AUSTRALIA'S Jillaroos have broken New Zealands 13-year reign; winning the 2013 Rugby League World Cup at Headingly Stadium, UK, overnight.
Featuring a number of Queenslands top players and captained in the final by Karyn Murphy; the Jillaroos went into the halftime break level 8-8 with the previously undefeated Kiwi Ferns.
They went ahead early in the second half and then withstood a punishing period of play from New Zealand as they tried to get back into the game.
However, the Aussies stayed strong and finished all over their opponents running out winners 22 - 12.
This is Australia's first women's World Cup win and the first defeat ever for New Zealand.
This was a true team effort by all 23 players, Jillaroos coach Paul Dyer said.
We never gave up against a bigger and stronger team and in the end, wore them down with brilliant defence.
"We dedicate this win to Graham Murray our former coach who was struck down with illness just prior to the World Cup campaign.
Former Australian Kangaroos prop and current NRL ambassador Petero Civoniceva was full of congratulations for the Australian team.
Civoniceva is a fan of the womens game and addressed the Jillaroos players in their final training session before they flew out on their World Cup campaign earlier this month.
A big congratulations from me and from all our gang in the office at QRL HQ to the Jillaroos, Civoniceva said in a statement to QRL Media.
I sat up late and watched the website updates (to follow the match action).
IN other results; Australia has dominated rugby leagues Festival of the World Cups in the UK; winning four individual world cups with the Armed Forces, the Jillaroos, Student and Police teams all bringing home the gold.
Australias Police defeated the current World Champions, Fiji, 18-16 in a physical contest where the result was in doubt until the final siren.
Australia then lifted the World Cup trophy again with an excellent performance by the Armed Forces against New Zealand with a 32-22 win, impressing Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens watching on the sideline.
To cap off the tour, the Australia Students beat England 26-16 in the Student World Cup Final.
A full run-down of all games can be found on the Rugby League Festival of World Cups website: http://www.rlfowc2013.com/
Featuring a number of Queenslands top players and captained in the final by Karyn Murphy; the Jillaroos went into the halftime break level 8-8 with the previously undefeated Kiwi Ferns.
They went ahead early in the second half and then withstood a punishing period of play from New Zealand as they tried to get back into the game.
However, the Aussies stayed strong and finished all over their opponents running out winners 22 - 12.
This is Australia's first women's World Cup win and the first defeat ever for New Zealand.
This was a true team effort by all 23 players, Jillaroos coach Paul Dyer said.
We never gave up against a bigger and stronger team and in the end, wore them down with brilliant defence.
"We dedicate this win to Graham Murray our former coach who was struck down with illness just prior to the World Cup campaign.
Former Australian Kangaroos prop and current NRL ambassador Petero Civoniceva was full of congratulations for the Australian team.
Civoniceva is a fan of the womens game and addressed the Jillaroos players in their final training session before they flew out on their World Cup campaign earlier this month.
A big congratulations from me and from all our gang in the office at QRL HQ to the Jillaroos, Civoniceva said in a statement to QRL Media.
I sat up late and watched the website updates (to follow the match action).
IN other results; Australia has dominated rugby leagues Festival of the World Cups in the UK; winning four individual world cups with the Armed Forces, the Jillaroos, Student and Police teams all bringing home the gold.
Australias Police defeated the current World Champions, Fiji, 18-16 in a physical contest where the result was in doubt until the final siren.
Australia then lifted the World Cup trophy again with an excellent performance by the Armed Forces against New Zealand with a 32-22 win, impressing Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens watching on the sideline.
To cap off the tour, the Australia Students beat England 26-16 in the Student World Cup Final.
A full run-down of all games can be found on the Rugby League Festival of World Cups website: http://www.rlfowc2013.com/
