2022 Rugby League World Cup: Aotearoa Kiwi Ferns vs Australia Final Preview
Aotearoa Kiwi Ferns take on Australia in the Rugby League World Cup final and despite losing to the Aussies in their last group stage game, Aotearoa is well poised for RLWC glory. Aotearoa won three consecutive wahine RLWC from 2000 to 2008 before Australia won the last two tournaments and this lays out how women's rugby league has grown as Australia builds the best professional women's system.
The history of Kiwi Ferns success suggests that Aotearoa is the big donnie of women's rugby league. When these two teams met in the group stage, Australia rolled out a team full of NRLW talent and having the best wahine rugby league competition serves as a direct pipeline to the Australian national team. Aotearoa had Mele Hufanga, Abigail Roache and Christyl Stowers playing against Australia who have never played NRLW, which was amplified by Roache making her Test debut in the halves.
Aotearoa were better than Australia in phases of their previous encounter and consistently showed how their power can rip through Aussie defence. This went up a few notches against England as Aotearoa seemed to take confidence from their loss to Australia, building on the performance to dominate England.
Kiwi Ferns coach Ricky Henry has selected Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly on the wing ahead of Katelyn Vaha'akolo and Stowers is named on the bench ahead of Charlotte Scanlan. Vaha'akolo has been a steady presence on the wing for Kiwi Ferns while Stephens-Daly played a game in the halves.
Coach Henry may want more speed and flair on the wing outside Hufanga, plus Hufanga can drop back to receive kicks where her running ability shines. Hufanga did this a few times against England and along with Apii Nicholls showcasing her class at fullback, Aotearoa should be able to pounce on any mediocre kicking.
The right edge for Aotearoa also features Amber-Paris Hall and Raecene McGregor. Hufanga has been a surprise package for many and a funky wrinkle to RLWC footy, but everyone knows precisely how good Hall and McGregor are. Hall has averaged 100+ metres per game in all four of her NRLW campaigns (two championships), while McGregor won three consecutive NRLW championships and is the best player in the world.
Australia will be prepared for Aotearoa's right edge, although stopping this attacking flow is easier said than done. Hall has a nifty passing and offloading game which when combined with regular steam-rolling, offers variety in her play. Load up on Hall and she can pass to Hufanga, or Hall can be used as a decoy; Kiwi Ferns have deployed these tactics in their last two games.
Aotearoa's left edge is less trendy. Madison Bartlett starts on the wing, Page McGregor at centre and Roache is settling into the team as a half. Roxette Murdoch-Masila is again named to start at edge forward and Otesa Pule has come off the bench to play edge forward in the last two games. Pule offers size and mobility after Murdoch-Masila's gritty mahi.
Australia could target Roache in defence. Roache will be supported by her left edge homies who are all energetic and eager to rip in - especially Page McGregor. How Roache impacts the game in attack will also be interesting as Raecene McGregor has done most of the kicking and Australia will be prepared for that. Roache has a basic role to execute where she needs to make her tackles, kick if required and shift the footy.
The dynamic right edge opens space on the left edge. Aotearoa has scored points down their left edge by shifting the footy straight after making a break on the other side and this highlights the variety on offer for Kiwi Ferns. Shifting the footy requires passing and Georgia Hale's passing ability at lock is a key weapon for Aotearoa.
Hale also provides a defensive skillset that helps Kiwi Ferns lock down the middle. Hale made 221 tackles with 96.9 percent efficiency in the most recent season of NRLW and this put Hale second for most tackles behind Simaima Taufa. Taufa made 246 tackles with 89.8 percent efficiency and missed 28 tackles; Hale missed seven tackles.
Most importantly, Kiwi Ferns are fabulous through the middle and around the ruck. Nicholls' speed and power at fullback gives Kiwi Ferns momentum, which flows into Annetta Nu'uausala and Brianna Clark as props. Mya Hill-Moana comes off the bench and the selection of Stowers over Scanlan gives Kiwi Ferns a smaller, more mobile middle forward on the bench.
Krystal Rota is one of many world-class players in the Kiwi Ferns and her craft around the ruck amplifies Aotearoa's power. Rota has also been deployed as a middle forward when Nita Maynard enters the game and this may be a funky tactic to throw at Australia. Aotearoa's best footy comes with Rota at hooker though as she is fulcrum of Kiwi Ferns attacking movements.
Kiwi Ferns could be better than Australia and yet Test footy is quietly quirky, especially for a RLWC final. Being able to grind through set-for-set phases, offering attacking funk without making errors, conceding penalties and taking opportunities are all crucial aspects of big game footy. Along with the trendy talent, Kiwi Ferns have NRLW veterans who are also the best in the world for their positions and this class will be highly influential.
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