Rugby League: This is your chance for glory, boys, seize it or lose it

Commentator and former player PETER ROPATI thinks the Kiwis can win.

The talk going around this week about the Kiwis having their best chance of victory over the Kangaroos in many years on rugby league's biggest stage is true, but it's also dangerous talk.

I've been really impressed with the quality of the Kiwis' work during the World Cup. They arrived in England with the cloud of the Warriors' financial spat hovering over them, but it seems to me they have successfully put that behind them.

I'm a firm believer that when footballers step on to the ground they can jell, irrespective of off-field problems. They could be paid $1 million or $1, but step over the white line and that becomes totally irrelevant. It's all about performing for those 80 minutes.

To me, that harmony has shone through during the World Cup and their victory over England last weekend was an outstanding exhibition of cohesive, classy football. They simply tore the Poms apart.

Unfortunately for the Kiwis, Wales did not do them any favours with their spirited performance in the other semifinal, against Australia. Ideally, Kiwi coach Frank Endacott would have preferred the Kangaroos to get their wake-up call halfway through tomorrow's final.

Wales' ability to knock the Kangaroos off their stride came from having quick play-the-balls and getting momentum. So much of the modern game is about momentum and possession.

The Kangaroos have gone through the tournament in a clinical fashion, knowing what they had to do, but without really having to put their foot to the floor.

It would be foolish to start making big predictions about what the Kiwis will do tomorrow. We will never be in a position of being favourites against the Kangaroos and I don't for one moment think we can be this time, notwithstanding the form we have shown through the tournament.

For me, five issues will decide the final.

First, there's English referee Stuart Cummings. He is the No 2 official in Britain, and Australia have never lost with him in charge.

The best English referee, Russell Smith, is a bit like Bill Harrigan. He doesn't allow himself to get frustrated or intimidated. Cummings, we have seen, does appear intimidated at times and could come up with calls which could go either way.

Make no mistake, the Australians will put the blowtorch on him.

Secondly, the Kiwis must be strong in the mind and be very disciplined. There can't be any silly stuff, no giving away needless penalties in tackles.

Then there is the question of pressure. The Welsh showed that if you can get in the Kangaroos' faces, ask questions of them, they are like any other team in that they try to force passes, try to make things happen.

It's one thing to absorb pressure, it's another to be able to apply it in the right way.

Another critical component is Stacey Jones.

There has been some talk about whether the best halfback combination would be Henry and Robbie Paul, operating in tandem.

Jones is the No 1 halfback in New Zealand. He's a super player and he will be determined to go out and show he is No 1.

With that incentive, if he goes out desperate to show he is the top man for the job, and has a big game, then look out.

Finally, there is what I would call the Endacott factor. Frank has been a part of the careers of many of these Kiwis. Now it's his big finale.

What Endacott has shown - setting aside the freakish 0-52 loss in the Anzac test - is he has the ability to get his players up for the one-off games.

Combine that with the fact that for many players, such as Richie Barnett and Quentin Pongia, and maybe Stephen Kearney and Craig Smith, this is likely to be their last World Cup, perhaps, for some, their final tilt at Australia.

Without getting too sentimental about it, the ingredients are there for a big send-off.

Finally, if I had the chance to say thing to the players 10 minutes before the kickoff it would be this: you don't get another chance. Today is your day. Take it or lose it.

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