Australia beat New Zealand 32-12 to win fourth straight Rugby League World Cup

Men's final in Brisbane

Australia beat New Zealand 32-12 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Sunday, 15 November, to win the men's Rugby League World Cup for a fourth straight time. It is the 13th title in 16 editions, and the Kangaroos have won 10 of the past 11 World Cups, stretching back to 1975. New Zealand had levelled the score at 6-6 early on, after Casey McLean's try cancelled out Liam Martin's opener. Australia then pulled clear and led 24-6 at half-time.

Australia men32

New Zealand men12

Australia women34

New Zealand women10

Australia men

32 points

New Zealand men

12 points

Australia women

34 points

New Zealand women

10 points

Data from the article text

How the final turned

Liam Martin scored from Australia's first attack after 84 seconds, following a kick-off error by New Zealand's Jamayne Isaako. Reece Walsh and Bradman Best combined for Jack Bostock's try, and three minutes after the restart Walsh's pass sent Tom Trbojevic over in the corner to make it 28-6. New Zealand's Isaiah Papalii collected a Jahrome Hughes kick to bring the score to 28-12 in the final half-hour. Kalyn Ponga, who returned from a broken arm sustained in the tournament opener, had few chances to show his skills.

Walters and the Walsh factor

Coach Kevin Walters kept selecting Reece Walsh after an eight-week lay-off, and Walters has said he keeps his plans simple in big games. Walsh was seen doubled up and vomiting during Australia's opening match against New Zealand on 15 October, which Australia won 24-22. He later said he had been unfit after eight weeks of rehab. After the final he said the team had been written off and that he felt they had been disrespected.

“I feel we got disrespected.”

Women's final and the wider tournament

Earlier on Sunday, Australia's women beat the Kiwi Ferns 34-10 for a fourth straight women's title. Winger Jaime Chapman scored a hat-trick, and Australia scored six first-half tries, two of them in the opening five minutes. Captain Isabelle Kelly, a three-time World Cup champion, said the win was a long-held goal.

“This has definitely been a dream come true, and I knew that we could get the job done.”

New Zealand captain Raecene McGregor said the best of the team was still to come. The men's tournament was cut from 16 teams to 10 after Australia stepped in to host when France pulled out for financial reasons and the event was postponed by a year. Australia men's captain Isaah Yeo praised the tournament.

“I think it's to date the most competitive and the best World Cup there's been.”

The tournament reportedly brought in A$12m for Australian free-to-air rights and posted a profit. England's wheelchair team beat France in the wheelchair final, while Ireland finished fourth after a 70-24 defeat by Australia in the third-place play-off.