Leeds: A Cameron Murray-inspired Australia have survived an almighty scare from the Kiwis to book their place in next week’s Rugby League World Cup final at Old Trafford.
New Zealand went into half-time with a 14-10 lead and looked on track to deny Australia a spot in the final for the first time in 68 years.
Cameron Murray’s try sealed Australia a place in the World Cup final.Credit:Getty
However, the shell-shocked Kangaroos managed to drag themselves off the canvas to mount a comeback in the second half and claim a 16-14 victory at Elland Road on Saturday morning (AEDT).
While Nathan Cleary struggled to impose himself on the game, it was Murray who took matters into his own hands with his team trailing 14-10 midway through the second half.
The South Sydney captain instigated an all-in brawl to rev up his teammates, before scoring a determined individual try when he burst through Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Brandon Smith to score what turned out to be the match-winning try in front of a crowd of 28,113.
Cleary came into the semi-final under immense pressure to leave his mark on the team.
While very few can deny Cleary has transformed into the premier halfback in the NRL, his position in the Australian team was a topic of much conjecture.
Coach Mal Meninga threw down the challenge to Cleary during the week, asking his young halfback to take total control and ownership of a team oozing with big personalities and talent.
Things get heated in the World Cup semi-final.Credit:Getty
With his father, Ivan, and mother, Bec, watching on in the stands, Cleary couldn’t be accused of lacking effort, but he struggled to find the rhythm and confidence he displays most weeks in a Panthers jersey.
The Kiwis came into the game as the No.1 team in the world, but not even tournament organisers gave New Zealand a chance, booking them on a flight out of England the day after their semi-final.
World Cup organisers looked as though they could be left with egg on their faces at half-time, but a number of crucial errors from the Kiwis coming out of their own half denied them a chance to upset Australia.
It was the brilliance of Joseph Manu, who caught and instantly offloaded a cross-field kick from Dylan Brown, that paved the way for Jahrome Hughes to cross for the opening try of the game.
Against the run of play the Aussies hit back when Josh Addo-Carr took advantage of a complacent Jordan Rapana to snare a Ben Hunt bomb and dive over in the corner to equal the record for most tries (12) at a World Cup.
Angus Crichton and the Kangaroos celebrate after the full-time siren.Credit:Getty
The Kiwis broke the 6-6 deadlock with a penalty goal 15 minutes out from half-time, however Cleary’s quick thinking to run the ball on the last tackle allowed Jack Wighton to combine with Valentine Holmes to give Australia a 10-8 advantage.
On the stroke of half-time the New Zealanders caught Australia’s right edge napping as Ronaldo Mulitalo raced down the sideline to turn it back inside for Brown to send the Kiwis into the break with 14-10 lead.
Murray took it upon himself to ignite the Australians in the second half, instigating an all-in brawl after a Nathan Cleary fumble.
He then scored a determined individual try, running through Asofa-Solomona and Smith – the two players Australia identified as targets before the game – from a penalty tap 10 metres from the Kiwi line.
New Zealand’s chances were few and far between late in the game as Australia’s defence held on to cement a place in the final against the winner of Sunday morning’s (1.30am, AEDT) semi-final between England and Samoa.
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