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Australia 30 Samoa 10
Australia - 2 Mitchell, 2 Tedesco, Martin, Murray tries; Cleary 3 conversions
Samoa To'o, Crichton tries; Crichton conversion
Full time
80th minute - TRY Australia to Latrell Mitchell
Australia looks for one last try to wrap up the grand final. Campbell-Gillard goes inches short and Samoa's defence holding strong.
Australia comes to the left hand side and Cleary throws a perfect cut-out pass to Mitchell who strolls his way over to cap off a brilliant grand final performance for his side.
Cleary can't convert the try as the siren goes (AUS 30-10)
78th minute - Samoa is looking for their third try of the grand final. Spencer Leniu goes inches short. On the next play, Luai puts in a tired grubber kick to turn possession over.
Australia starts their set on their own 10-metre line and Cleary procure a magical moment as he produces a 40/20.
75th minute - Samoa comes wide and gets down to halfway. Mitchell goes for the strip but knocks it on and Samoa will have a scrum just inside their own half.
73rd minute - Is their time for Samoa to get back in it but time is against them. Samoa gets through their set and Australia will start their set 30-metres from their own line.
71st minute - TRY Samoa to Stephen Crichton
Samoa goes short from the kickoff but Tedesco gathers easily. But on tackle two, Hunt steps out of dummy-half and looks for a simple pass but Crichton reads it perfectly to intercept and sprints clear to score Samoa's second
Crichton can't convert his own try. (AUS 26-10)
69th minute - TRY Australia to James Tedesco
Both sides trade sets but Australia is starting to muscle up in defence as Samoa struggle to make metres in their set. On tackle four of Australia's set, the entire spine combine before Munster delivers a delightful inside pass to put Tedesco through a hole and he scores untouched.
Cleary converts the try. (AUS 26-6)
65th minute - Cleary throws a poor pass and To'o just needs it to set up and he can sprint clear but he doesn't get the bounce and he's tackled just inside Australia's half.
The momentum is swinging Samoa's way but their set comes to nothing after a poor cut-out pass from Luai goes to ground.
63rd minute - Samoa has a strong set after points as they make their way just inside Australia's half. Luai kicks high and Holmes gathers easily just 20-metres from his own line.
61st minute - TRY Samoa to Brian To'o
Samoa gets a set restart and has good field position and will attack inside Australia's half. On tackle three, Luai comes to the right hand side and throws a cutout pass. Mitchell goes for the intercept but can't and To'o scores in the corner.
Stephen Crichton converts the try from the sideline. (AUS 20-4)
59th minute - Australia might be over for their fifth try of the final. Addor-Carr breaks down the wing after breaking the To'o tackle.
Addor-Carr grubbers in field to Crichton who gathers but knocks on as he tries to ground the ball. Big let off for Samoa.
58th minute - Samoa is losing their way as they make an error on halfway through a big tackle from Addo-Carr and Munster.
Scrum to Australia just inside Samoa's half.
57th minute - Australia takes the tap and starts their set 10-metres out. Harry Grant powers his way over but three Samoan defenders hold him up.
On the fourth tackle, the referee has awarded a penalty to Samoa for obstruction by Australia.
Crichton is back from the sin bin.
55th minute - It's a big ask for Samoa to get back into this one with 26 minutes remaining. Australia gets through their set after the try and kicks down to Samoa's 10-metre line. But the referee has awarded a penalty for taking the kicker out in the air.
53rd minute - TRY Australia to Cameron Murray
Cameron Munster comes up big with a strip to win possession back for his side and ease the pressure.
Australia works their way up field with Wighton making a strong run to get 15-metres out.
On the final play, Nathen Cleary produces a brilliant pass after taking the ball to the line to put Murray into a massive hole and Australia has their fourth of the grand final.
Cleary converts the try. (AUS 20-0)
51st minute - The errors keep coming from Australia with Mitchell knocking on this time. Scrum to Samoa on halfway.
The Samoa chant goes up around the crowd at Old Trafford.
50th minute - The momentum is swinging Samoa's way as Australia make another error to turn possession over and Samoa will start their set just 20 metres out.
Papali'i goes inches short through a barnstorming run. On the final tackle, May grubbers in behind but it goes dead and it's a seven-tackle set to Australia.
48th minute - This could be Samoa's chance to get back into the final. They start their set just 30-metres out.
Australia's defence is holding firm but Samoa is looking dangerous. On the final tackle, Samoa is over through May in the corner but the pass from Suaali'i is slightly forward and the try is ruled out.
47th minute - Yellow Card Australia to Angus Crichton
The two teams are trading sets as they get into the grind early into the second half. On tackle three, Australia has knocked the ball on and after the whistle has gone Angus Crichton picks up the loose ball and has put an elbow into the head of Harris-Tavita who is knocked out cold.
