Men’s Rugby League World Cup round 2: Australia stays unbeaten
Australia’s 36–22 win leaves Fiji needing to beat New Zealand to keep its semi-final hopes alive.
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Australia’s 36–22 win leaves Fiji needing to beat New Zealand to keep its semi-final hopes alive.
Australia remains unbeaten after beating Fiji 36–22 in Brisbane on 25 October, completing round 2 of the 2026 men’s Rugby League World Cup and securing a semi-final place. New Zealand beat Cook Islands 82–16 in Christchurch, with Jamayne Isaako scoring a national single-game record of 38 points, to set up a decisive final pool match against Fiji.
The ten-team tournament has four semi-final places. Pool A, containing Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Cook Islands, sends its top two teams through. Teams in Pools B and C play against the other pool, with only the top two in their combined standings advancing—not two from each pool.
New Zealand entered the match after losing its opening pool game 24–22 to Australia. Against Cook Islands, New Zealand led 12–0 but fell behind 16–12 before recovering to lead 36–16 at half-time. Cook Islands scored no further points as New Zealand went on to win 82–16.
Isaako scored three tries and kicked 13 conversions, the goal kicks taken after tries. His 38 points surpassed New Zealand’s previous single-game record of 32, set against Cook Islands in 2000.
Fiji scored four tries, including a late consolation and three from Semi Valemei. His early second-half try, from a Kurt Donoghoe pass that skipped teammates to reach the wing, put Fiji ahead. Another Fiji try was disallowed for obstruction—blocking a defender. Sam Walker and James Tedesco then set up Tom Trbojevic to level on Australia’s next possession, before Walker’s penalty goal put Australia ahead for good.
Trbojevic collected Tedesco’s low, bouncing kick for his second try and completed his three-try haul in another move involving Tedesco with 15 minutes remaining. Tedesco finished with three try assists and more than 150 metres gained carrying the ball.
Herbie Farnworth and Dom Young each scored three tries, but England still need a heavy win over Papua New Guinea and Tonga to beat Samoa to reach the semi-finals.
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Tonga’s 36–0 victory over Lebanon was its second successive win and leaves its meeting with Samoa to decide first place in the combined Pool B/C standings. A Samoa victory would send Tonga through in second place; a Tonga win would leave England with a route to the other semi-final place.
| Winner | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Fiji | 36–22 |
| Tonga | Lebanon | 36–0 |
| Samoa | Papua New Guinea | 64–6 |
| England | France | 82–0 |
| New Zealand | Cook Islands | 82–16 |
Guardian Sport said England’s route requires a win over Papua New Guinea, a Tonga victory over Samoa and a combined 68-point swing in points difference—points scored minus points conceded. England’s winning margin and Tonga’s winning margin can both contribute, so England does not necessarily need to win by 68 points itself.
Australia would finish first in Pool A by beating Cook Islands in its final group match. With Australia already through, New Zealand and Fiji meet for the remaining semi-final place on 31 October at 04:30 GMT on the Gold Coast.
England plays Papua New Guinea in Wollongong on 30 October. Australia faces Cook Islands in Townsville on 31 October. The final pool-stage fixture is Tonga–Samoa in Parramatta on 1 November, which will determine Australia’s semi-final opponent.
Sione Katoa and Jojo Fifita scored twice each as Tonga followed its win over England with a second victory, strengthening its semi-final bid.
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Haumole Olakau'atu scored twice as Tonga resisted England's second-half attacks, leaving England to pursue a semi-final place in games against France and Papua New Guinea.
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