Rugby League World Cup final as it happened: Australia vs Samoa live scores, updates, blog

The final is here! Follow it live. 👇

Published by

Jack Blyth

Scoreboard

Australia	vs	Samoa
30	Score	10
6	Tries	2
3	Conversions	1
0	Penalty goals	0
0	Field goals	0

Australia 30 (Mitchell 2, Tedesco 2, Murray, Martin tries; Cleary 3 goals) def. Samoa 10 (To'o, Crichton tries; Crichton 1 goal)

Updates

4:50am AEDT - From all of us here at Zero Tackle, thank you for tuning in as we've covered the Rugby League World Cup, LIVE in England. We'll see you very soon!

4:47am AEDT - FULL TIME! Australia have won their third consecutive World Cup! A vocal English crowd rooting for Samoa could only watch as the Kangaroos notched an impressive 30-10 victory.

4:45am AEDT - TRY! He scored the first, and now Latrell Mitchell will score the last try of the match as the siren sounds in the background.

It's ANOTHER try-assist for Nathan Cleary as Stephen Crichton's attempted intercept is in vein, leaving Mitchell with wide-open space to score the final try of the World Cup.

Josh Addo-Carr steps up for the conversion but sprays the attempt.

4:43am AEDT - James Tedesco has been announced as the Player of the Match, however play has stopped as a streaker enters the fray!

4:42am AEDT - Spencer Leniu nearly bursts through the line on fourth tackle, only to be chopped down metres short. Jarome Luai's grubber is an absolute shocker as Angus Crichton dives on the ball.

4:40am AEDT - The Kangaroos put the ball down on halfway, the clock is Samoa's worst enemy now.

4:35am AEDT - TRY! Stephen Crichton has ANOTHER intercept! Ben Hunt darts out of dummy-half and Crichton, at marker, picks off the pass and runs 40 metres to keep Samoa's dreams alive here.

Crichton's kick is waved away, leaving the score at 26-10.

4:32am AEDT - TRY! That should just about wrap this one up! Nathan Cleary catches the ball on the right-hand side of the ruck, throws it long left back to Cameron Munster who fires a ball back inside for James Tedesco, who races 20 metres to score his second.

Cleary slots it ten metres in from the sideline, and Australia have a 26-6 advantage with ten minutes to play.

4:30am AEDT - Brian To'o takes a towering Cleary bomb metres out from his own line, and gets crunched by Latrell as soon as he hits the turf. Samoa forced to kick 25 metres from their own line, though Milford's boot finds the grass.

4:28am AEDT - Australia fire a pass out left right on halfway as To'o dives on the bouncing ball. The crowd is right behind Samoa as they make inroads towards Australia's try-line.

4:24am AEDT - TRY! Samoa are on the board! A long cut-out pass from Jarome Luai has Mitchell racing up for the intercept though misses the ball, landing in the lap of Kelma Tuilagi.

The Manly-bound back-rower draws Addo-Carr and sends Brian To'o in untouched.

Stephen Crichton's conversion sails over the black dot as the crowd erupt, 20-6 lead to Australia.

4:22am AEDT - NO TRY! Crichton loses possession in-goal, handing Samoa a seven-tackle set. A chance gone begging for Australia, it looks like Addo-Carr could've simply passed the ball to the Roosters forward instead of the grubber.

4:21am AEDT - We're heading upstairs! Josh Addo-Carr darts down the left touchline and boots the ball back inside for Angus Crichton, however the back-rower may have lost possession before planting it down.

4:21am AEDT - Samoa drop the ball on halfway as the Old Trafford crowd is confirmed to be 67,502.

4:18am AEDT - Harry Grant is held up over the line as Angus Crichton re-enters the fray.

Australia give away a penalty in possession to get Samoa out of trouble.

4:17am AEDT - Australia earn a penalty ten metres out from Samoa's line after Stephen Crichton takes out Nathan Cleary's legs moments after booting a spiralling bomb.

The Kangaroos are taking the tap here.

4:14am AEDT - TRY! Cameron Murray has his fourth try in his last three games here after Cleary puts him through a yawning gap 30 seconds after Munster strips Samoa one-on-one. The back-rower flys past Anthony Milford to score the Kangaroos fourth.

Cleary's conversion is good, pushing the lead to 20-0.

4:11am AEDT - Samoa scramble on the last but the kick goes dead, handing the Kangaroos a seven-tackle set.

They won't use the tackles though, as Latrell Mitchell puts it down right on halfway. Samoa really need to capitalise while Crichton is in the bin.

4:09am AEDT - A chance for Samoa goes begging as Joseph Suaalii bobbles the ball as he looks to pass it.

Patrick Carrigan does the same a few plays later, leaving Samoa with some crucial field position.

4:07am AEDT - SIN BIN! Crichton is sent for ten minutes as Harris-Tavita is helped off the field, leaving Samoa without a recognised hooker. It looks like Anthony Milford is the stop-gap out of dummy-half.

4:04am AEDT - Angus Crichton finds Valentine Holmes with a short-pass, however the winger drops the ball cold. Replays show a raised forearm from Crichton towards attempted tackler Chanel Harris-Tavita, who's struggling on the turf.

Angus may be in some strife here.

4:02am AEDT - Suaalii's quick hands to Lafai sends Taylan May racing down the touchline, however Liam Martin and Harry Grant bump the Panthers' winger into touch.

3:59am AEDT - We're back underway here for the second-half as Australia squabble an attacking chance on Samoa's line via a Tedesco bobble. Australia compound the error with a penalty, handing Samoa a set 60 metres out.