The referee goes up to the TMO to look at all the angles and has awarded a penalty and sent Crichton to the sin bin for 10 minutes.
45th minute - Samoa makes a mini break downfield and looks dangerous but Martin produces a huge tackle to force Samoa into touch.
Australia starts their set on their own 20-metre line.
43rd minute - Australia's set comes to nothing as they make an uncharacteristic error through James Tedesco.
Samoa gets down to their 30-metre line and on tackle two wins a penalty and will start their new set on halfway.
41st minute - Australia gets the second half underway. Can Samoa get back in it?
Samoa can't complete their first set after halftime as they knock the ball on through Crichton. Scrum to Australia on Samoa's 40-metre line.
40th minute - Australia is looking for one more try to end the first half but their set comes to nothing as Samoa's defence holds firm.
Samoa start their set just metres from their own line and Australia muscles ups in defence and force Sao back into his in-goal area for a goalline dropout but there won't be enough time to take it and that will be halftime.
37th minute - Australia is winning the territory battle as Samoa's kick only gets down to the Australian 30-mete line and Addo-Carr powers it back to halfway.
On the final tackle, Australia comes down the short side but great defence from Samoa wraps Martin up to end the set.
On tackle two, To'o makes a big error and knocks the ball on. Australia starts their set just 25-metres out.
34th minute - On the final tackle, Samoa goes down the short side and May breaks down the sideline before offloading to Luai but a great scrambling tackle from Tedesco forces him into touch.
Australia to start their set on their own 40-metre line.
32nd minute - Australia is starting to roll and make metres very easily. On the final tackle on their set after points, Cleary kicks deep to To'o who brings it back off his own 10-meter line.
30th minute - TRY Australia - Liam Martin
Australia rolls downfield far too easily and gets down to the Samoa 10-metre line. On tackle four, they come down the short side and Martin powers his way over in the corner. It goes up to the TMO as no try but replays show Martin has grounded it and Australia has their third try of the grand final.
Cleary can't convert the try (AUS 14-0)
29th minute - Samoa almost hits back as Luai puts up a pinpoint high kick which Suaali'i gathers. He offloads to Crichton who tries to draw and pass but Addo-Carr knocks it down to stop a certain try.
On the next play, Harris-Tavita is held up over the line. On tackle four, it all comes to nothing for Samoa with Milford dropping a simple pass.
26th minute - Samoa gets through their set and kicks down to Australia's 20-metre line. Australia work it back up field and kicks early through Munster but its hit the corner post and its a seven tackle set to Samoa.
25th minute - Addo-Carr goes close on tackle two but is brought down just inches short. A couple of plays later, Mitchell looks like scoring but as he reaches out Suaali'i knocks the ball free.
Scrum to Samoa on their own 10-metre line.
23rd minute - Samoa is holding firm in defence. On the final tackle, Cleary's kick looks like going dead but it bounces back infield and Crichton is forced to knock it dead.
Goalline dropout Samoa.
21st minute - Australia is starting to roll downfield and there are some worrying signs for Samoa.
Australia gets through their set and gets down to the Samoa 30-metre line. Australia put up a high kick, which is dropped by May and Australia will have a scrum just 10-metres out from Samoa's try line.
19th minute - TRY Australia to James Tedesco
Australia has gone back-to-back. The try is all set up through Addo-Carr who breaks two weak tackles to get into the backfield. He draws in Suaali'i before finding Tedesco who scores under the posts.
Cleary converts the try. (AUS 10-0)
16th minute - Australia gets through their set after points unscathed and gets down to halfway. On the final tackle, Hunt kicks deep into the corner of Samoa as the momentum is starting to swing towards Australia.
14th minute - TRY Australia - Latrell Mitchell
Samoa is standing up in defence but Australia gets a quick play of the ball and come down the short side. They find Mitchell who beats one tackle then barnstorms over Suaali'i to open the scoring.
Cleary can't convert the try. (AUS 4-0)
11th minute - Cleary puts up a midfield bomb, which lands in midfield and bounces back towards his side. They regather but it's still the final tackle and Australia tries to offload but only finds May and Samoa will start their set just short of halfway.
Samoa make a big error on their set, as Australia gather a high kick in their in-goal area to give them a seven-tackle set.
Mitchell sprints back for the quick restart and makes a break down to halfway. Australia is looking dangerous here and on the final tackle, Luai is forced to ground in his own in-goal ara for a goalline drop-out.
Eighth minute - Samoa is starting to win the territory battle. On the final tackle just 10-metre out from the Australian line, Samoa is stopped just short of the Australian try line.
Seventh minute - Luai puts in a pin-point high kick which Samoa win back in the air on the final tackle. It becomes hot potato stuff as they come to the far side but a grubber kick goes dead to give Australia a seven tackle set.
Australia works their way down field and gets to halfway but on tackle two they produce an error to turn the ball over.
