Verified November 8, 2026, at 5:10 p.m. UTC.
Australia beat Samoa 44-12 in the men's Rugby League World Cup semifinal at Sydney's Allianz Stadium on November 8, sending the Kangaroos into a final against New Zealand. Fullback Reece Walsh scored three tries as Australia built a 26-2 halftime lead and ended Samoa's bid for a second consecutive World Cup final.
The result sets up a trans-Tasman decider at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on November 15. New Zealand secured its place by beating Tonga 34-10 in the other semifinal. The NRL's match report confirmed the Australia-Samoa score and Walsh's hat trick.
Destaques
Samoa struck first through a Stephen Crichton penalty goal, but Australia responded quickly and established control before the break. Walsh scored his first try early, and Bradman Best crossed before halftime as the Kangaroos built a 24-point advantage.
Crichton scored a try early in the second half to give Samoa a response, but Walsh soon added his second. Izack Tago also scored for Samoa before Walsh completed his hat trick. Jack Bostock's late try and Cameron Munster's conversion took Australia to 44 points.
The NRL reported a crowd of 41,259 at Allianz Stadium. For readers looking for the kickoff details, the semifinal began on Sunday, November 8, at 8:05 p.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Time in Sydney (AEDT, UTC+11:00), which was 9:05 a.m. UTC. The tournament's semifinal announcement confirmed the venue and scheduled Sydney kickoff.
Australia topped Group A after wins over New Zealand, Fiji and the Cook Islands. Samoa finished second in the combined standings for Groups B and C after beating France and Papua New Guinea and losing a close final group match to Tonga, 20-18.
The tournament format explains why the teams' paths looked different. The four Group A teams played one another, while teams in the two three-team groups played opponents from the adjacent group. The top two from Group A and the top two from the combined Groups B and C standings advanced to the semifinals, according to the official competition announcement.
That format put the Kangaroos against Samoa and New Zealand against Tonga. A semifinal is an elimination match: Australia's win ended Samoa's title challenge and earned the Kangaroos a place in the final.
The meeting brought together the finalists from the previous men's World Cup, played in England in 2022. Australia won that decider, while Samoa's run to the final marked a major moment for the Pacific nation. The Sydney semifinal offered Samoa another chance against the defending champion, this time for a place in the title game.
Both sides arrived with attacking credentials. Samoa scored 78 points against France and 64 against Papua New Guinea in the group stage, while Australia won all three of its group games. Samoa's narrow loss to Tonga also showed how tight the contest for the combined standings had become.
Before the semifinal, International Rugby League's match preview noted that Ronald Volkman would partner Jarome Luai in Samoa's halves after Chanel Harris-Tavita was injured against Tonga. Australia retained the starting 13 from its previous game against the Cook Islands.
Australia will meet New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Sunday, November 15. The Kiwis advanced with their semifinal win over Tonga, setting up a rematch of the opening game of the tournament, which Australia won 24-22.
That earlier result points to a potentially close final, but it does not predict the outcome. Australia will carry confidence from its semifinal attacking display; New Zealand, having already faced the Kangaroos in this tournament, has a recent match to study as it prepares. The official tournament information confirms the date and venue. Readers should check the current match listing for the final's kickoff time and any later schedule changes.
In Australia, the tournament organizer says matches are broadcast on Seven and 7plus. Check the broadcaster's current schedule for final coverage and streaming details.
Australia won the men's World Cup semifinal 44-12 on November 8, 2026.
Australia fullback Reece Walsh scored three tries in the semifinal.
Australia and New Zealand will play at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on November 15, 2026.
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