BRISBANE, Australia (AP):

NEW ZEALAND overcame staggering odds to beat heavily favoured Australia 34-20 in the Rugby League World Cup final yesterday.

Australia, looking to win their seventh straight World Cup, went through the tournament undefeated to reach the final and allowed their opponents only 16 points in five previous matches.

That included an earlier 30-6 win over New Zealand in their opening pool match, a 52-4 win over England and a 52-0 victory over Fiji in the semi-finals.

But it was a different story in the final, as New Zealand, with former Australian coach Wayne Bennett serving as an assistant, dominated the second half.

The Kiwis' win was sealed with 10 minutes to go with a rare penalty try, after fullback Lance Hohaia was held back by winger Joel Monaghan as he chased a Nathan Fien kick.

Conversion

England video referee Steve Ganson ruled in New Zealand's favour and Benji Marshall's conversion gave New Zealand a 28-20 lead. Prop Adam Blair's try, New Zealand's sixth, four minutes from fulltime finished the scoring before 50,559 fans at Suncorp Stadium.

Australia had won the past six World Cups going back to 1975 and had not lost a World Cup match against New Zealand in 13 previous meetings.