Australia turned it on when it counted. They played excellent football. Brent Tate was outstanding on the right edge, and poor old Sammy Perrot had a defensive shocker. Matt Scott rolled them forward brilliantly. Can't say enough good things about that Australian performance really. They were a cut above.
The only disappointing point from an Australian perspective is the antics of Sam Thaiday. Seriously, lying on the ground as if you've been shot by an AK-47 to the back of the head repeatedly at close range, and then getting taunted for being a fake by the opposition, and then miraculously jumping to your feet fully healed ready for a bit of biffo is an extremely dumb act. I couldn't understand why Matt Bowen did it in earlier in the year for the Cowboys against the Raiders where as soon as the ref went to the video ref Bowen practically got up and did a dance like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever, and I don't understand why Thaiday did it either. It cheapens the game. It's a tough game. You don't fake crap out there. The opposition know it, your own team mates know it, it just makes you look like a total douche bag. Also in the douche bag category, Andrew Voss. How much does it cut you that the Kiwis are the World Champions? What a bollocks piece of commentary "The Kiwis haven't beaten Australia since so they can't call themselves World Champions". Really? Because I think that trophy in the NZRL cabinet begs to differ. You can say Australia are the best team going around, but they aren't World Champions.
I don't think the Kiwis are without a chance. It's a pity Pritchard is injured, but perhaps it gives a chance for Lewis Brown who is very tenacious and often creates chances from nothing for the Warriors. They just need to tighten up their control, through turnovers, penalties etc they just allowed Australia to get 3-4-5 sets in a row at times and that will destroy you against a team with such attacking prowess.
