The all-conquering Australian Jillaroos have stormed to a fourth consecutive World Cup title with a dominant 34-10 win over arch-rivals the Kiwi Ferns at Suncorp Stadium.
The Jillaroos exploded out of the blocks with Jamie Chapman and Shaylee Bent crossing inside the first six minutes and by the time a drinks break was taken midway through the half due to Brisbane's stifling heat the scoreline read 24-0.
Chapman continued her remarkable World Cup with a first-half hat-trick to take her try tally to 13 for the tournament and 18 in her 10-Test career.
From an acrobatic dive into the corner in the 15th minute to a powerhouse 70-metre charge in the 29th minute, Chapman tormented the Kiwi Ferns throughout the opening half.
Centre Jess Sergis also came up with a 70-metre solo try while gun fullback Tamika Upton rounded out the first-half smashing when she combined with Abbi Church on the right edge to make it 34-6 at the break.
The second term opened with Tarryn Aiken going close on a dart to the line before another try went begging in the 45th minute when Olivia Kernick's final pass went astray but the Kiwi Ferns simply could not find a way through to eat into the lead.
Arriving at Suncorp Stadium chasing a fourth World Cup crown of their own, the Kiwi Ferns had just 42 per cent of possession in the first half as the Jillaroos blew them off the park.
By full-time they had evened up the possession to 50-50 and shown greater defensive resolve to keep the Jillaroos scoreless but the damage had been done.
The final stats showed eight Jillaroos running for more than 100 metres, led by Sergis (198m), Chapman (151m) and Kelly (142m), while the Ferns had just two in fullback Apii Nicholls (112m) and winger Leianne Tufuga (107m).
Adding injury to insult, the Ferns lost star playmaker Raecene McGregor and back-rower Kaiyah Atai inside the last 15 minutes as both were sent for a HIA while Nicholls suffered a hamstring injury.
Just as they had done in the 2022 World Cup Final when they won 54-4, the Jillaroos flexed their muscle on the biggest stage to send prop Millie Elliott out on a high in her final game of rugby league.
They may not have gone on with the job as they would have liked in the second half but a 26-point margin over their Trans-Tasman rivals and a fourth World Cup crown will be more than enough for Jess Skinner's champion side as they head for a well-earned summer holiday.
Source: rlwc.com
