Debutant Jack Bostock scored a hat-trick as Australia edged New Zealand 24-22 in a thrilling Rugby League World Cup opener at Allianz Stadium on Thursday night, with Kalyn Ponga leaving late with a suspected broken arm after starring for the Kiwis.
A sell-out crowd of 41,255, the biggest Test crowd in Sydney in more than 50 years, watched the Pool A clash finish 10-10 at half-time before a see-sawing second half, NRL.com reported. Dolphins winger Bostock finished with three tries and 231 run metres and was named man of the match on his Kangaroos debut.
He is the first Kangaroo to score three tries on debut since Campbell Graham against Scotland at the 2022 World Cup, according to NRL.com.
Bostock and Walsh turn the contest
New Zealand struck first when Casey McLean finished in the corner after Isaiah Papali’i’s offload, with Jamayne Isaako converting for a 6-0 lead. Bostock replied with an 88-metre interception try off a Jahrome Hughes pass to make it 6-4, and Isaako’s penalty pushed the lead back to 8-4 before Tom Trbojevic intercepted Casey McLean and raced 85 metres to put Australia briefly in front.
Read more: Kangaroos vs Kiwis Preview: Walsh and Ponga Lead World Cup Opener
Isaako’s second penalty after Kotoni Staggs was sin-binned for a professional foul locked the scores at 10-10 at the break. Early in the second half Mitchell Moses limped off with a calf injury and was replaced by Tom Dearden, ABC Sport reported.
Ponga opened his Kiwis account to make it 16-10, then Bostock’s second try, converted by Walsh from the touchline after he leapt above Isaako to claim a Cameron Munster kick, levelled it at 16-16. Ponga’s second try — a solo effort in which he stepped past Reece Walsh — restored New Zealand’s lead at 22-16.
Walsh then produced an 80-metre try after a Bostock offload to cut the gap to 22-20, with Latrell Mitchell missing the conversion from the sideline. With about four minutes left, Bostock again out-jumped Isaako from a Munster kick to complete his hat-trick and give Australia a 24-22 lead that the world champions held to full-time.
Read more: Kangaroos Team Named: Walsh Picked Over Tedesco, Moses at Halfback
Ponga injury cloud for the Kiwis
NRL.com reported Ponga was forced from the field with a suspected broken arm about 10 minutes after his second try, a major blow for Stacey Jones’ side. ABC Sport’s Michael Carayannis also described it as a “suspected broken arm”, with the Newcastle fullback later seen with his left arm in a sling.
Reece Walsh finished with a try and two successful conversions according to match reports, plus a try-saving tackle on Ponga in the first half. Isaako kicked five from five for New Zealand.
What’s next
The win extended Australia’s World Cup winning streak to 19 matches. The Kangaroos face Fiji in Round 2 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, while the Kiwis host the Cook Islands in Christchurch. Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters said Sam Walker will partner Dearden in the halves against Fiji, with James Tedesco to return at fullback, Fox Sports reported.
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