4N Final - AUS v NZ - Anfield // Monday 1:30 AM (AEDT) 3:30AM (NZDT)

[Last Week]

Not the best tournament to end the 4Nations on.

The Kiwis haven't been good since the ANZAC test last year. This performance was coming and I don't think it's fair that the blame rests solely at Kidwells feet.

 

[Cloudsurfer]

The kiwis have only won a single game in the 3 they have they have played. An NRL team could not get anywhere near the grand final winning 1 in 3 games

Its not even remotely close to the same thing. The same situation couldn't possibly happen

Wasn't my point.
Anyway, they won (plus a draw) which brought them in 2nd & gives them a play-off with 1st (a chance to win the 4 Nations).
I never said its fair, its just how it is.

 

[GoTheBroncs]

That NZ drew with Scotland and could still win this tournament still blows my mind.

 

[adamkungl]

NZ deserve a thrashing here. Anything less from Australia would be a massive choke.

 

[Stallion]

NZ deserve a thrashing here. Anything less from Australia would be a massive choke.

This final will be close.

Some aspects like field dimensions will be at play and a wake up call like no other from the Scotts (Scotland did play very well in trying conditions) will impact on this final.

Hope its a good game! Think it will be. After all it is rugby league!

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Australia to score the first couple of tries, NZ to score one to keep it close, Bromwich to lament their slow starts in the halftime interview. Dour second half, Australia wins comfortably in a game where the score looks closer than the match.

The 91m field could keep the teams a little closer. The biggest difference between the sides has been the kicking games and a shorter field negates that slightly.

My fear is that the shortened field will lead to a shortened 10m and it will become a dour slog.

 

[roughyedspud]

Its gonna pissdown all day sunday,there a atlantic depression on its way

 

[kiwileaguefan]

36,000 tickets sold as of yesterday

 

[Bobby DIGital]

That NZ drew with Scotland and could still win this tournament still blows my mind.

We were like 2 mins from losing to Samoa in 2014 and we went on to win the tournament....undefeated.

It's possible, but very unlikely considering the backline we've got at the moment. It will be our greatest upset tournament win if we pull this off.

 

[adamkungl]

Gus is sooking about the field dimensions and responding like a child to anyone who disagrees with him. Typical Gus on IntRL

 

[adamkungl]

TV Guide is saying this is on 9HD rather than GEM (as advertised)

 

[flamin]

Gus is sooking about the field dimensions and responding like a child to anyone who disagrees with him. Typical Gus on IntRL

The media whinging about the size of the field are completely missing the point. A quick search on Wikipedia shows that besides Twickenham and Wembley all the other large sized grounds in England are principally soccer stadiums where you're going to encounter the same issues.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_stadiums_in_the_United_Kingdom_by_capacity

 

[adamkungl]

It really doesn't matter much. RL is going to have to be sightly flexible on these things to expand internationally into places where parks are designed based on other entrenched sports.

 

[siv]

It really doesn't matter much. RL is going to have to be sightly flexible on these things to expand internationally into places where parks are designed based on other entrenched sports.

RL rules allow for these adjustments

20m to 50m zones can be reduced

Biggest issue with the modern soccer venues is the way the pitch drops off

 

[Jim from Oz]

Why does this occur?

 

[deluded pom?]

Its gonna pissdown all day sunday,there a atlantic depression on its way

Typical fookin' Lancashire weather. No wonder you all have webbed feet.

 

[deal.with.it]

Thing is, because aus and nz wanted to increase the in goals the field had to be reduced. In goals would have been small but within the rules.

 

[undertaker]

Weather is currently forecast to be cloudy/7 degrees at kickoff.

Good to see tournament organisers have moved away from Elland Road (which has always hosted the tri/four-nations final in the UK since 2004) and taking a punt on a larger venue.

And regarding the small ingoals for RL matches played in the UK, I know this was an issue during the 2013 RLWC (especially the final at Old Trafford, and the fence was very close to the dead ball line). My proposal would be to cover and put padding on the fences on those ends of the field (like the padding used on the fences at baseball games) as well as on the gutter/concrete strip separating the grass from the fence.

 

[Foreign Legion]

Liverpool coach been hand a kiwi shirt after the haka

 

[The Partisan]

TV Guide is saying this is on 9HD rather than GEM (as advertised)

Yep ...it is ! Just set it up to record !!! Thanks for the heads up AK !