Bostock hat-trick seals thrilling World Cup opener for Kangaroos
Australia and New Zealand kicked off the 2026 Rugby League World Cup with a thrilling match that went down to the wire, with debutant Jack Bostock scoring a hat-trick, including the winner. The match saw some incredible moments, including a stunning try from New Zealand's Casey McLean and a suspected broken arm for the Kiwis' Kalyn Ponga.
Rugby League fans were treated to an instant classic as Australia and New Zealand kicked off the 2026 Rugby League World Cup with a thrilling match that went down to the wire. The match saw debutant Jack Bostock score a hat-trick, including the winner, as the Kangaroos edged out the Kiwis.
McLean defies gravity in all-time finish
New Zealand's Casey McLean produced a stunning finish, defying gravity to score a try that has been hailed as one of the best of the tournament. McLean's try came after a towering bomb from Jahrome Hughes was batted back by Ronaldo Mulitalo, and Isaiah Papali'i threw a one-handed pass that McLean collected on the blind side.
With no space to work in, McLean went airborne, seemingly in slow motion, and grounded the ball in the corner despite being smothered by Kangaroos halfback Mitchell Moses. Luke Lewis, an expert commentator, described it as "one of the best finishes you will see in this game."
Long-range intercepts put Kangaroos on top
Despite being dominated by the Kiwis in the first half, the Kangaroos scored two 90-metre intercept tries to level the scores at halftime. The first Kangaroos score came from debutant Jack Bostock, who rushed out of the defensive line to grab a looping pass by Kiwi halfback Jahrome Hughes.
The second intercept try went to Tom Trbojevic, who showed his speed and agility to beat the cover tackle and streak away for the try.
Fullback duel lives up to hype
The duel between opposing fullbacks Kalyn Ponga and Reece Walsh lived up to the hype, with both players producing moments of brilliance. Ponga burst to life in the second half, dancing and darting around the Kangaroos defence before scoring two tries.
Walsh, however, struggled to regain his composure after scoring a try, and was seen vomiting on the field. Despite this, he managed to stay on and see out the game. Ponga's night ended early, however, with a suspected broken arm - a huge blow for the Kiwis' title hopes.
Bostock wins the game
Jack Bostock's hat-trick proved to be the difference, as he scored the winning try with less than four minutes to play. Bostock's second try came in the 57th minute, and his third sealed the win for the Kangaroos.