The Kangaroos finished the Rugby League World Cup pool stage unbeaten with a 66-6 win over Cook Islands in Townsville, as Jack Bostock and Tom Trbojevic both scored hat-tricks.
Australia scored 12 tries to one in front of 19,172 fans at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday night, NRL.com reported, to finish top of Pool A.
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui scored two tries, while Kotoni Staggs, Reece Walsh, Jacob Preston and Harry Grant also crossed.
Cook Islands strike first
Bostock opened the scoring in the third minute, but Cook Islands hit back when Rua Ngatikaura scored from dummy-half to give the Aitu a 6-4 lead.
Australia then scored four tries in 13 minutes to lead 28-6 at half-time, and added seven more after the break, with Fa’asuamaleaui’s solo try bringing up 50 points.
Read more: Kangaroos Team: Sam Walker Dropped as Dearden Partners Munster
Walsh stars, but a fitness watch
Fullback Walsh was named player of the match after a try, five try assists and two line breaks, the ABC reported. He handed the goal-kicking to Cameron Munster after grabbing at his foot in the first half, and The Guardian reported he played through ankle and shoulder complaints in the second half.
Ethan Strange made his Kangaroos debut off the bench and kicked a goal, according to the official match details.
Read more: Jack Bostock Hat-Trick Seals Kangaroos 24-22 World Cup Win
Semi-final next
The Kangaroos play a sudden-death semi-final at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Sunday, 8 November.
Their opponent will be Samoa or Tonga, with the two sides meeting on Sunday night.
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