The training ploy behind Murray's match-winning moment

Cameron Murray played down comparisons with his former South Sydney captain Sam Burgess after inspiring Australia to a gripping 16-14 defeat of New Zealand in their World Cup semi-final at Elland Road.

After starting from the interchange bench, Murray turned the game in the 46th minute when he sparked a melee by shoving Kiwis forward Isaiah Papali’i after he sledged Kangaroos halfback Nathan Cleary, who lost the ball in a tackle.

With players from both sides racing in to get involved in the push and shove, Murray was penalised but the incident fired up his teammates in a match described by Australian coach Mal Meninga as a “real Test” because of the intensity from both sides.

The Rabbitohs skipper then crossed for the only try of the second half to give the Kangaroos the lead with a play rehearsed at training in which Lindsay Collins and Ben Hunt played the roles of Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Brandon Smith close to the try-line.

Murray charged at Asofa-Solomona and Smith from close range and forced his way over for a 56th minute try that proved to be the match winner.   

“I wasn’t specifically looking for anyone,” Murray said. “We spoke about putting fatigue into the Kiwis defensive line and that’s what that try was. We got the rewards on the back of what we spoke about.”

Asked about his role in the win, Murray said he wanted to lift the intensity as the star back-rower knew he was only going to receive limited game time.

While he is usually one of the last players expected to start a melee, Murray said he felt the need to defend Cleary.

“I will always stick up for myself and my teammates,” Murray said. “That’s all I was doing. I wasn’t trying to start anything. I was just sticking up for Clears.

“I had a good chat to Isaiah Papali’i after the game and everything is sweet. It is one of those things where what happens on the field stays on the field, and emotions are always going to be running high in big games like that.”

However, his actions were straight out of the playbook of Burgess, who was an inspirational leader for the Rabbitohs and a player Murray looked up to.

With tempers boiling over early in the second, there were a number of other heated exchanges and second-rower Liam Martin enjoyed a running battle with Panthers team-mate James Fisher-Harris.

“I guess everyone was just trying to stick up for everyone and it is the sign of a good team,” Murray said. “We have got a pretty tight knit group here.”

Martin responded to Murray’s call-to-arms and took it upon himself to physically stand up to Fisher-Harris after a second melee, which started when the Kiwi prop took exception with Cleary after he forced a knock-on by Asofa-Solomona.

“I loved playing against Fish,” Martin said. “I looked up to him a fair bit at Panthers and coming up against him I knew it was going to be a real test. I wanted to take it to him. It was good out there.”

Meninga praised his players for finding a way to win in their first Test against the Kiwis for three years.

“It was a real Test match. We haven’t had a real Test match for a number years,” he said.

“I’m really pleased with the effort and commitment and all those characteristics you want in your players in a footy team. Both teams wanted to win. I think we did a little bit better than what they did.

“We can be better because of that. I just said to the players, that’s what playing for your country produces. Games like that where you’ve got to find a little extra in the way you play and those extra effort levels. 

“In my experience, that was one of the best Test matches I’ve been involved in.”