It probably was not the scoreline many would have been expecting but it did highlight the dominance of the Australian Kangaroos side, as they walloped the New Zealand Kiwis in the grand final, finishing up with a 34-2 win.
It was a masterclass from the Australians and a solid all round team performance, with man-of-the-match Johnathan Thurston producing a stellar display, leading from the front.
It is the Aussies’ 10th World Cup crown and it helped to ease the pain of their 2008 defeat, as they put on a show in front of just over 74,000 people in Manchester.
Using the 2008 loss as motivation to win this years World Cup, Australian skipper Cam Smith said it was a complete team performance by the side.
“I made the comment on the field that I can’t remember the last time I played in such a complete game for an Australian side,” Smith said.
“We have been preparing for this for the last four weeks. We have played simple and tough footy.
“I may have told a little white lie in the build-up when I said this didn’t mean too much from 2008.
“But standing out on the field after the match I think a little bit of the disappointment from 2008 was erased.”
Coach Tim Sheens was also extremely pleased, describing it as the best win since he has been coach.
“The seniority in the team really stood up,” he said.
Rather than make excuses, Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney was honest in his assessment – his side was thoroughly out played by a better side.
“I just think Australia’s performance today was nothing short of outstanding,” Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney said.
“They gave us a real lesson.”
There were a few injuries out of the game, with Kiwis winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck re-injuring the same leg he did in the semi final, Greg Inglis suffering ligament damage to his thumb, as well as a couple of other niggling knocks.