Michael Burgess: Kiwis show steel when it matters

Shaun Kenny-Dowall celebrates Manu Vatuvei's try during the New Zealand Kiwis v Australia Kangaroos Four Nations Rugby League Final. Photo: Andrew Cornaga.

Last night's victory was so sweet for the Kiwis, but for a few moments threatened to turn into yet another heart breaker for New Zealand.

The home side had played some breathtaking league in the second half and completely dominated the Australians.

The Kiwis should have been way out of touch on the scoreboard; they had their foot on the throat but couldn't kill off the Kangaroos, whose goal line defence and determination to stay in the game was admirable.

We've been here before. So many times. Anyone who has followed league for a few decades knows what can happen next. The Kangaroos steal the match at the end and local fans are left to commiserate with the Kiwis and take pride in a gutsy effort.

There was the 1995 World Cup semi final, where the Kiwis mounted an unlikely comeback and should have won, only to be denied by centimetres as a late Matthew Ridge field goal went wide. There was the 1999 Tri Nations final in Auckland - the last major final on New Zealand soil - where the Kiwis led late (and had several tries disallowed by the video referee) before Wendell Sailor scored in the 77th minute.

Or what about the 2006 Tri-Nations final, the farewell match for Stacey Jones, Ruben Wiki and Nigel Vagana, that was won in golden point extra time by Darren Lockyer but could so easily have gone the other way.

Probably the worst defeat of all happened in 1985, in the second test at Carlaw Park. It was the first time I had seen grown men, staunch Kiwi males, cry. The Kiwis were rampant that afternoon in a brilliant performance but botched several tries as well as having some disallowed. They led 6-4 with time almost up before Wally Lewis sparked a move that eventually led to John Ribot crossing in the corner. Everyone at the ground was in disbelief, stunned at what they had seen, even probably the Australians. It was hard not to feel for the players and coach Graham Lowe was particularly emotional.

With a few minutes to go in last night's match there was a similar eerie feeling in the air at Wellington Stadium. The Kangaroos - having conjured up a miracle try to Ben Hunt - had the ball 20 metres from the Kiwis line, a full set of six tackles and plenty of time on the clock.

They couldn't - surely? It would have been the most undeserved victory since 1985 but you couldn't help the Kiwis for thinking 'here we go again'. However, this was when the Kiwis stood up.

"We knew we could hold them out," said Dean Whare. "We have been through a lot in the last few weeks and have great belief in each other."

This Kiwis team keeps finding a way to win, like they did in Whangarei, like they did in Dunedin.

As the crowd held their breath, the Kiwis tracked every Australian and repelled each threat, until the final play when referee Phil Bentham found a forward pass to Sione Mata'utia and the match was finally in the bag.