Australia Beat New Zealand 34-10 to Win Fourth Straight Women's Rugby League World Cup

Australia are world champions again. The Jillaroos beat New Zealand 34-10 in the Women’s Rugby League World Cup final at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Sunday, winning the trophy for a fourth consecutive tournament.

The final was effectively over by half-time. Australia scored six tries in a 35-minute opening half to lead 34-6, and winger Jaime Chapman scored three of them.

Chapman hat-trick sinks the Kiwi Ferns

Chapman opened the scoring inside three minutes, finishing in the left corner after Australia moved the ball wide. Jesse Southwell converted from the touchline.

Second-rower Shaylee Bent crossed three minutes later for 12-0. Chapman then dived in at the corner for her second try after a quarter of an hour, and Southwell landed another difficult conversion for 18-0.

Centre Jessica Sergis broke through for a long-range try under the posts on 20 minutes. New Zealand felt the pass that put her through was forward, but the try stood and Australia led 24-0.

Chapman completed her hat-trick just before the half-hour, breaking a tackle and running around 60 metres to score. Fullback Tamika Upton added a sixth try in the closing minutes of the half after quick passing with Abbi Church down the right.

New Zealand never got close enough

The Kiwi Ferns’ only first-half points came on 23 minutes. Back-to-back penalties took them into Australian territory, and reserve prop Shannon Mato forced her way over. Five-eighth Chantay Kiria-Ratu converted.

Australia dominated possession and made far fewer tackling errors. By the final 15 minutes, BBC Sport counted 33 missed tackles by New Zealand against just 10 by Australia.

A scrappy, scoreless second half

The second half was a very different contest. New Zealand defended much better and the Jillaroos made a string of handling errors, many of them from high kicks, as the hot and humid Brisbane afternoon took its toll.

Australia captain Isabelle Kelly produced two important try-saving tackles. In one of them she bundled winger Mackenzie Wiki into touch just short of the line.

Wiki eventually scored on the final siren, pouncing after Kelly spilled a chip kick, to make the final score 34-10. Australia had already won the game.

Injuries late on

The second half was also physical. New Zealand captain Raecene McGregor went off for a head injury assessment after a clash of heads with Australia’s Simaima Taufa, who carried on with a large swelling over her right eye.

Kiwi Ferns fullback Apii Nicholls limped off with an apparent hamstring injury with about five minutes left.

A dynasty extended

The win extends Australia’s control of the women’s game. They have now won four Women’s World Cups in a row, while New Zealand, the tournament’s early powerhouse, have not lifted the trophy since 2008.

The final was played over 70 minutes, the match length used in Australia’s NRL Women’s Premiership.

For Chapman, the final topped off an outstanding tournament. Her opening try was her 11th of the World Cup, and the two that followed took her tally to 13.

Men’s final next

There was little time to celebrate in Brisbane. The men’s final, also Australia against New Zealand, follows at the same stadium with kick-off at 08:35 GMT. The Kangaroos and Kiwis also met in the tournament’s opening match in Sydney a month earlier.

Sources: BBC Sport live coverage of the Women’s Rugby League World Cup final, and Sporting News live blog, Australia v New Zealand (November 15, 2026).