Arabic version: هاتريك بوستوك يقود الكناغر للتفوق على الكيوي

According to ABC News, Australia and New Zealand opened the 2026 Rugby League World Cup with a closely contested match at the Sydney Football Stadium, as Kangaroos debutant Jack Bostock delivered a match-winning hat-trick.

New Zealand began strongly and Casey McLean produced an early corner try after a bomb from Jahrome Hughes was batted back by Ronaldo Mulitalo. McLean collected Isaiah Papali’i’s pass near the sideline and grounded the ball while airborne despite pressure from Australia halfback Mitchell Moses.

The Kiwis dominated first-half possession and running metres, but Australia went into the break level following two 90-metre intercept tries. Bostock intercepted a looping Hughes pass and ran to the goal-line, while Tom Trbojevic later collected a Casey McLean pass intended for an unmarked winger before beating Kodi Nikorima’s cover attempt.

Kalyn Ponga stood out for New Zealand, scoring twice after Reece Walsh had earlier forced him into touch with a try-saving tackle. Ponga’s second score came from a 40-metre run, but his match ended early with a suspected broken arm after he had continued playing despite nursing his left arm following a tackle on Cam Munster.

Walsh answered Ponga’s efforts with a 60-metre try after Bostock supplied a flick pass. Exhausted after the run, Walsh vomited while preparing to take the conversion, leaving Latrell Mitchell to attempt the kick. Bostock later scored from two Cam Munster kicks, including the decisive effort with less than four minutes remaining, when he stripped the ball from Jamayne Isaako after the Kiwi appeared to have secured it.