Five weeks of fantastic rugby league finishes at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon when the reigning Rugby League World Cup champions Australia take on Samoa in the final of the competition at the home of the Super League Grand Final.
We are used to dreams being made and shattered at this famous venue and these two teams head to Manchester with their eyes on one thing and one thing only – to be crowned world champions which would be for the 12th time. Samoa are looking to win it for the first time.
Where to watch
The match will be shown live and in full on the BBC One channel. The build-up at Old Trafford begins at 3.30pm and kick off comes along at 4pm.
Australia
We wondered heading into their semi-final with New Zealand whether Australia could rise to the challenge if they were tested having largely been untested throughout their group campaign and the quarter final. We got an emphatic answer as the Kangaroos came out on top in one of the best rugby league matches that has been staged on these shores. They took everything New Zealand had and more and still found a way to win.
That means that Australia have ticked every box heading into this final. We know they will handle the occasion and we know they have the players to win this title so now for them it is all about handling the expectation and the pressure of a final. Australia have the best attack in the competition and they have the pack to get those players into scoring position so if their defence holds up like it did against New Zealand Australia are going to be hard to beat.
Samoa
When you consider where Samoa were after their opening match in this tournament, to be here in the final and looking like they can put up enough of a challenge to win the trophy speaks volumes about the character in their camp. Since that battering at the hands of England, Samoa have improved week on week and in the two knockout matches they have answered a lot of questions that were asked of them.
Tonga threw everything at them in an emotional game but the big players Samoa have came to the party when it mattered and then England wouldn’t let go in the semi-final last week but Samoa played the big moments well and came out on top in extra time. You feel that Samoa need a good start here. If they get it and they are in touch at half time then they will know they have NRL champions in their squad who know how to get the job done.
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Team News
Australia coach Mal Meninga has chosen to go with the same squad that overcame New Zealand in that epic semi-final which means that once again Daly Cherry Evans will be utilised from the bench rather than the starting 13.
Samoa will be forced into one change for this match as Matt Parish will be without Fa’manu Brown who filed the concussion protocols in the win over England last week. Chanel Harris-Tavita will be the main who fills that void.
Betting
I expect Australia to win this match. I think they are just that little bit better in all of the key areas but we can’t ignore the fact that Samoa have a number of NRL champions in their ranks here and if 2-3 of them turn up and play, particularly the likes of Jarome Luai, then Samoa can certainly make this final intriguing and competitive. Samoa have improved with every week that goes on and if they have saved a little bit more for the final week then they are worthy of winning this event.
Australia were given a right good challenge by New Zealand last week which they came out the right side of and Samoa are very similar in makeup in that they have an elite full-back of their own, two wonderful wingers and a half-back pairing who can control the game. The difference is Samoa have power in the forwards so while I expect Australia to be challenged hard here but come out the right side, I don’t expect this to be a final where they run riot. Samoa getting 20 on the start feels like a score or two too many and actually disrespects them. I’ll take Samoa with the handicap.
Tips
Back Samoa (+20) to beat Australia for a 3/10 stake at 2.00 with Sky Bet
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