IT took until the final hour of the month-long Rugby League World Cup for the destiny of the trophy to change.

And it took a characteristically Australian performance to do so.

Only that performance came from New Zealand and not the pre-match and pre- tournament favourites, hosts and holders Australia.

Spectacularly – and delightfully – New Zealand turned round a 10-point losing margin to beat Australia 34-20 and claim the World Cup for the first time.

While it was in many ways an unfitting end to a tournament which Australia had dominated, there was no doubt that the best team on the day won.

The Kiwis’ spirit remained strong under pressure and they showed they could stay calm when it really mattered.

However New Zealand’s triumph only sought to hammered home just how badly England had performed – yet how easily they could have been world champions if their performances had hit top gear.

The Australian squad appear to have the skills and qualities of champions, but they have failed to produce the goods too often. This was the second time in just three years that lightning had struck after the Kiwis had shocked Australia in the Tri-Nations Final in 2006, which will put an end to any notion that this is the best Australian team of all time.

But what the World Cup also put an end to is the notion that England can match their antipodean rivals over a tournament.

There is much work to do, individually by the players and structurally by the Rugby Football League to make sure England don’t once again come third in a three-horse race when the competition is next staged in 2013.