Australian media slam ‘embarrassing’ Kangaroos after 30-0 defeat to Kiwis

Australia might be world champions of our sport but they’ve just succumbed to their heaviest ever defeat in the Pacific Cup final against rivals New Zealand, with the Kiwis running out 30-0 victors and that defeat has sent Australian fans and media into a frenzy.

The Kangaroos even defeated their rivals just last week by a score of 36-18, however in front of a home crowd in Hamilton the Kiwis put on an incredible display of rugby league to hand Australia their worst ever defeat.

Head coach Mal Meninga reacted post match: “Everyone loves to see us lose and we’ve done that.

“We’ve made everyone happy. Obviously (the result) will shock the rugby league world in the manner we lost and the score line, but we will come back with redemption at the end of next year.

“We made heaps of errors. That is a reflection of how New Zealand played. They were the better side and deserved their victory.”

It wasn’t just Meninga who was clearly unhappy with the result but the Australian media too, with former player turned pundit Greg Alexander labelling the loss as an “embarrassing result for rugby league”.

Rugby League Commentator for SEN Sam Hewat took to X stating: “The Kiwis have completely bullied the Kangaroos. I know we’ve won some pretty big games in the past, but this has to be one of the most dominant performances of recent memory. And this is by no means an under strength Australian team.”

Fans went even further than just crediting New Zealand for their dominant win, some taking to social media to suggest it’s the end of an era and that Meninga’s 26 game reign as head coach should end.

One posted: “You always know a team has been smashed when they tweet either ‘Final’. Or ‘Full Time’. End of an Era for the Kangaroos – many of those players have played their last match at the international level. I’m looking at you James.”

Another was more scathing: “you know what to do…get rid of Mal Meninga at head coach, he is a liability at this point.”

Australian legend Cooper Cronk spoke on the Fox coverage referencing Meninga’s long tenure and the possibility of complacency, stating: “Under Mal, they’ve played 26 games and that’s only his third loss as Australian coach. He’s had a lot of success that the playing group has probably been used to.

“It was a dominant NZ performance, but maybe there was a little bit of complacency after last week.”