Reece Walsh has stadium in stitches with ‘culture’ jab after Rugby League World Cup triumph

The Kangaroos have punished a disappointing New Zealand, with Reece Walsh running riot in a 32-12 Rugby League World Cup final waltz.

There was an expectation the Kiwis, searching for their second Cup title and first since 2008, would push Australia all the way after a two-point loss in a pulsating tournament opener.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Reece Walsh has stadium in stitches with ‘culture’ jab

But the visitors struggled from the outset in Brisbane on Sunday night, Jamayne Isaako’s kick-off floating long in a sign of things to come.

Walsh dazzled at fullback for the Kangaroos, his pace, vision and wicked footwork too much as he helped lay on two tries and generally wreak havoc around the ruck and close to the line.

“The chat from everybody coming in, everyone wrote us off talking about how good the other teams are, how good their cultures are,” he told Channel 7 immediately after the game.

“I feel like we got disrespected — how’s that for culture, baby?!”

Walsh was among several players from both sides to shed tears during the national anthems before the game.

Pasifika rivals Tonga and Samoa dominated the narrative entering the tournament, with their group-stage clash billed as the most anticipated international match ever.

But the World Cup itself ended like most others have — with a Kangaroos win.

Walsh said he was “so happy” for coach Kevin Walters, who wants to continue despite locking in a Super League deal, and his staff.

“Being back with Kev is the best ever,” he said of his former Broncos coach.

Walsh also paid tribute to his “beautiful family” and his daughter “who loves me so much”.

“She’s the best. There is not a day that goes past that I don’t think how lucky I am,” he said.

“I want to show her a different way out, that if she works hard that she can do whatever she wants. She is my rock.”

Conversely, Walsh’s New Zealand opposite Kalyn Ponga — International Rugby League’s Golden Boot winner on Thursday night — was unable to get into game.

Australian hooker Harry Grant and halves Tom Dearden and Cam Munster completely outplayed their error-riddled opposites, while the Kangaroos’ pack muscled up.

Dearden laid on two first-half tries for Liam Martin with well-timed short balls, while Bradman Best was rewarded for an inspired chase-down tackle of Jahrome Hughes with a try soon after.

When Tom Trbojevic scored to begin the second half it was 28-6 and effectively game over.

Jack Bostock completed his breakout season with a try in each half for Australia.

It was the Kangaroos’ fourth consecutive title and 10th in the last 11 tournaments, dating back to 1975.

Coach Kevin Walters added the Cup victory as a mentor to the one he won as a player in 1992 with the Kangaroos.

Walters added a nice touch to the triumph by sending on James Tedesco off the bench in the final minutes.

The 34-year-old, who captained the side to the 2022 World Cup victory, confirmed that the win was his last in Kangaroos colours.

“I didn’t expect to get any minutes but thankful Kev gave me some minutes there. The boys played awesome,” Tedesco told Channel 7.

“It’s been three years since I put this jersey on. “Whatever my role was, I was happy with.

“I got a game early and just to play my role in the squad. This will be my last time wearing the Australian jersey. To get a couple of minutes in a World Cup is special.

“That’s me done.”

Walters’ decisions to select Walsh instead of Tedesco at No.1 and prefer Dearden to Sam Walker were not easy, but proved correct.

The pace and flair of Walsh is dangerous enough, but it is his vision that makes the 24-year-old magician such a threat. He spied an overlap on the left and created the space for Bostock to score in the first half.

In the second half it was dazzling feet and strength of the talismanic No.1 that did the Kiwis in and presented Trbojevic with a gift.

The two Kangaroos wingers vindicated the call of the coach to play them in positions they haven’t been NRL regulars in this year. The duo scored 18 tries in the tournament, both crossing nine times.

Kangaroos centre Best has a love affair with Suncorp Stadium and it continued. He already had two tries in two State of Origin deciders for NSW.

Now he can add a try saving tackle on a runaway Hughes and a four-pointer of his own minutes later to turn the game and give the hosts an 18-6 lead.

Kangaroos captain Isaah Yeo was a tower of strength at the business end of the tournament, as was prop Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, second-rower Jacob Preston and bench forward Cameron Murray, whose quick play-the-balls were lethal.

Kiwis centre Casey McLean, who scored the opening try, did not return after half-time due to delayed concussion symptoms.

— with 7NEWS