Australia beat New Zealand in Rugby League World Cup opener

Summary

Australia beat New Zealand 24-22 in a dramatic Rugby League World Cup opener in Sydney, according to the BBC, with debutant Jack Bostock scoring a hat-trick to help the hosts win late. The Guardian reports that Australia survived a scare as New Zealand helped launch the tournament, while the BBC describes the match as an epic opener.

Timeline

1. theguardian.com

   15 Oct 2026, 11:22 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that Australia survived a scare against New Zealand as the Rugby League World Cup began.

2. bbc.co.uk

   15 Oct 2026, 11:32 UTCSource ↗

   The BBC reports that Australia edged New Zealand in an epic Rugby League World Cup opener.

3. bbc.co.uk

   15 Oct 2026, 17:00 UTCSource ↗

   The BBC reports that Australia beat New Zealand 24-22 in Sydney, with debutant Jack Bostock scoring a hat-trick to help the hosts clinch the opener late.