Updates as the Jillaroos and Kiwi Ferns meet in the decider in Brisbane
Kick-off time is 3.10pm local/4.10pm AEDT/5.10am BST
Both teams will line up as listed, with no late changes. New Zealand will play the same 17 who beat Samoa 32-0 in their semi final in Newcastle last Saturday. Australia has made one change from their semi final win over Fiji, bringing Jesse Southwell in at five eighth, replacing Jocelyn Kelleher.
1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Stacey Waaka 5. Mackenzie Wiki 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Alexis Tauaneai 9. Georgia Hale 10. Otesa Pule 11. Shaniece Monschau 12. Kaiyah Atai 13. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa Interchange 14. Ashleigh Quinlan 15. Annessa Biddle 16. Shannon Mato 17. Ivana Lauitiiti
1. Tamika Upton 2. Jaime Chapman 3. Jessica Sergis 4. Isabelle Kelly 5. Abbi Church 6. Jesse Southwell 7. Tarryn Aiken 8. Millie Elliott 9. Olivia Higgins 10. Simaima Taufa 11. Tiana Penitani Gray 12. Shaylee Bent 13. Olivia Kernick Interchange: 14. Keeley Nizza 15. Keilee Joseph 16. Kezie Apps 17. Sariah Paki
If you’d like a refresher on how the Jillaroos made it to today’s final, Jack Snape’s match report from their semi final win over Fiji will help you get up to speed.
Hello and welcome to the final of the Rugby League World Cup! It feels like it’s been going for most of this year at least, but at last here we are at its conclusion. I don’t think you’ll find too many people are surprised with the fact that we have ended up with an Australia v New Zealand final.
The Jillaroos are naturally the favourites, having only lost one of their previous 12 matches to the Kiwi Ferns, the loss taking place in 2023 – so it’s been a long time between drinks.
The last three World Cup finals have featured these two teams and the Jillaroos have won all three. The last time the Kiwi Ferns won a World Cup final was 2008, when they had a dominant 34-0 win against the Jillaroos at Lang Park, Brisbane – coincidentally the same venue where today’s final is being played. Fun fact – when the Kiwi Ferns last won a World Cup final, Jillaroos’ five-eighth Jesse Southwell was just three years old.
However, while the Jillaroos go in as the favourites, don’t discount the Kiwi Ferns, who will be determined to create an upset. Stacey Waaka has her sights on becoming the first ever player to win both a rugby union 15s and a rugby league world cup, which will be quite the achievement if she manages it. Kiwi Ferns’ halfback Raecene McGregor is also an extremely smart and talented player, who will certainly have some plans to try to undo the Jillaroos’ dominance.
There’s plenty to discuss, so let’s get into it!
