Australian Rugby League welcomed in their new centenary with a comfortable win over their trans-Tasman rivals, New Zealand. Despite the event was hosted for a celebration, it was unfortunately over shadowed by the death of Australian “super coach” Jack Gibson. However, both sides managed to entertain the thirty-four thousand that turned up at the SCG with Australia dominating the first half with a 22-0 lead at half time. The highlight of the half, the match and so far the second centenary, was Mark Gasnier’s first try when Thurston’s kick looked to be going dead in-goal. Israel Folau jumped from the in-goal into the air, threw the ball back over his head on the bounce whilst in the air and fell out of play before Gasnier caught the footy in-goal and firmly placed it down to score a magnificent first try for Australia.
The game would have been a classic, had New Zealand turned up before half time. Australia’s dominance in the first half was way too much for the kiwis to come back from despite a spirited second half display in which they won 6-12.
But for me, my attention was focused on the body language of Wayne Bennett and Stephen Kearney. From what I saw being picked up by Channel Nine’s camera’s inside the dressing rooms and during the match, it seemed Bennett was doing the coaching. It was he who was shouting the odds during half time while Bennett watched on. Kearney still didn’t show any emotion during the game either and to me, it seems that Kearney is the front man releasing the pressure of the press off Bennett. I may be wrong, but that seems the impression to me.
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