Reece Walsh meets fans after the 2026 World Club Challenge

Reece Walsh’s Hat-Trick Fires Australia Past Samoa 44-12 Into Rugby League World Cup Final

November 8, 2026 Faizan Altaf

Reece Walsh scored a hat-trick as Australia crushed Samoa 44-12 in the Rugby League World Cup semi-final on Sunday, booking a place in next weekend’s final against New Zealand. In front of 41,259 fans at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, the Kangaroos produced their best performance of the tournament so far, running in eight tries to set up a blockbuster title decider in Brisbane.

The win keeps Australia on course for a fourth straight World Cup title. It also sets up a repeat of the 2022 final — when Australia beat Samoa 30-10 at Old Trafford — and a rematch of this tournament’s opening game, in which the Kangaroos edged the Kiwis in Sydney.

For Samoa, the dream of a second straight World Cup final is over. They started brightly, scoring first through a penalty goal, but they could not live with Australia’s speed and discipline once the Kangaroos found their rhythm.

Walsh steals the show in Sydney

The night belonged to Reece Walsh. The 24-year-old fullback was picked ahead of veteran James Tedesco for the semi-final, and coach Kevin Walters’ gamble paid off in spectacular fashion.

Walsh scored three tries — in the 32nd, 47th and 66th minutes — and was named player of the match. It was his first hat-trick in international rugby league, and it came on the biggest stage of the tournament so far.

His first try showed everything that makes him such a thrilling player to watch. He exploded through a gap on the left edge, between Ronald Volkman and Stephen Crichton, and celebrated with a backflip. His second came three minutes after a rare mistake — he had dropped a high kick early in the second half, allowing Crichton to score — when he took a short ball from Harry Grant and powered through Crichton to cross. His third finished off a superb team try that started on Australia’s own side of halfway, with Tom Trbojevic, Tom Dearden and Cameron Munster all involved.

Walsh then had a hand in Australia’s final try, helping winger Jack Bostock cross with eight minutes left to play.

The performance vindicated Walters’ selection calls. The coach kept Walsh at fullback and Dearden at halfback ahead of Tedesco and Sam Walker, and both men delivered. Dearden scored the opening try and steered the team superbly alongside five-eighth Cameron Munster, who set up three tries and kicked the goals.

How the semi-final unfolded

A fast start from the Kangaroos

Samoa actually scored first. Stephen Crichton kicked a penalty goal in the fifth minute after Australia were caught offside, and for a few minutes the underdogs dared to dream.

But the lead lasted just two minutes. Crichton made an error 20 metres from his own line, and from the resulting scrum Dearden dummied his way past Jazz Tevaga and Francis Manuleleua to score the opening try.

Australia’s second try came in the 14th minute. Keaon Koloamatangi was stopped just short of the line and offloaded to Grant, who found Munster, and Jacob Preston pinballed his way over from close range to score.

A mistake by Spencer Leniu coming out of his own end in the 24th minute handed Australia more field position, and winger Tom Trbojevic crossed for his eighth try of the tournament after slick lead-up play from Dearden and Kotoni Staggs.

Samoa thought they had hit back on the half-hour mark when Manuleleua chased a Jarome Luai bomb and contested the catch with Walsh, with the ball spilling to Crichton, who dived over. But the video referee ruled that Manuleleua had knocked on in the contest, and the try was disallowed. It took the wind out of Samoa’s sails after an emotional celebration.

Just two minutes later, Walsh scored his first try to make it 20-2. Then, with half-time approaching, Cameron Murray drew in three defenders before slipping a pass to Preston, who sent Bradman Best over for his first Test try. Best’s try made it 26-2 at the break.

To make matters worse for Samoa, they lost Leniu to the sin bin for dissent after he took out his frustration on referee Adam Gee following the Best try.

Samoa fight back, but Australia answer every time

Samoa made the ideal start to the second half. Walsh dropped a high kick from Volkman, and Crichton cleaned up the loose ball to score. Suddenly, at 26-8, Samoa had a glimmer of hope.

But Walsh answered within three minutes, powering through Crichton to score his second try. Munster’s conversion made it 32-8, and the game was effectively over.

Samoa lifted again in the 61st minute when Izack Tago slid across in the left-hand corner after good work from Volkman, Luai and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. The try made it 32-12 and brought the Samoan fans to their feet.

As they had done all night, however, the Kangaroos answered the challenge. Walsh completed his hat-trick with a superb team try, and Bostock crossed for his seventh try of the tournament in the 72nd minute. Munster converted to make the final score 44-12.

Samoa’s night of frustration

Samoa will look back on this semi-final with frustration. They were ill-disciplined at key moments, and every mistake was punished.

The disallowed try just before half-time was the turning point. Had it stood, Samoa would have gone into the break at 20-8 with momentum. Instead, they conceded two more tries before the interval and lost Leniu to the sin bin.

