Loyalty is a two-way street for Australia centre Kotoni Staggs which is why he is ready to repay the faith of coach Kevin Walters in the World Cup final.

The Kangaroos' right centre played for NSW twice this year before being dropped for the State of Origin decider and returning to a Brisbane side that finished 14th.

Walters, who coached Staggs at the Broncos for three seasons, had not forgotten what he did in the 3-0 Ashes win last year and picked him in the World Cup squad on prior performance.

hThe 28-year-old played his best game of the tournament in the 44-12 semi-final win over Samoa, and in Sunday's final against New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium is ready to justify Walters' decision to stick with him.

"Obviously it wasn't the season that I wanted to have at clubland, but I knew that I had to keep training hard," Staggs said.

"I didn't know what was going to happen, but obviously Kev stuck with me from the Ashes series.

"My time at the Broncos with Kev ... I've probably played some of my best footy underneath him, so I think he had a bit of trust in that."

Staggs had not played for six weeks when he started the tournament and took a while to hit his straps.

"Each game I've gotten better along the way, but it was just trying to find my feet in the first couple of games," he said.

"I think the Samoa game was just about being more relaxed and calm. I just worried about my job and what I can do for the team, not anything else.

"I thought that was probably one of my best games in the World Cup so far, and I'm just building off that."

Australia's right edge in defence was shaky in the opening two pool matches, but winger Tom Trbojevic, Staggs, second-rower Liam Martin and half Tom Dearden have built their combination.

"I feel like at the start we came from different systems, so we had to learn what was comfortable for us in this Australian team," Staggs said.

"As the World Cup's gone on, we've connected a lot more. There were a few times when we lacked in our defence, but I think we've gotten a lot better.

"We've got a lot more trust in this edge, and it's just a communication thing so we're all on the same page."

Playing the final on his home ground fills Staggs with confidence, but it is his relationship with the coach that has him in the right frame of mind ahead of his one-on-one match-up with strike Kiwis centre Casey McLean.

"What you see is what you get with Kev. He's always been the same and that's what I love about him. He doesn't change," Staggs said.

"When it's time to go, it's time to go. But when it's time to have a joke, he loves to have a joke."

Australian Associated Press