Image source, Getty Images

So the 15th Rugby League World Cup finishes with a familiar look, Australia for an 11th time lifting the World Cup after a sterling display in the final against England.

Delight for the Kangaroos on home turf, for their legion of stars including Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk.

Heartbreak for England, whose talismanic stand-in skipper Sam Burgess suffers more World Cup disappointment and now the future of head coach Wayne Bennett remains undecided. It could be an interesting time ahead.

It's not just been about the winners and losers of this game, there have been huge strides made across the board.

Who can forget Fiji's hymn singing? Tonga's fan atmosphere and bulldozing football, or Port Moresby experience offered by Papua New Guinea?

It's been a great tournament, at times wonderful even with that late disappointment. Only four years to wait for the next one. Bring it on.

Thanks for joining us over the past month or so, it's been a blast. Only eight weeks til Super League returns... it'll be back before you know it. Goodbye.

Former England international Kevin Sinfield: "I'm disappointed but I'm extremely pleased for England Rugby League. We shown a lot of courage and we're in touching distance now. We've come a long way in 12 months because in the Four Nations we were way off Australia but now we're up there with them.

"This has set our rugby league standard for the next 20 years and we need to harness that and get some of the younger players involved and the people like Ben Currie, who played tonight are going to wear that shirt for the rest of their careers."

On Wayne Bennett's future: "I would like him to stay, yeah. I think Wayne and the staff have built something really special. Having seen what he's achieved over the last six to eight weeks is remarkable. I don't know who will make the call on his time with us but I think he's enjoyed his time with the players and that's testament to our league and our players."

England's three-match autumn Test series against New Zealand in 2018 will be shown live on the BBC - as well online and on BBC radio as well.

Hull's KCOM Stadium will host the opening match against the Kiwis, ranked second in the world, on 27 October.

The second Test is at Liverpool's Anfield on 3 November before the series finale at Leeds United's Elland Road on 11 November.

Image source, AFP

R: Sorry, think Wayne Bennett should go if he wishes to as he has done a fantastic job! I would pick Paul Anderson as replacement though, or the guy who found Jermaine M

Ian Lowe: l'd like to see Wayne Bennett stay on for the next four years give him what he wants and in return get him to commit FULL TIME so stand down from Brisbane Broncos

Al Acarte: Let's give a big rap to Super League, very underestimated by the Aussies and also back home in Europe. Well done men.

Robbie Hunter-Paul
Former New Zealand international on BBC One

On the possibility of Wayne Bennett committing himself to the England side as coach beyond this World Cup: "He's probably made his decision.

"I think he's taken the model that Steve McNamara built and took it to the next level,. I'd like to see him take that team of players into the next four years to the next World Cup in 2021 to keep the cohesion in the team going."

England's future remains up in the air after this 2017 Rugby League World Cup final defeat, with Wayne Bennett's future undecided publicly at least.

He refused to discuss it in his press conference, but with a new season around eight weeks away and a huge three-Test series against New Zealand to come next year, this is a big time for England.

Is continuity important? Robbie Hunter-Paul's had his say!

England coach Wayne Bennett: "It was somewhere around State of Origin standard - the effort and intensity.

"Both teams were giving everything, they were exhausted and somehow found another effort. It was pretty good stuff.

"Australia had a little better ball control than we did and so we had to do more defending.

"The ankle tap on Kallum Watkins was a moment – but there were a lot of other moments too, both teams giving everything.

"The Kangaroos were wonderful, it is a pity there has to be a loser, the scoreboard says we lose but what did we lose? The intensity, the effort, both teams had good shape and effort.

"We probably didn’t execute a couple of things we could - but that has been our Achilles heel. We are getting better but not yet where we want it to be."

What about your future: "I'm not talking about that tonight, I'm not in a good state to talk about those things."

Australia head coach Mal Meninga told BBC Sport:

"That was proper test-match football. England were very good tonight and we had to work hard. It was a bit dodgy up in the box.

"I rate that game right up there, 6-0 is unheard of in the modern game, it was dogged affair with defensively both teams outstanding, completing high. It was an entertaining game of rugby league with special efforts.

