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Valentine Holmes takes cheeky dig at World Cup crowd before final

Valentine Holmes (pictured right) is expecting a hostile crowd in the Rugby League World Cup final after comparing Australia to the All Blacks. (Getty Images)
Valentine Holmes (pictured right) is expecting a hostile crowd in the Rugby League World Cup final after comparing Australia to the All Blacks. (Getty Images)

Kangaroos winger Valentine Holmes has taken a cheeky crack at the crowds at this year's World Cup due to the hostile reception the Aussies have received during their charge to the final.

Comparing his side's all-conquering campaign to the All Blacks, Holmes knows the Kangaroos won't have the support of the crowd in their Rugby League World Cup final meeting with Samoa.

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England's 27-26 defeat at the hands of the Samoans gives the Pacific nation the chance to do what many had thought unthinkable and knock off the Kangaroos on the biggest stage of all.

Many England fans bought tickets well in advance for the final at Old Trafford on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) in the belief their side would get there.

And a large portion of those English fans will most likely throw their support behind Samoa after becoming the first new nation into a World Cup final in 34 years.

Support at Australia's matches during the World Cup have been poor with crowd attendance overall a talking point.

Australia did play in front of a 30,000 strong crowd at Elland Road when they defeated New Zealand 16-14 in a tight battle, but the Kangaroos were booed throughout the contest.

And Holmes has suggested the crowd has been hostile towards the Aussies because of the aura they carry into matches.

"It's something we spoke about and we knew we were coming in, not as underdogs, but fans know we are a world-class team," Holmes said.

"They want to see us lose.

"I guess you could say the same about the All Blacks. Everyone tries to beat them and it's the same for us."

Valentine Holmes (pictured) puts the ball down for a try.
Valentine Holmes (pictured) goes over to score their sides second try. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images for RLWC) (Alex Livesey via Getty Images)

Kangaroos embrace 'booing' at Rugby League World Cup

The Kangaroos have been beaten just twice since 2015 and have not lost a tour or a tournament in the UK since 2005.

And star forward Cameron Murray said the team are taking the hostile reception during their time in the UK as a mark of respect.

"That was a little warm-up for what we are going to hear this week," he said, reflecting on the New Zealand game.

"It (booing) is alright, we embrace that, we take it as a compliment.

"Everyone backs the underdogs and we know we are the favourites.

Ben Hunt (pictured right) celebrates with teammates.
Australia celebrate winning the Rugby League World Cup semi-final. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images for RLWC) (Alex Livesey via Getty Images)

"We'll go in with humble confidence and make sure that we are practising in the areas we know we need to fix up."

Another person who won't be showing much love to the Aussies is Samoa's Jarome Luai.

The half is friends with Panthers teammate Nathan Cleary, but he said it will go out the window when they lock horns in the Rugby League World Cup final.

"It's going to be awesome, we are competitors through and through. It's going to be a battle against one of my boys, but out there - there's no friends on the field," Luai said.

"There are only brothers and enemies and I'm always going to look at it the same way. We (Luai and Cleary) grew up in the same comp but we haven't played each other on a real high (level)."

with AAP

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