Image caption, Dolphins winger Jack Bostock marked his Australia debut with a hat-trick of tries BySteve SutcliffeBBC Sport journalist Published 15 October 2026, 12:23 BST Updated 2 minutes ago Australia (10) 24 Tries: Bostock 3, Trbojevic, Walsh Goals: Walsh 2 New Zealand (10) 22 Tries: McLean, Ponga 2 Goals: Isaako 3 Penalties: Isaako 2 Australia underlined why they are favourites for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup by fighting back from a mauling at the hands of New Zealand's powerful pack to win a thrilling opening match of the tournament.
This was as good as it gets in terms of international rugby league, with more than 40,000 fans - the biggest Test match crowd in Sydney for 50 years - witnessing the ultimate smash-and-grab victory by Kevin Walters' side.
Casey McLean's stunning early try gave New Zealand the impetus and they were on top until the final five minutes, when Jack Bostock marked a stunning Kangaroos debut with his third try to decide an epic match.
Bostock's dream debut - which included one interception try and two by winning aerial battles to claim spiralling Cameron Munster kicks - was one of many fascinating sub plots.
Kalyn Ponga's match-up against his Australia counterpart Reece Walsh, arguably the sport's biggest star, was another.
The Kiwi full-back scored twice and looked to be coming out on top in their personal battle until Walsh conjured up a superb long-range try to lay the platform for the defending champions' last-gasp triumph.
Ponga left the field injured with the game in the balance and had his left arm in a sling at full time, which does not bode well for the rest of his tournament.
More to follow.
Matt's player of the match - Reece Walsh ByMatt NewsumBBC Sport Rugby League journalist There were plenty of candidates for this - hat-trick hero Jack Bostock, Kiwi full-back Kalyn Ponga and his packmen James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota and Isaiah Papali'i, but if it is down to deciding moments then Reece Walsh had ample fingerprints on the victory.
There was a huge defensive effort on Ponga in the first-half when he guided his fellow full-back to the outside and then monstered him with a ball-and-all tackle.
He then showed the fleetfooted magic in his game with a lightning break to torch the Kiwis and deliver a try that just tipped the balance in the Kangaroos' favour.
Given his recent injury absence, Walsh's calves and lungs were burning at times while a vomiting spout just outlined the lengths he was willing to go to help his team.
Knowing you've got a matchwinner in the ranks helps Australia deal with being under the pump as they were on significant occasions in this, and Walsh delivered.
