IT was a little over 10 years ago that Australia and New Zealand contested a rugby league international on Warrington soil for the first and only time to date.
Some of the greatest players on the planet went to war in the Gillette Four Nations clash at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on October 28, 2011.
It was the series remembered as being the last hurrah for Australian captain Darren Lockyer, who retired after the final.
But there were plenty more superstars on show for their nations, with Jonathan Thurston a leading light for the Kangaroos along with man of the match Sam Thaiday.
For chunks of the game the two teams seemed to find it difficult to match the level of anticipation on an historic night that attracted a then record crowd for an international game in the town.
Lying on tactics at play-the-balls slowed the game down and spoilt some of the entertainment value but the fact that both sides were able to deliver an aggressive contest on this side of the world so soon after a long season in the NRL was a testament to the passion and professionalism of both teams.
Thurston’s ability to find the killer pass was enough to secure the Kangaroos a comfortable 16-point half-time lead, and though the Kiwis showed their mettle by fighting back in the second half, Australia found an extra gear to kill the match off in the final 10 minutes.
Australia had wasted no time in breaking the deadlock, Matthew Scott charging over from close range after Simon Mannering’s high tackle had gifted the Kangaroos a chance to attack the New Zealand line. Thurston slotted over the extras to make it 6-0 after just two minutes.
The Green and Golds had thrashed their neighbours 42-6 in Newcastle the previous week, but despite the early score there was no danger of that happening again as both sides demonstrated some superb defence.
As a result Australia’s second came almost half an hour later, but was a similar affair to the first as the imposing Tony Williams used brute strength to brush off two tackles and crash over. Thurston’s kick made it 12-0.
The Queensland half back looked to be the difference as the game wore on, his cutting edge ensuring Australia looked more likely to add to their total than concede.
So it proved just before half time, his short pass putting Williams through a gap before rushing to meet the return pass. Mannering went close to holding the Cowboys playmaker over the line, but Thurston twisted over before missing the conversion to leave it 16-0 at half time.
After a flat first half, it was a revitalised New Zealand that emerged from the dressing room after the break. They scored twice in 10 minutes to put themselves back in the frame, with Jason Nightingale landing the first blow when pouncing on a loose ball after Kieran Foran’s hanging cross-field kick.
The Kiwis had hit upon a productive method of attack and they used it again less than 10 minutes later to further reduce the deficit, with another fumbled high kick leading to Kalifa Faifailoa crossing. Marshall added both conversions to put New Zealand right back in it at 16-12.
But Australia were in no mood to let their lead slip any further.
First Darius Boyd finished a flowing passing move that involved Lockyer, Thurston and Chris Lawrence, before the impressive Akuila Uate got his fingertips to Billy Slater’s grubber kick to wrap up the match. Thurston added one of the conversion attempts to make the final score 26-12.
Australia: Billy Slater; Akuila Uate, Willy Tonga, Chris Lawrence, Darius Boyd; Darren Lockyer, Jonathan Thurston; Paul Gallen, Cameron Smith, Matthew Scott, Luke Lewis, Sam Thaiday, Anthony Watmough. Subs: Cooper Cronk, Keith Galloway, David Shillington, Tony Williams.
New Zealand: Kevin Locke; Kalifa Faifailoa, Lewis Brown, Gerard Beale, Jason Nightingale; Benji Marshall, Kieran Foran; Ben Matulino, Isaac Luke, Sam McKendry, Sika Manu, Simon Mannering, Jeremy Smith. Subs: Thomas Leuluai, Fuifui Moimoi, Alex Glenn, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
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