3:44am AEDT - HALF TIME! The Kangaroos carry a handy 14-0 lead into the sheds as Samoa breathe a big sigh of relief that the lead isn't blown out further. Join us here in about 15 minutes as we resume play for the second-half!

3:43am AEDT - The Kangaroos drive Samoa back into the in-goal on their first tackle, however there isn't enough time on the clock for play to resume.

3:41am AEDT - Another error for Brian To'o as the winger makes an error playing the ball 25 metres out from his own line. Some more crucial field position for Australia coming up.

3:37am AEDT - Spoke too soon! Taylan May darts down the left-hand touchline after Tim Lafai draws Addo-Carr, finding Jarome Luai, however the five-eighth's offload is flung into touch.

3:36am AEDT - Samoa are working overtime to get out of trouble, but the Kangaroos are rushing up in defence. Toa Samoa don't have much breathing room here.

3:33am AEDT - TRY! The Penrith back-rower gets the green light to extend the Kangaroos lead.

Nathan Cleary's kick has the distance, but not the accuracy as it sails right of the posts. 14-0 Australia lead.

3:32am AEDT - We're going upstairs - Liam Martin may have scored Australia's third. The ref has given it no-try on the field, let's see what Chris Kendall says in the video referee box.

3:29am AEDT - Chanel Harris-Tavita looks to score Samoa's first, however the retiring half is held up. They swing it left the next play, only for Anthony Milford to lose it into Jack Wighton's hands. Samoa were looking good for a moment.

3:28am AEDT - Samoa get lucky as Cameron Munster's long-kick takes a fortunate bounce for the pacific nation, and brushes the corner post. Seven-tackle set coming up.

3:26am AEDT - Latrell Mitchell goes so close to an early double, however the centre loses the ball before planting it down. Get out of jail free card for Samoa here as they work it out of their own end.

3:25am AEDT - The Kangaroos have a repeat set after a fortunate bounce in-goal sees Stephen Crichton bat it dead. They're building pressure superbly here.

3:23am AEDT - Australia smell blood in the water here. Brian To'o leaps high for a bomb however it slips through the bread basket, handing the Kangaroos a scrum just metres out from Samoa's line.

3:19am AEDT - TRY! After completing their set after points, Josh Addo-Carr bursts through Oregon Kaufusi and Jarome Luai's attempted tackles, finds open space and draws Suaalii to set James Tedesco away under the posts.

Cleary can throw this one over, 10-0 to the Kangaroos.

3:15am AEDT - TRY! Latrell Mitchell is ready to rumble as he bursts onto a Nathan Cleary short-pass, dummies to Addo-Carr and bumps off Joseph Suaalii to score the opener.

Nathan Cleary's conversion attempt falls short, Australia lead 4-0.

3:12am AEDT - What a break! Milford gives away a seven-tackle set with a deep kick, however Wighton tackles a quick tap and unleashes Valentine Holmes, who runs all the way to Samoa's 20 metre line. The underdogs hold out the Kangaroos, but ben Hunt's boot earns them repeat set.

3:09am AEDT - Australia's scramble in defence saves them as Joseph Suaalii is tackled on the last, metres out from the try-line.

3:08am AEDT - Massive error for Australia as Ben Hunt is pulled up for a forward pass out of dummy-half on the 50 metre line. Massive opportunity for Samoa.

3:06am AEDT - Samoa are really making inroads into Australia's pack here. Samoa bat back a Jarome Luai bomb on the left and immediately swing right, into the hands of Stephen Crichton but his kick ahead is too long. Seven-tackle set for Australia!

3:04am AEDT - It's end-to-end stuff as Australia and Samoa go back and forth here. Controversy here as a near-40/20 from Anthony Milford looks to bounce out, but James Tedesco saves the day. The referee misses his foot on the touch line!

3:00am AEDT - Kick-off is here as Joseph Suaalii looks to get us underway. Goosebumps after Samoa's Siva Tau ahead of the first EVER World Cup final. Let's go!

2am (AEDT)
Hello, Good morning and welcome to Zero Tackle's live coverage of the 2022 Rugby League World Cup, with Australia set to take on Samoa here at Old Trafford in Manchester.

The game will be kicking off in about an hour's time, and we will have the final team lists for you shortly.

Australia

1 James Tedesco (c)

6 Reagan Campbell-Gillard

17 Angus Crichton

21 Liam Martin

24 Isaah Yeo

18 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui

13 Patrick Carrigan

11 Cameron Murray

20 Harry Grant

2 Daly Cherry-Evans (18th man)

Samoa

25 Tim Lafai

7 Anthony Milford (c)

15 Royce Hunt

20 Chanel Harris-Tavita

10 Junior Paulo (c)

11 Ligi Sao

12 Jaydn Su'A

26 Ken Sio (18th man)

The final match of the Rugby League World Cup is here, with Australia to take on Samoa at the famous Old Trafford in Manchester.

Zero Tackle will cover the game live from 3am (AEDT).

Australia come into the final, set to play their 15th straight Rugby League World Cup final, having only ever missed the 1954 edition's big dance.

They have also won the tournament an unprecedented 11 times, and will be red-hot favourites to make it number 12 here.

Samoa, on the other hand, lost to England in the opening game of this year's World Cup, but otherwise have been neat faultless, beating Tonga in the quarter-finals and England in the semi-finals to advance to what may well be the biggest sporting moment in history for the small island nation.

Refresh the page for live score and commentary updates below from 3am (AEDT).

Published by

Jack Blyth

2 years ago