New Zealand defeated Australia 34–20 in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup final.
The final was played on 22 November 2008 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. New Zealand entered the match as underdogs, while Australia had dominated much of the tournament and was seeking another world title.
New Zealand led 14–10 at half-time and extended its advantage after the interval. Fullback Lance Hohaia, winger Luke Covell and centre Jerome Ropati were among New Zealand’s scorers, while Nathan Fien won the official man-of-the-match award. Australia’s points came through tries and goals, but the Kiwis maintained control in the second half.
The result was New Zealand’s first men’s Rugby League World Cup title. It is sometimes confused with New Zealand’s later 2013 triumph, when the team lost the final to Australia. The 2008 tournament was the first World Cup staged under a modern group-and-knockout format after the competition had been absent since 2000.