BRISBANE // The 'Man of Steel' James Graham is expecting New Zealand to push Australia all the way in Saturday's World Cup final at Suncorp Stadium.
The Kangaroos are unbackable favourites to retain their crown after steamrollering their way into the final with a series of impressive wins, including a 30-6 demolition of the Kiwis in their opening fixture in Sydney.
The St Helens forward Graham, one of only two England players to be named in the International Federation team of the year, was in the side hammered 52-4 by the Aussies in Melbourne, but does not expect a similar scoreline.
"I've got a feeling it might be a close game," he said. "You've got to look at Australia but I wouldn't write the Kiwis off."
Australia have run up 180 points in their four matches and conceded only 16, but coach Ricky Stuart, speaking at the inaugural International Federation awards dinner, insisted their impressive record will count for little in the final.
"Everything we've done in the last month has gone, it means nothing now," he said.
Kangaroos captain Darren Lockyer said his side still had vivid memories of their 24-0 defeat by New Zealand in the 2005 Tri Nations Series final at Elland Road and urged them not to under-estimate the Kiwis.
"Three years ago we got spanked in the final," he said.
"The Kiwis have got some momentum with their performances in this tournament."
Meanwhile, Leeds forward Jamie Peacock is the only England player short-listed for the Golden Boot award, which will be decided on Saturday.
His rivals are Australians Greg Inglis, Brent Kite, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston and Benji Marshall and Manu Vatuvei from New Zealand. Slater has already been named the International Federation player of the year.
* PA Sport
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5