Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Dolphins winger Jack Bostock marked his Australia debut with a hat-trick of tries
BySteve SutcliffeBBC Sport journalist- Published15 October 2026, 12:23 BST
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
Opening games of World Cups can often be cautious and reserved non-events. Someone forgot to tell Australia and New Zealand.
This was as good as this sport gets. As good as any sport gets.
These two old foes traded blows - in every sense - for 80 pulsating minutes in a game of staggering skill, brutal intensity and relentless drama.
New Zealand's formidable pack served up a mauling to Australia's forward for the majority of this opening match of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup but the defending champions fought back to edge a thrilling contest.
This was scintillating 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 Kangaroos' last-gasp triumph.
Ponga left the field injured with a suspected broken arm before Munster and Bostock reprised their up-and-under show with less than five minutes on the clock and had his left arm in a sling at full time.
Quite how new Queensland coach Darius Boyd selects between the star duo at Origin level next year is anyone's guess.
How do you separate arguably the two best full-backs in the game, with neither prepared to give the other an inch?
While Walsh's superb tackle on Ponga prevented a try in the first-half, the Newcastle Knights man replied by dancing past his Australia counterpart on his way to a second try.
But back came Walsh, delivering a stunning attacking riposte of his own eight minutes later.
Ponga had been the beneficiary of New Zealand's powerhouse pack getting on the front foot for the majority of the match.
As a result, the dash and swagger exhibited by Australia in their Ashes triumph of 12 months ago was largely replaced through necessity by a staunch defence of their line.
Yet somehow, largely thanks to two errant New Zealand passes that allowed Bostock and Tom Trbojevic to race unopposed from distance to score - they were level at 10-10 at the break having been comprehensively outplayed.
Yet having been 6-0, 16-10 and 22-16 down, the world champions found a way to open the tournament with a win.
Few would bet against Australia having to repeat this performance against their old foes on 15 November if they are to lift the trophy for a 13th time.
Matt's player of the match - Reece Walsh
ByMatt NewsumBBC Sport Rugby League journalistThere 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.
