Rugby League World Cup Tips - Australia v New Zealand

The final many expected is upon us with pre-tournament favourites Australia and New Zealand squaring off in the World Cup final for the first time since 2013 at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday night.

Best Bet

Australia -2.5

Line

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$1.95

Most expected Australia and New Zealand to meet in the final of the World Cup and even after stellar showings from Tonga and Samoa, it has come to pass five weeks after the two nations opened the World Cup in Sydney with a barnburner.

Australia won that clash 24-22 despite being comprehensively outplayed by New Zealand, setting the respective tones for each team during the World Cup.

Kevin Walters has rightly been lambasted for some inane selections and a complete lack of tactical nous as the Kangaroos stumbled through pool play before they held their nerve and let Samoa shoot themselves in the foot in the semi. It was Australia’s best performance but one exacerbated by the embarrassing ill-discipline of Samoa. The importance of the game though certainly brought out Australia’s best.

New Zealand have certainly looked much better to the eye, particularly with Kalyn Ponga at the back. The Kiwis really have not been pushed at all after the Australian loss.

As seen in the opener though – a game that certainly meant more to New Zealand than to Australia – there is more to a game of football than a team being visually pleasing and in this one history weighs heavily on a Kiwi team that has often been oh-so-close but has only got across the line once.

The Kangaroos have won 11 of the last 13 World Cups and have lost just one World Cup game since 1995.

Australia have won 10 of the last 12 against the Kiwis and simply have the better team.

The Kangaroos have won 33 of 36 Tests and won eight of their last 10 Tests by double digits.

Australia are actually an astoundingly good price, one completely inflated by recency bias.

Same Game Multi

Under 41.5/Jack Bostock Try/Reece Walsh Try

Same Game Multi

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$11.17

The last three World Cup finals have finished on 40 points or fewer while four of the last six between these two have totalled 32 or less.

Jack Bostock is enjoying a tremendous rookie campaign with the Kangaroos with two hat-tricks in his first three Tests before scoring the final try in the semi-final win over Samoa.

Reece Walsh has nine tries in his six Tests dating back to last year’s Ashes series, loving his time in the green and gold.

Value Bet

Jacob Preston

To Score A Try

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$3.90

Jacob Preston has been an absolute revelation this tournament, showing himself to be more than up to international level during his rookie tournament. In a niggly, hard-fought affair against Samoa, Preston was in the middle of anything, showing class with the ball and proving he would not be intimidated in any way. He has scored in his last three and he will be spotting up Kodi Nikorima all night. Preston has 19 tries in 42 games for the Bulldogs the last two seasons so knows his way to the tryline.

Editor-In-Chief

Frankie McDonald

Frankie has spent more than two decades working in the Australian wagering industry and is widely regarded for his expertise in AFL, NRL and horse racing tips.