Kangaroos Win 2013 Rugby League World Cup!

Revenge is sweet.

For Tim Sheens, Billy Slater and his fellow Kangaroos, revenge was as sweet as the chocolate they would have gotten over the last minute in England, as they finally exorcised the demons of 2008 when they choked to a Kiwis side in the greatest upset ever in a World Cup Final right in front of their own fans in Brisbane. 

The Kangaroos delivered the sterling all-round display that on paper they were capable of playing on the occasion that mattered, vanquishing the previous reigning champions 34-2 in front of a big crowd at Old Trafford. 

The Kiwis may have had the best players in particular positions, i.e. Sonny Bill Williams, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Manu Vatuvei, but they were soundly beaten by a genuine star team. They didn't start too badly but they just came up against a determined Kangaroos side with sound defence and an attack that marched up the field time and time again. 

Then there was that moment when their star weapon, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck already not 100% fit - limped off; it was like a balloon had been poked by a needle, having been inflated by that incredible haka earlier in the game.

The Kangaroos have quietly gone about this tournament with big victories and keeping clean sheets but they've always consistently had the best international rugby league side. 

It's no wonder when you have players rolling off the academy lines back in Australia that their national side is so good. But this side featuring future legends of the game like Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater, Johnathan Thurston - who was Man of the Match deservedly so, and rugby league's answer to Dan Carter etc. deserved a world championship to their name like their predecessors back in 2000, and after 13 long years, the Kangaroos finally can call themselves at the end of 80 minutes, the champions of the world - without a shadow of doubt. 

Dejected

This has been easily the best edition of the Rugby League World Cup. It is a shame then, that the Final turned out to be so one-sided after some great games - and that it was probably ruined a bit by having such small in-goal areas at the home of Manchester United. 

Ok, they've held the Super League Grand Final here annually and it is truly one of the great sporting venues in the world - only Anfield is better than Old Trafford - but given this is a football ground most days of the year, the pitch was always going to be shorter than most rugby league fields and there was never going to be much room between the dead ball line and the advertising hoardings.

Surely a health and safety hazard then especially seeing the likes of Manu Vatuvei and Josh Morris holding their shoulders as they collided with the LED signs?

Old Trafford was a fantastic venue for the Final - shame about the in-goal areas

They got 70,000 here which at Wembley Stadium - a stadium desperately trying to increase its usage since it reopened in 2007, including getting two NFL games! - would still look very respectable for the game.

But for now, well done to International Rugby League for putting on a great tournament.

And congratulations to Australia - it's been a fallow couple of years for the lucky country in sport so this is one achievement our Tasman brothers should definitely cherish.