedia FoundationPowered by
MediaWikiToggle limited content width