Kangaroos' reputation on the line in Rugby League World Cup final, says Cameron Smith Captains Cameron Smith and Simon Mannering with the World Cup. TEST captain Cameron Smith admits Australia's reputation as the world power of rugby league is on the line heading into tomorrow morning's World Cup final blockbuster against the Kiwis at Old Trafford. While Australia boast some of the greatest players of all time, the fact is they had their pants pulled down by the Kiwis at the 2008 World Cup and in the 2010 Four Nations final. New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney pointed out during the week that the Kiwis had only beaten the Kangaroos two times in the past five years - but the magnitude of those victories wasn't lost on the Australian skipper. Stephen Kearney, Simon Mannering, Cameron Smith and Tim Sheens ahead of the World Cup final. "I was just thinking when Stephen was saying they've only beaten us twice in the past five years - those two games were big matches," Smith said. It was the World Cup final and the Four Nations final. Look, I think it doesn't matter what game you turn up to play in a Kangaroos jersey, I think there is always reputation at stake. If we win, people say we've got the strongest side here - and if we lose it's failure. So there's a lot of pressure on us and we know that. But we have a pretty high expectation of ourselves to go out and win. We know it's going to take a fair effort to do it, they're a very good side. A lot of people are talking about it at home that this is the best Kiwis side they've seen. It's going to take a special effort by us to get a victory. The game is likely to be 30-year-old Smith's last shot at World Cup glory. That also goes for Johnathan Thurston (30), Cooper Cronk (29), Billy Slater (30), Paul Gallen (32), Corey Parker (31), Greg Bird (29) and Brent Tate (31). League historian David Middleton said it is the oldest Kangaroos team in history, but they could also be remembered as arguably the best with victory in the final. League legend ­Arthur Summons said during the week that he rates this side the equal of his champion team of 1963-64, which is rated the greatest touring Kangaroos side of all time.