Bostock hat-trick seals it as battered Australia edge New Zealand in World Cup opener

Jack Bostock scored a hat-trick on his Australia debut, the third try sealing a 24-22 win over New Zealand in the Men's Rugby League World Cup opener.

The Trans-Tasman rivals met at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Thursday, 15 October, with kick-off at 8.05pm AEDT, according to the NRL NRL. Australia held on for the two-point win in a bruising start to the tournament BBC Sport.

Bostock, the winger picked for his first Kangaroos cap, finished three tries. A try in league is the main score, worth four points for grounding the ball over the line. His last came late from a familiar move, a high, hanging kick — an up-and-under — from Cameron Munster that Bostock chased and claimed to win it.

Reece Walsh was at the centre of almost everything else. It was his first match in eight weeks after an ankle injury. He made a try-saving tackle on Kalyn Ponga at one end, then sprinted 60 metres to score at the other.

Then his body gave out. Walsh was left doubled over, cramping and vomiting from the effort. Head coach Kevin Walters said afterwards that Walsh had no energy left to take a kick at goal — the conversion attempt after a try — and revealed his nickname is 'Chucker' because he is sick when he pushes himself to the limit.

Ponga had his own brutal night. Playing his first match for New Zealand after an eligibility switch was approved, he scored two second-half tries. He then played on for 20 minutes with a suspected broken arm before leaving the field.

New Zealand coach Stacey Jones said the damage may be an arm fracture from a tackle with Munster. Ponga will have scans. He watched the finish with his arm in a sling. He left the field shortly before Munster and Bostock combined for that decisive late kick.

Australia paid a price too. Half-back Mitchell Moses tried to run off a calf problem but was forced off just after half-time. Captain Isaah Yeo played after delaying surgery on an injured pectoral muscle in his chest to lead the team at the World Cup.

What makes this stand out is how much both sides kept giving with so little left. Walsh could barely stand. Ponga would not quit. Bostock, the debutant, kept his head when the game was there to win.