[4] New Zealand's road to the final started on 27 October at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington, where they played Samoa, who were knocked out in the quarter-final stage.

[6] The Kiwis returned to England to play Papua New Guinea, who had failed to win a single match in the run up the New Zealand game.

Australia's road to the final started on the opening day of the tournament at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff against hosts England.

[11] Australia then played Fiji, who had opened their tournament with a 32–14 win over Ireland, at Langtree Park in St. Helens, but lost second rower Luke Lewis with a shoulder injury during the game.

Lewis had collided with the advertising boards that were located close to the dead-ball line raising concerns about player safety.

Australia were the victors 62-0 scoring 12 tries, including 4 from Jarryd Hayne playing in the unfamiliar position of centre, and 4 from Man of the Match Brett Morris.

The two teams had previously met each other on 17 occasions in a Rugby League World Cup match, with Australia winning 15 to New Zealand's 2.

English referee Richard Silverwood was named to officiate the final, with James Child and Grant Atkins the touch judges.

Although it had hosted 7 international matches since first being used in 1986 (including the 2000 World Cup final), and was the host venue of the annual Super League Grand Final, prior to the game, concerns were raised by the Australian team management about the safety and suitability of Old Trafford as a rugby league venue, primarily the shorter than regulation in-goal areas (measured at 4.1 metres, shorter than the minimum allowable distance of 6 metres) and the slope around the perimeter of the field.

There were some suggestions of moving the game to Wembley Stadium in London, though this was ruled out by tournament organisers citing logistical and financial reasons.

Australia weren't without their problems though as soon after Jarryd Hayne went down with an apparent concussion after colliding with the hip of Simon Mannering while tackling the Kiwi captain, though the Kangaroos centre would remain on the field.

Thurston's conversion of Cronk's try saw him overtake Michael Cronin as Australia's highest point scorer in test match football.

Manu Vatuvei's attacking run for New Zealand saw him pushed over the sideline 5 metres out by 5 desperate Australian defenders, and an offside penalty at the 35 minute mark gave Thurston another kick to bring the score out to 16–2 at halftime.

A charge-down by Ben Matulino and regather from Sonny Bill Williams led to New Zealand beginning attack at halfway.

Both teams were having issues with the geography of the ground, as Morris collided with the signage during his try and a flying Manu Vatuvei landed awkwardly on the concrete surrounding the field.