Tedesco leads Kangaroos to World Cup glory against Samoa
Australia have defended their World Cup title in style with a 30-10 win over Samoa at Old Trafford.
With skipper James Tedesco and centre Latrell Mitchell claiming doubles, and halves Nathan Cleary and Cameron Munster all class, the Kangaroos scored six tries to two in front of 67,502 fans at the Theatre of Dreams.
The Kangaroos were first to strike after a clever grubber by Ben Hunt forced a line dropout and on the ensuing set Mitchell powered through Brian To'o and Joseph Suaali'i to make it 4-0 after 14 minutes.
The Kangaroos celebrate their World Cup win (Getty Images)
Just four minutes later the Kangaroos were in again when Josh Addo-Carr exploded into space and found Tedesco in support for a 10-0 lead.
Mitchell went within inches of adding a second try in the 25th minute but some desperate Samoa defence denied the Rabbitohs star.
With Harry Grant scheming out of dummy half the Kangaroos extended their lead on the half hour mark when the Storm rake put Liam Martin in for his fourth try of the tournament.
Down 14-0 Samoa continued to chance their arm and created space on the left for Jarome Luai but he was shut down by Tedesco in cover defence.
Samoa dug deep on their own line late in the half to hold the Kangaroos at bay in a defensive stance that ensured they were still in the hunt at the break.
A big moment arrived in the 47th minute when Angus Crichton was sin binned for 10 minutes after raising his elbow and making contact with the head of Chanel Harris-Tavita, who was forced off for a HIA.
Latrell Mitchell scored two tries (Getty Images)
Samoa immediately mounted pressure and Suaali'i found space on the left but the final pass went astray.
Mistakes by Pat Carrigan and Mitchell heaped more pressure on the undermanned Kangaroos but Cameron Munster came up with a trademark strip on Spencer Leniu to ease the pressure.
That play by Munster gave Australia the field position to cross for a fourth try when Nathan Cleary went to the line and delivered a sweet ball for Cameron Murray to surge into a hole and the defending champions led 20-0.
Some brilliant footwork and a great cut-out pass by Luai opened the door for To'o on the right wing and Samoa had their first of the night in the 61st minute. Crichton converted from wide out to make it 20-6.
With 12 minutes remaining the Kangaroos put the result out of reach when Munster delivered an inside pass to a flying Tedesco for the skipper to make it a double. Cleary's conversion made it 26-6.
Brian To'o crosses for Samoa's first try (Getty Images)
An intercept by Stephen Crichton in the 71st minute gave Samoan fans another chance to celebrate as the Panthers star continued his stellar tournament.
From there the Kangaroos were able to close the game down and they put the finishing touches on their third consecutive World Cup title when Mitchell slid in for his second try in the final minute.
