MAL Meninga’s Australia retained the Rugby League World Cup followed a ruthlessly clinical display on both sides of the ball to see off a spirited Samoa side.

The Roos had just too much power and pace for the underdogs – and had that ability to withstand pressure and seamlessly turn that into a counter attack to run out comfortable 30-10 victors in front of a 67,502 gate at Old Trafford.

Although Samoa, last week’s semi-final conquerors of England, threw plenty at the Roos early doors and enjoyed a number of sets on the line but there was no way through.

And then after those opening exchanges, we got a taste of things to come when a poor kick Samoan kick on the last was returned with interest by Valentine Holmes with a burst upfield.

The Aussies earned a drop out by the end of that set, and from there it was a powerful surge up the left, with no holding Latrell Mitchell. The bulky centre bumped off Joseph Suaali’i’s attempted tackle to plant the ball down over the line.

On 17 minutes the Roos launched a blistering attack down the left edge through Josh Addo-Carr, which was effortlessly finished off by James Tedesco, who skipped out of the tackle to saunter over.

It could have been more - Mitchell reached over, but he dropped over the line as he promoted the ball.

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Samoa countered and Chanel Harris-Tavita was held up on line after Addo-Carr had knocked down to deny a certain try on the right.

The Green and Gold machine countered again, with Liam Martin surging over. Although it went upstairs as no try, the video ref gave it the thumbs up and we were looking at a potential thrashing if the Roos had been allowed to cut loose.

The second half got tasty when Australia second row Angus Crichton was yellow carded for raising an elbow on advancing the Harris-Tavita after ball had gone to ground.

There was urgency from the team in blue, with Tiny May going over for a try in the corner but the pass fron Suaali’I went forward.

There was a strong period of pressure from Samoa against the 12 men – but last tackle kick went dead.

There were some Australia jitters – and twice they made an error with the ball prompting the crowd to lift with ‘Samoa, Samoa’. But to burst that bubble the Roos stole the ball one on one.

And from the resultant passage of play Cameron Murray ran a great line to pierce the blue wall and slid over.

Cleary’s conversion made it 20-0, and that was as good as in the bag.

On the hour mark Samoa finally breached the Australians’ line with a midfield switch in play from Jarome Luai and another long pass from Kelma Tuilagi sending Brian To’o over in the corner.

Srephen Crichton improved to give Samoa the slightest of toe-holds in the game.

The Samoan tails were up and they tried to find a way around the Green and Gold defence as they saw the clock ticking down into the last 15 minutes, but it was to no avail.

Once again the Roos countered ruthlessly with Munster’s inside ball sending Tedesco racing through for his second try.

Cleary tagged on the goal to make it 26-6.

But there was no white flag from the Samoans – and with 10 minutes remaining, just like he had done last week, Stephen Crichton plucked a loose pass out of the air and sped away into the corner.

Crichton’s conversion attempt struck the upright but Samoa had close the deficit to 16 points.

After play stopped for a streaker’s intervention, Roos had the last word when Mitchell finished the game in the way he started it by crossing the whitewash.