Australia secured a dramatic 24-22 victory over New Zealand in the Rugby League World Cup opener in Sydney, the hosts snatching victory in the closing stages of a tightly contested match.
Debutant Jack Bostock proved the difference for the Kangaroos, crossing for a hat-trick to mark a memorable first appearance. His three tries were pivotal in a game that swung back and forth and kept fans on edge until the final whistle.
New Zealand pushed the Australians throughout the match and kept the scoreline close, but were ultimately unable to overcome Bostock’s finishing and the hosts’ late resilience. The narrow two-point margin reflected the competitive nature of the encounter and set the tone for an intense tournament.
The result gives Australia an opening win in the World Cup, while New Zealand will regroup as the competition continues. Both teams produced moments of quality and will take learnings from the contest as they prepare for the next fixtures in the tournament.