This game between two old adversaries reminds me of the good old days. let's hope the Rugby League International Federations can build on this because we want to put international rugby league back up there."

Bob Wilkinson: What a battle! and an incredible Final. Only An Ankle tap and a try the difference!! shattered just watching it.

Richard Burns: With England as dominant as they were and Australia hanging on in the final 10 minutes, could England have picked up the tempo in the tackle and drawn more penalties?

Andrew Howarth: With 20 to go Australia had made about 50 less tackles, by the end 20+ more showing how much pressure we applied, five more minutes and we’d have been there

Sam Tomkins
England international on BBC One

We're getting better and England as a set-up is getting better. Steve McNamara's built a really good platform at England where we've carried that through. Whether Wayne Bennett stays or not, I don't know but we're in a really good position.

Image source, SWPIX.COM/PHOTOSPORT.NZ

Anything the men can do, the women can do equally as well.

Australia's Jillaroos brushed aside their Kiwi counterparts with four tries, Isabelle Kelly scoring twice to add to tries from Eliana Walton and Caitlin Moran, who nailed three conversions and a drop goal to add to the try.

Honey Hireme kept up her remarkable try-scoring record for the Kiwi Ferns and Raecene McGregor also popped up with a score but it wasn't enough to stop the relentless Jillaroos from victory.

Sam Tomkins
England international on BBC One

The semi final against the Kiwis in 2013 with the Shaun Johnson try haunted us for four years going into this World Cup.

This one with the Josh Dugan ankle tap will be the image for the next four years but it's a fair effort to dive and make that tackle.

Image source, Getty Images

England forward Tom Burgess: "It was a great occasion, a great turnout, it is just very, very disappointing to not get the win.

"We dug in at times and defended well, we have to be proud of some bits but we killed ourselves a bit and that is sort of the story for England.

"We just wanted to build pressure on them and we failed to do that."

England assistant coach Denis Betts: "We failed to create chances and get the rub of the green.

"The next step is to get over the best. We've not won as many as Australia have but they were the better on the day.

"We have to be able to build on this because we have a fantastic core of players to step forward."

On coach Wayne Bennett's future: "I don't know. I've really enjoyed working with him but the important thing is to keep a good group of players together and make the next move going forward."

Robbie Hunter-Paul
Former New Zealand international on BBC One

England - it was about cohesion, the amount of time working together. Key passes at the right time. Australia had players who have been playing together for years.

Sean Thomas: Decision making in Attack cost England today especially on last tackle. To hurried in possession with tackles still remaining, and turn over after winning a penalty. That bit of flair was the only thing missing.

Sid: England fans must believe in the process Wayne has done a good job.However the game must grow and do English rugby league fans believe in the RFL to grow the game correctly?

Josh Reardon: O’loughlin plays, we win that game

Andy Hood: Gulf in Class, what Gulf? @England_RL, external unbelievable effort and unlucky in the end. Proud in defeat but well done to @Kangaroos, external. For Cameron Smith to say it was 1 of the toughest games of his career showed how well we played hold your heads up high .

In 2015, Australia lost two games in a row for the first time since 1978, and were toppled off the world number one spot in the rankings by New Zealand.

They regrouped, rebuilt and reshaped their side under Mal Meninga. They have won all of the 13 Tests since. Unbeaten, are they unbeatable?

The possible departures of Billy Slater and Cameron Smith from the ranks will be tough to replace... but there is always a production line.

Sam Tomkins
England international on BBC One

I think it proved how tough it was when Cameron Smith confirmed it was the toughest game he'd ever played in, and he's played in some big State of Origin Games so that proves it was a tough 80 minutes for both sides.

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Greening: Absolutely brilliant effort from the England RL team this morning. Could not ask for a better attempt.

Mark Antrobus: This World Cup has been an awesome tournament, the International RL board have to build on this and get the international game the profile it deserves.

Matt McGlone: I'm just happy with the pride @England_RL, external showed today. Gave everything for the shirt. Set a real example to anyone representing their country. Hope that never goes away.

Image source, Getty Images