SYDNEY, Oct. 16: Australia began its 2026 Men’s Rugby League World Cup campaign with a dramatic 24–22 victory over New Zealand, as debutant Jack Bostock scored a hat trick to settle a thrilling opening encounter at Allianz Stadium.
The defending champions were pushed to the limit by their trans-Tasman rivals on Thursday night, with New Zealand producing powerful forward play and moments of individual brilliance. Australia, however, found a way to prevail in front of a crowd of 41,255, one of the largest audiences for a rugby league Test in Sydney in more than five decades. Bostock emerged as the match-winning figure, scoring three tries on his international debut. His decisive effort came late in the contest, when he leapt above New Zealand winger Jamayne Isaako to complete his hat-trick and restore Australia’s advantage.
The match also featured outstanding performances from fullbacks Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga. Both players produced spectacular attacking moments, although Ponga’s night ended with a suspected broken arm that raised concerns about his availability for the remainder of the tournament.
New Zealand make an aggressive start
The Kiwis opened the scoring in the fourth minute through Casey McLean, who finished a move created by a kick from halfback Jahrome Hughes.
New Zealand continued to apply pressure during the early stages, using the strength and running ability of their forwards to challenge Australia’s defensive line. Their powerful approach restricted the Kangaroos’ opportunities and forced the hosts to work hard to establish attacking momentum.
Bostock changed the direction of the contest when he intercepted a Hughes pass and raced approximately 88 metres to score Australia’s opening try. The effort demonstrated his speed and awareness, allowing the Kangaroos to remain within reach despite New Zealand’s early dominance.
Australia subsequently gained the lead through a try from Tom Trbojevic, who intercepted a pass and ran approximately 85 metres to score. The long-range effort illustrated the danger of loose passing against a team capable of turning defensive pressure into immediate attacking opportunities.
The opening half remained closely contested, with both sides exchanging scoring opportunities. New Zealand earned a penalty after Australia were penalised for a professional foul, and the teams went into the break level at 10–10.
Ponga puts the Kiwis ahead
The second half brought further drama as New Zealand sought to turn its strong forward performance into a decisive advantage.
Australia suffered a setback when halfback Mitchell Moses left the field with a calf injury shortly after the interval. His departure forced the Kangaroos to reorganise their playmaking options at a crucial stage.
New Zealand capitalised when Ponga scored on his debut for the Kiwis, finishing a move that put his side ahead. The fullback then produced one of the match’s most memorable moments with a solo try, using his footwork and acceleration to beat the Australian defence.
Ponga’s performance gave New Zealand a 22–16 lead and placed the visitors in a strong position to secure victory. His ability to break through Australia’s defensive structure demonstrated why he was regarded as one of the players capable of influencing the tournament.
However, the Kiwis could not maintain their advantage. Australia responded through Bostock, who scored his second try after finishing a well-placed kick. The successful conversion brought the scores level at 16–16.
Walsh delivers a spectacular response
The contest then turned into a battle between the two fullbacks, with Walsh producing a remarkable individual effort to keep Australia in contention.
Walsh collected the ball and launched an 80-metre run, breaking through several defenders before grounding the ball for a try. The effort reduced New Zealand’s lead and highlighted Australia’s ability to produce decisive moments even when the opposition appeared to have control.
The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the Kangaroos trailing 22–20.
New Zealand still had an opportunity to close out the match, but Australia continued to search for openings. With time running out, a kick towards the wing created the decisive contest between Bostock and Isaako.
Bostock rose above his opponent, secured the ball and scored his third try of the evening. The effort gave Australia a narrow lead, and the Kangaroos held on during the remaining minutes to complete the 24–22 victory.
Bostock’s hat-trick earned him the man-of-the-match award. He also recorded 231 running metres, underlining his contribution beyond the three scoring efforts. Injury concerns for both teams
Despite the victory, Australia will need to monitor Moses’s condition after the halfback sustained a calf injury. His fitness could influence the team’s playmaking combinations as the competition progresses.
New Zealand’s major concern centres on Ponga, who left the field late in the match with a suspected fracture to his arm. The extent of the injury was not immediately confirmed, and further assessment was required to determine whether he would be available for upcoming fixtures.
Ponga had been one of the Kiwis’ most influential players, making his possible absence a significant concern. His performance against Australia showed how effectively he could challenge defenders and create scoring opportunities under pressure.
New Zealand coach Stacey Jones acknowledged that his team had positives to take from the match but stressed that there was still room for improvement. The Kiwis had created several opportunities but were unable to finish the contest after taking the lead.
A promising opening for the tournament
The opening fixture provided a compelling start to the World Cup, with two leading contenders producing an intense contest that remained undecided until the closing minutes.
Australia will take confidence from finding a way to win despite spending long periods under pressure. The result also demonstrated the value of individual brilliance in close matches, particularly when defensive organisation and physical strength are closely matched.
New Zealand, meanwhile, will seek to build on its strong forward performance while improving its ability to protect a late lead.
The Kangaroos are scheduled to face Fiji in Brisbane in their next group match, while New Zealand will meet the Cook Islands in Christchurch. Both teams will look to recover from the physical demands of the opener and prepare for the challenges ahead.
For Australia, Bostock’s remarkable debut provided the defining moment of the evening. For New Zealand, Ponga’s performance offered considerable encouragement despite the injury concern.
The narrow scoreline reflected the intensity of the rivalry and set a high standard for the remainder of the tournament. With several rounds still to come, both teams will have opportunities to strengthen their campaigns, but Australia’s dramatic opening victory has given the defending champions an early advantage.