Australia 16-14 New Zealand records incredible attendance at Elland Road

Australia have booked their place in the Rugby League World Cup Final.

Chasing a third World Cup in a row, Mal Meninga’s side defeated ex-Wigan Warriors boss Michael Maguire’s New Zealand side 16-14 at Leeds United’s Elland Road tonight.

The Kiwis started strong, and took the lead through Jahrome Hughes after a Dylan Brown kick.

They would have been kicking themselves for not making more of their early pressure when a sublime try from Josh Addo-Carr as he showed immense pace to dash 40 metres to meet a floated Ben Hunt kick just at the right time to score.

Then a brilliant Jack Wighton offload saw the Australians move 10-8 up after a New Zealand penalty.

But it was the Kiwis who had the halftime lead when a break by Ronaldo Mulitalo and suppor from Brown saw the Kiwis take the lead 14-10.

They thought they’d added to it when Hiku scored from a high bomb but New Zealand were penalised for being offside.

Then after a bit of a brawl which involved Cameron Murray, the big loose-forward powered over for what would eventually be the winning try thanks to the fact Hiku again had a try denied when he grounded the ball on the touchline after another Hughes kick on a night where it just wasn’t to be.

A classic game it was adorned by the atmosphere as the locals truly got behind New Zealand especially at the end but it wasn’t to be.

The final attendance was 28,113 at Elland Road which is the second highest attendance after the opener between England and Samoa at 43,000.

It beats out England’s games against France and Papua New Guinea which were watched by 23,000 fans each whilst the game against Greece had a crowd of 18,000.