Arabic version: جيلاروز تفتتح كأس العالم بفوز ساحق على ساموا

According to ABC News, Australia began its pursuit of a fourth consecutive Women’s Rugby League World Cup with a 40-0 victory over Fetu Samoa. The reigning champions overcame an ill-disciplined opening 10 minutes before scoring seven tries in the tournament opener.

Samoa, playing in its first World Cup since 2008, created several early chances but could not convert them. Jaime Chapman scored Australia’s first try in the 11th minute, ending a three-year Jillaroos absence, before Julia Robinson beat three defenders for her 23rd Jillaroos try in 14 appearances.

Shaylee Bent and Keeley Nizza then crossed, while Olivia Kernick scored just before half-time to give Australia a 28-0 lead. Jocelyn Kelleher, making her Jillaroos debut, and reigning Dally M medallist Tamika Upton each supplied two try assists in the first-half burst.

Kernick helped extend the lead early in the second half, passing to Keilee Joseph for a try. Samoa continued to defend bravely and worked into attacking positions late in the match, with prop Laikha Clarke coming closest to scoring before she was ruled to have dropped the ball over the line. Samoa centre Sarina Masaga also suffered a suspected knee injury in the dying stages.

Jessica Sergis scored in the final two minutes to complete the 40-point win and extend Australia’s almost three-year unbeaten run. Kelleher was named player of the match after a dangerous attacking display and a kicking game that troubled Samoa. She said her debut was “a dream come true”, while also acknowledging Australia had “a lot of things to fix” after a performance she said was not perfect.