Australia's Jillaroos delivered a commanding performance in Brisbane on Sunday, defeating New Zealand's Kiwi Ferns 34-10 in the Women's Rugby League World Cup final to claim their fourth consecutive title. Two tries within the opening five minutes set the tone, and four more before half-time sent Australia into the break with a commanding 34-6 advantage. Humid conditions took their toll in the second half, with errors preventing further scoring, but Australia had already done enough to reinforce their status as the sport's powerhouse nation.
Key Takeaways: Australia won 34-10; Jaime Chapman scored a hat-trick and her 11th try of the tournament; this marks Australia's fourth consecutive World Cup title; the half-time score was 34-6; the final was held in Brisbane.
Before Australia's global rise, New Zealand dominated the competition, winning the World Cup in 2000, 2003, and 2008. Since then, Australia has beaten the Kiwi Ferns in every final. New Zealand had won only one of their previous 12 Tests against the Jillaroos dating back to 2017, underscoring Australia's sustained dominance. The match was played in humid and hot conditions in Brisbane, which affected the quality of play in the second half as both sides struggled with execution.
Australia captain Isabelle Kelly, now a three-time World Cup champion, said after the match: "I want to thank the Kiwi Ferns. It's been such a great rivalry for so many years now, with so much respect between the two of our teams. To my team... I'm just so humbled and honoured to be able to lead you guys. This has definitely been a dream come true, and I knew that we could get the job done." New Zealand skipper Raecene McGregor added: "We didn't quite get the job done today, but we are going to assert dominance back into this jersey. The best of the Kiwi Ferns is yet to be shown, so stay with us." Chapman opened the scoring in the corner for her 11th tournament try, Shaylee Bent crashed over for the second, Chapman struck again midway through the half, Jessica Sergis produced a sensational solo effort sprinting the length of the field, Shannon Mato barged across for New Zealand, Chapman completed her hat-trick, and Tamika Upton added a sixth before half-time. In the second half, only Mackenzie Wiki crossed for New Zealand in the dying seconds.
With a fourth straight title secured, Australia has further cemented its position as the dominant force in women's rugby league. New Zealand has signaled its intent to reclaim dominance in future tournaments. The Kiwi Ferns' squad and tactics are expected to be reviewed ahead of the next World Cup, while Australia will seek to maintain its superiority. The next major international fixtures and Test matches in women's rugby league are set to continue through the 2025 season.
Source: www.aljazeera.com