League: Kiwis wait to get hands on trophy

The Kiwis celebrate victory as they perform the Haka with the Four Nations trophy in the foreground. Photo / Getty Images

The Kiwis won two pieces of rugby league silverware when they beat the Kangaroos in Brisbane, but will have to wait to get their hands on one of them because an oversight.

The New Zealanders, who already had the World Cup in their possession, were handed the Four Nations trophy last night after their 16-12 victory in the tournament final.

The result also gave them the Bill Kelly Memorial Cup for transtasman tests.

However, that prize was in Sydney rather than at the match venue of Suncorp Stadium.

New Zealand Rugby League chairman Scott Carter said today that the Australian Rugby League had told him it was simply an oversight that the cup wasn't available for presentation to the Kiwis.

"It should have been at the park, but there's nothing more to it than that," Carter said.

"They were very gracious about it and I will be talking to them tomorrow about how it comes home."

Kelly was born in Westport in 1892 and went on to play for Balmain, New South Wales, New Zealand and Australia. He died in 1975.

The cup bearing his name was put up for competition in the late 1990s with the introduction of the mid-year Anzac tests.

- NZPA