New-look halves pairing Tarryn Aiken and Jocelyn Kelleher led the Jillaroos to a 40-0 victory over Samoa to open the Women's Rugby League World Cup on Friday night.
The 2026 NRLW premiership-winning halves duo looked right at home with Kelleher also picking up player of the match in her Test debut at CommBank Stadium.
Three-time Dally M Medallist Tamika Upton also added to her highlight reel, delivering three try assists and four line break assists while skipper Isabelle Kelly ran for 198 metres.
Despite being held scoreless, Samoa walked away with their heads held high after conceding just two tries in the second half despite finishing the night with just 40 per cent of possession and 627 fewer run metres.
Samoa came firing out of the gates but as early fatigue set in the Jillaroos were quick to capitalise when Aiken shifted to the left to create the overlap and TUpton delivered a cut-out pass for Jamie Chapman to open the scoring.
Australia continued to build pressure with Kelleher and Aiken combining on the right and this time it was Julia Robinson the beneficiary of an Aiken long ball to make it 12-0 after 18 minutes.
Australia's right edge turned it on again with some slick hands finding edge forward Shaylee Bent some space out wide and she raced away for the Jillaroos' third try.
Four minutes later Keeley Nizza darted out of dummy half and put on the footwork to run 30m to the try line. Kelleher converted for a 22-0 lead.
When Amber Hall was penalised for crowding in the ruck it was powerhouse lock Olivia Kernick who made her pay after finishing off some slick lead-up play by Kelleher. The debutant five-eighth converted to send her side to the sheds with a 28-0 lead.
Samoa wrestled their way back into the contest as both sides traded sets for the opening 10 minutes of the second half.
Another error from Hall handed Australia the ball from close range and Kernick took the ball to the line before finding Keilee Joseph in support who crashed her way over the line.
Samoa came up with some impressive goal line defence late in the match with 18-year-old debutante Freedom Crichton Ropati making herself known after shooting off the line to lay some impressive shots.
But it was Australia who had the final say with Jess Sergis crashing over in the 67th minute to take the Jillaroos to a 40-0 lead.
The Jillaroos next up head to Perth to take on England while Samoa remain in Sydney to take on Wales.
Meanwhile the Vodafone Fiji Bulikula will open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand at 2.50pm tomorrow.
Source: nrl.com
