Rugby League World Cup 2013: Best and Worst Performers in Final

It may not have been the classic that many were hoping for, but Australia's masterclass performance against New Zealand on Saturday was more than enough for Tim Sheens' side to win a 10th Rugby League World Cup title.

Triumphing 34-2 in the end, there wasn't a bad player to pick among the Kangaroos as the tournament veterans put on a pristine display of how the sport should be played.

That being said, some players did shine more than others on the grandest stage of all, while some were left looking dim in comparison.

Read on for a breakdown of which players stood out for the right and wrong reasons, respectively.

Best: Johnathan Thurston, Australia

The evergreen North Queensland Cowboys star was once again the driving force behind what's arguably the best Australia team in history.

Johnathan Thurston's 17 points from the boot ensured that the score kept on ticking over and forced the Kiwis into more and more desperate situations, eventually having to settle for nothing less than tries.

However, the 30-year-old's kicking from open play was also decisive and he made dozens of yards for his team simply based on the precision of his high ball, which Billy Slater gleefully lapped up on more than one occasion.

It was hardly surprising that Sheens' stand-off was picked out as Man of the Match.

Worst: Bryson Goodwin, New Zealand

It was a day to forget for New Zealand centre Bryson Goodwin, who struggled against the might of Jarryd Hayne and Greg Inglis.

The high ball was particularly difficult for the Kiwi to withstand, on numerous occasions being caught flat-footed while his opponents rose above to claim yet more territory.

Tackling was at times amiss for the South Sydney Rabbitoh and, as the scoreline suggests, Goodwin's offerings going forward were far from sufficient.

Best: Billy Slater, Australia

Having recovered in time for the final, Billy Slater's presence back among his Australian teammates paid dividends and the full-back starred magnificently upon his return.

Claiming two tries, one from the high kick and one in slightly more routine fashion, the Melbourne Storm talisman put his nation on the front foot from the start.

While he may be one of the smaller men in Sheens' squad, Slater's incredible leap makes him a target worth aiming for in the airways, to say the least.