2013 World Cup Final - Australia vs New Zealand

Hayne certainly wasn't better than Thurston IMO. He didn't defend particularly well and one of the tries he supposedly created was off a dropped ball that he luckily got a foot to. If you're going to say Thurston gets credit where he shouldn't, you certainly can't award Hayne with creating that try. For one thing the creation was primarily Papalii and Morris, not Hayne who muffed the easy grab but luckily got a foot on it as it was falling. I doubt you'd be giving Thurston plaudits if he'd got a foot to the one he dropped and it resulted in a try. Good effort yeah but he didn't create it by any means.

 

Really? I thought Thurston setting up the first try in both halves was more important than anything Hayne did. Particularly the second one 40 seconds after half time which sealed the game for Australia. In the context of the match those two seem to me a lot more important.

 

Nah not really IMO. His technique for the most part was terrible. He seems to prefer tripping people rather than tackling them. Cumberland throw is his go. Pretty much the only one-on-one tackle he made all night was ineffective and he knocked himself out.

And he and Morris were caught short and in-field a number of times. NZ just couldn't string the passes together. They probably should've scored twice down our right side. He wasn't Nathan Merritt bad or anything but he wasn't very good either. I'm certainly hoping, and I think it's rather likely to happen under Daley, that Hayne is picked at right centre to mark Inglis in Origin next year.

 

Certainly were. You blokes just couldn't get into any kind of rhythm. Play-the-ball speed was so much quicker for the Kangaroos and the big Kiwi forwards just couldn't keep up.

 

Inglis broke his thumb apparently.

 

That might change pretty soon. Slater is backing Thurston for the Golden Boot and I wouldn't be surprised if he wins it. Thurston was awarded the Harry Sunderland medal for Australian player of the year. Also voted Player's Player in the final.