Fifth minute - Almost a huge moment for Samoa with Chanel Harris-Tavita almost producing a 40/20 but Tedesco dives to stop it from going out.
Australia gets through their next set unscathed as both sides trade sets to open this contest.
Third minute - Samoa gets down to Australia's 40-metre line on their first set and kicks down to Holmes.
Australia is not showing much adventure in their set with Cleary kicking deep to May.
First minute - Campbell-Gillard takes the first hit up in the grand final. Australia gets through their first set unscathed as Cleary kicks down to the Samoa 20-metre line.
Kickoff - Samoa will kickoff and the grand final is underway.
5:02am - What a haka from Samoa. The passion is insane as they get in the faces of the Australians.
4:58am - Both national anthems have been played and now Samoa will complete their haka.
4:55am - Good morning league fans and thank you for joining us. We are just minutes away from kick-off. The players are making their way out onto the field in front of a pack Old Trafford crowd in Manchester.
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Kia ora, good (early) morning and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Rugby League World Cup final between Australia and Samoa at Manchester's storied Old Trafford.
No doubt, this isn't the final most people expected, when this event began a month ago - especially after England demolished Samoa 60-6 in the tournament opener.
The draw was obviously set up to provide the home team with the easiest passage to the title game, with world No.1 New Zealand matched against defending champions Australia in one semi-final and England expected to face Tonga in the other.
After his team's early capitulation, Samoa coach Matt Parrish was crucified on social media, with many calling for his head, but there was way too much talent on the roster to write them off that early. They upset Tonga in the quarter-finals and then shocked the English in a golden-point semi to set up the contest with the Kangaroos.
International rugby league is a dysfunctional entity, but its eligibility rules that allow players to play for second-tier nations, despite previously playing for the big three - Australia, New Zealand and England - has breathed new life into the World Cup.
Samoans all over the world are rallying behind their national team and while it's hard to see them toppling the classy Aussies, no-one saw them getting this far, so anything is possible.
Join us at 5am for kickoff.
TAB Odds: Australia $1.10, Samoa $6.50
Australia: 1-James Tedesco, 2-Daly Cherry-Evans, 3-Ben Hunt, 4-Valentine Holmes, 5-Jake Trbojevic, 6-Regan Campbell-Gillard, 7-Cameron Munster, 8-Latrell Mitchell, 9-Josh Addo-Carr, 10-Jack Wighton, 11-Cameron Murray, 13-Patrick Carrigan, 14-Nathan Cleary, 16-Reuben Cotter, 17-Angus Crichton, 18-Tim Fa'asuamaleaui, 20-Harry Grant, 21-Liam Martin, 24-Isaah Yeo
Samoa: 1- Joseph Suaali'i, 2-Taylan May, 4-Stephen Crichton, 5-Brian To'o, 6-Jarome Luai, 7-Anthony Milford, 8-Josh Papali'i, 10-Junior Paulo, 11-Ligi Sao, 12-Jaydn Su'a, 15-Royce Hunt, 16-Spencer Leniu, 17-Martin Taupau, 2-Chanel Harris-Tavita, 22-Kelma Tuilagi, 23-Oregon Kaufusi, 25-Tim Lafai, 26-Ken Sio, 27-Connelly Lemuelu
Samoa's Harris-Tavita primed for fairytale swansong in World Cup final
By James Regan
Former NZ Warriors halfback Chanel Harris-Tavita insists he has no second thoughts on stepping away from the game, as he prepares for a Rugby League World Cup final with Samoa.
The 23-year-old will take an indefinite break from league after the tournament, as Samoa aim to make history against the Kangaroos on Sunday morning (NZ time).
Harris-Tavita's loving life in the Samoan camp and savouring what may be his final days as a rugby league player.
"We've got a great bunch of boys and a lot of great staff members around us," said Harris-Tavita. "I've had a lot of fun in this camp and it's obviously good when you're winning …which I'm not really used to."
The playmaker is looking to go out on a high, eyeing up a World Cup victory with the Pacific Island nation before his hiatus, which will include heading off on his OE, but Samoa's dream run and that unusual winning feeling haven't tempted him to stick around.
"Since I made the decision, I haven't looked back with any regret," he said. "It's obviously hard when you're having this much fun and playing with a good team, but it's a decision I'm still content with."
Harris-Tavita and the rest of the Samoan squad are desperate to deliver World Cup glory for their adoring fans, whose celebrations have gone viral, after their epic semi-final win over hosts England.
"It definitely makes the boys emotional, seeing the videos they've made," said centre Stephen Crichton. "Seeing a lot of parents, kids seeing them cry over a little moment like that.
"There's lots of belief within the team and we've got a lot of support back home that believe in us too, so to see that is a big confidence boost for us.
Tipping up the Kangaroos in a World Cup final would not be a bad way to make your rugby league exit.
