Shaun Johnson scored at the death to inflict heartache on England and put New Zealand in next Saturday’s Rugby League World Cup Final at Old Trafford.
England led 18-14 until the last play of the game in a thriller under the Wembley arch when Johnson darted through a gap opened by poor defending from Kevin Sinfield.
‘I don’t think he has anything to blame himself for has Kev, he’s worked his socks off,’ head-coach Steve McNamara insisted.
‘We’re absolutely distraught as you can imagine but good luck to New Zealand.
‘The highest level sport can be cruel and it certainly has been for England Rugby League today.’
Steve McNamara’s men had to weather a storm at the start of the game but their back line of Sam Tomkins, Josh Charnley and Ryan Hall came to the rescue on three separate occasions.
A shift in momentum saw lose-forward Sean O’Loughlin open the scoring and Sinfield converted before adding a penalty goal to make it 8-0.
Johnson ensured the teams went into the break at 8-8 with a penalty goal on the hooter after Roger Tuivasa-Sheck touched down for a sure contender for try of the tournament.
Far side winger Jason Nightingale superbly palmed the ball in-field after Johnson’s cross-field kick and after five swift passes to the right, Dean Whare flicked an beautiful ball back inside to Tuivasa-Sheck.
21-year-old Tuivasa-Sheck scored a second just four minutes after the break and when Johnson struck another penalty goal to make it 14-8, the game had almost slipped away.
The sadness was that Sinfield created the last two tries and was having a massive influence on the game alongside Gareth Widdop and Sam Burgess.
The Leeds skipper put Kallum Watkins over the line to kick-start England’s comeback before delaying a pass for Burgess who put the co-hosts ahead 13 minutes from time.
England were resilient in defence and seemed to have done just enough only to concede another penalty, from which Johnson darted through and added the conversion.
England hearts broken at Rugby League World Cup as New Zealand snatch ...
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