Australian captain Isaah Yeo says the 2026 Rugby League World Cup feels different, after leading the Kangaroos to a thrilling 24-22 victory over New Zealand in the tournament opener in Sydney last night.
The match, played before a crowd of 41,255, delivered spectacular tries, strong defence and a dramatic finish as Australia secured the win through debutant Jack Bostock, who scored a hat-trick, including the decisive try in the closing minutes.
Yeo says the atmosphere and growing interest surrounding this year's tournament reflect the excitement building around international rugby league.
He says the attention surrounding the competition has also felt different compared with the previous World Cup, which was held in England.
The crowd of 41,255 was Sydney's largest for a Test match in more than 50 years, since 55,505 fans attended the deciding match of the 1974 Ashes series between Australia and Great Britain at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
It was also the city's biggest World Cup attendance since the 1968 final between Australia and France.
New Zealand captain James Fisher-Harris also praised the atmosphere, describing it as one of the best he had experienced in an Australia-New Zealand clash.
Australia coach Kevin Walters said the match was one of the best he had watched in a long time, praising the intensity between the two rivals.
He said Australia would take confidence from the win but expected another tough contest when the sides meet again.
New Zealand coach Stacey Jones remained optimistic about his team's chances despite the narrow defeat and the loss of star full-back Kalyn Ponga, who scored two tries before leaving the field with a reported broken arm.
Jones said there were positives to take from the performance, although the team would need to make adjustments as the tournament progressed.
He said New Zealand would learn from the defeat and work to improve without making major changes.
Meanwhile, the Bati will begin their World Cup campaign against the Cook Islands at 5.05pm this Sunday at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.
They will then face Australia at 9.05pm on the 25th of this month before taking on New Zealand at 4.30pm on the 31st.
Source: NRL
