Bostock’s three tries carry the Kangaroos past New Zealand in a tight World Cup opener
The Guardian, News.com.au, Brisbane Times, WA Today and ABC covered the opening match of the Rugby League World Cup, played in Sydney on Thursday night, October 15. The Guardian reported a 24–22 Australian win over New Zealand in Pool A, with debutant Jack Bostock scoring three tries, including the winner, and setting up another. WA Today reported that New Zealand’s Casey McLean scored the tournament’s first try in freakish fashion and that Tom Trbojevic scored a 90-metre intercept try for the Kangaroos. Fox Sports reported that Mitchell Moses is in doubt for the rest of the World Cup after limping off; the nature of the injury was not in our sources. The score comes from one outlet.
A home World Cup opener decided by two points sets the tone for the tournament and for how seriously rivals take the Kangaroos. An injury to a key playmaker could change selection for the rest of the pool matches.
If you plan to watch, check ABC or Nine for the draw and kick-off times; we did not see the next fixture. If you hold tickets, follow the tournament’s official channels for any change.
A win is a win: Australia found a debutant who scored three tries and survived a spirited New Zealand side on a big night.
Conceding 22 points to the Kiwis, and losing Moses, is a warning. The Kangaroos will need to be sharper in defence and deeper in the halves.
Two things decide whether this was a scare or a warning: the severity of Moses’s injury and whether Australia’s defence tightens. We will report the injury once the team or a second outlet states it, and the score once it is confirmed by a second source.
DailyDrop Australia edition No. 12 · Morning · FRI., OCT. 16, 2026