League: Morley and Noble tip Australia triumph

LEEDS, England - Great Britain hard man Adrian Morley has tipped Australia to continue their proud international record and win Sunday's Tri-Nations rugby league final against New Zealand at Elland Road, Leeds.

The forward, who holds the unique distinction of featuring in premiership victories on opposite sides of the world, says the Kangaroos solid defence will come up trumps against the cavalier Kiwis.

"When the Kiwis throw the ball about they can be very dangerous," warned Morley, who won an NRL title with the Sydney Roosters in 2002 and claimed this year's English Super League crown with Bradford.

"Maybe the Kiwis will throw caution to the wind, I don't know.

"They'll still take Australia on up the middle because they're very physical.

"(But) Australia has an awesome defence and they know how to control the football very well."

Great Britain coach Brian Noble agrees with Morley and believes Australia will prevail in the final.

The Kangaroos were in a similar pressure situation to perform in last year's final and came out and blasted the Lions 44-4 with Darren Lockyer producing one of his best representative games.

Lockyer is unavailable because of a broken foot but Noble still thinks Australia will hold the trophy aloft again.

"I would have to say Australia," said Noble.

"They're well coached, their defence has been magnificent and they play the big games better than anyone.

"But New Zealand are definitely not out of it."

The underdogs Kiwis have history heavily stacked against them for the final.

But after already defying history by beating the Kangaroos last month, New Zealand won't be overly concerned about the past.

The Kiwis kick-started their Tri Nations campaign by defeating Australia 38-28 for the first time in 46 years in Sydney last month.

It has been 52 years since New Zealand have beaten Australia twice in the same year.

Australia have also beaten New Zealand the past five times the countries have clashed in England -- a record dating back to the Kangaroos' 21-15 World Cup triumph at Headingley in 1960.

The closest the Kiwis have come to beating the Kangaroos was during the 1995 World Cup where New Zealand lost 30-20 at Huddersfield after sending the match into extra time.

Kiwi ace Stacey Jones is expected to arrive back from New Zealand tomorrow after attending the birth of his third child and have one run with the team before pulling on the black and white jersey on Sunday.

- AAP