Leniu’s night summed up Samoa’s evening. His error in the 24th minute led directly to Trbojevic’s try, and his dissent after the Best try left his team a man short at the worst possible time.

Samoa had hoped to challenge Australia after the Kangaroos’ uneven performances in the group stage, and to avenge their defeat in the 2022 final. Instead, they suffered a sixth straight Test defeat against Australia, having now lost all six meetings between the two nations.

For all that, Samoa’s tournament still deserves respect. Reaching the semi-finals again, four years after their famous run to the 2022 final, confirms them as one of rugby league’s rising forces. Players such as Crichton, Luai and Tabuai-Fidow showed their class, and Tago’s try was one of the best of the night.

What it means: a final against New Zealand

Australia will now face New Zealand in the World Cup final at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane next Sunday, 15 November. Kick-off is at 7.35pm AEDT, and the match is already sold out.

It is a repeat of the finals of 2013, 2008 and 2000, and a rematch of the tournament’s opening game in Sydney, which Australia won. The 2008 final at Suncorp produced one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history, when the Benji Marshall-inspired Kiwis beat Australia 34-20.

New Zealand reached the final by beating Tonga 34-10 in the other semi-final at Lang Park on Saturday, their first World Cup final appearance since 2013. Just as in 2022 in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand will meet in both the men’s and women’s World Cup finals next Sunday, in what promises to be a magnificent showcase for rugby league.

The final feels like the one fixture that can still test Australia. The Kangaroos had been under fire for limp performances in the group stage, but they finally found their groove against Samoa. New Zealand, meanwhile, have looked strong all tournament and will believe they can end Australia’s dominance.

Australia’s road to Brisbane

Australia’s journey to the final has not been as smooth as the scoreline against Samoa suggests. The 12-time world champions were criticised for flat performances in the group stage, and there were questions about Walters’ selections — above all the decision to pick Walsh ahead of Tedesco, the long-time fullback and captain.

Sunday’s semi-final answered those questions. This was Australia’s most complete performance of the tournament: eight tries, a 26-2 half-time lead, and a response every time Samoa threatened a comeback. Dearden and Munster controlled the game, Grant was sharp out of dummy half, and the backline of Walsh, Trbojevic, Best and Bostock was lethal.

The win also maintained Australia’s perfect record against Samoa and extended their grip on the World Cup, a trophy they have held since 2013. A fourth straight title would underline one of the great dynasties in the sport’s history.

For Walters, the challenge now is to keep his team at this level for one more week. The final against New Zealand, in front of a sold-out Suncorp Stadium, will be a far sterner test than anything Australia have faced so far.

The final: what to expect

Next Sunday’s final has all the ingredients of a classic. Australia against New Zealand is rugby league’s fiercest rivalry, and the two sides have already played out a close contest in this tournament’s opening game.

New Zealand will take confidence from their semi-final win over Tonga and from the memory of 2008, when they stunned Australia in Brisbane. Australia will take confidence from their semi-final demolition of Samoa and from Walsh’s form.

The key battles will be in the halves, where Dearden and Munster face New Zealand’s playmakers, and in the outside backs, where Walsh will look to repeat his semi-final heroics. If Australia play like they did against Samoa, they will be hard to beat. But finals are different — and New Zealand have waited 13 years for another shot at the title.

One thing is certain: after Sunday’s 44-12 statement win, the Kangaroos go into the final as favourites, with the sport’s most exciting fullback in the form of his life.

Frequently asked questions

What was the score in Australia vs Samoa?

Australia beat Samoa 44-12 in the Rugby League World Cup semi-final at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Australia led 26-2 at half-time.

Who scored a hat-trick for Australia?

Reece Walsh scored three tries, in the 32nd, 47th and 66th minutes. It was his first hat-trick in international rugby league, and he was named player of the match.

Who else scored for Australia?

Tom Dearden, Jacob Preston, Tom Trbojevic, Bradman Best and Jack Bostock all scored tries. Samoa’s points came from a Stephen Crichton penalty goal and tries from Crichton and Izack Tago.

When is the Rugby League World Cup final?

Australia will play New Zealand in the final at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Sunday, 15 November 2026. Kick-off is at 7.35pm AEDT, and the match is sold out.

How many times have Australia won the Rugby League World Cup?

Australia are 12-time world champions and are chasing a fourth straight title, having held the trophy since 2013.

Conclusion

Australia’s 44-12 win over Samoa was the performance the Kangaroos had been waiting for all tournament. Reece Walsh’s hat-trick lit up Allianz Stadium, the halves controlled the game, and the defending champions answered every Samoan challenge. The reward is a World Cup final against New Zealand in Brisbane — a Trans-Tasman blockbuster, a repeat of the 2008 decider at the same venue, and a shot at a fourth straight title. On Sunday’s evidence, Australia will take some stopping.

Sources

This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.

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