Australia vs New Zealand Rugby League World Cup 2026
Can the Kiwis finally win at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, or will the Kangaroos open their title defence with another win?
Australia and New Zealand have met 144 times in Tests, and the Rugby League World Cup 2026 begins with the biggest rivalry in the sport.
Australia vs New Zealand is on Thursday 15 October 2026 at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, kicking off at 8:05pm AEDT (10:05pm in New Zealand, 10:05am UK).
It’s the opening match of the tournament. Fans also search it as Kangaroos vs Kiwis, and the stakes are high on both sides of the Tasman.
Below, you’ll find the kick-off time in every country, both team lists, the head-to-head record, our prediction and how to watch.
Both teams were named on 13 October, and we’ll add the result straight after full-time.
Quick Answer: Australia vs New Zealand Rugby League World Cup 2026
- Date: Thursday 15 October 2026
- Kick-off: 8:05pm Sydney, 10:05pm NZ, 10:05am UK
- Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
- Head to head: 144 Tests, Australia 107 wins, New Zealand 34, three draws
- Last meeting: Australia 22-10 New Zealand, Christchurch, October 2024
- Watch: Seven and 7plus (Australia), Sky Sport (NZ), Premier Sports (UK)
What Time Is Australia vs New Zealand Rugby League?
Australia vs New Zealand kicks off at 8:05pm AEDT on Thursday 15 October.
| Where you are | Kick-off time |
|---|---|
| Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra | 8:05pm Thursday |
| Brisbane | 7:05pm Thursday |
| Perth | 5:05pm Thursday |
| New Zealand | 10:05pm Thursday |
| UK | 10:05am Thursday |
Kiwi fans get a late kick-off at home, while UK fans can watch over a Thursday morning coffee.
For every other match, see our Rugby League World Cup 2026 kick-off times guide.
Kangaroos vs Kiwis Team Lists
Both teams were named on Tuesday 13 October. Here are the official 17s, as published on NRL.com.
| No. | Australia | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reece Walsh | Kalyn Ponga |
| 2 | Jack Bostock | Jamayne Isaako |
| 3 | Latrell Mitchell | Dane Gagai |
| 4 | Kotoni Staggs | Casey McLean |
| 5 | Tom Trbojevic | Ronaldo Mulitalo |
| 6 | Cameron Munster | Kodi Nikorima |
| 7 | Mitchell Moses | Jahrome Hughes |
| 8 | Patrick Carrigan | James Fisher-Harris |
| 9 | Harry Grant | Jeremy Marshall-King |
| 10 | Tino Fa’asuamaleaui | Moses Leota |
| 11 | Jacob Preston | Isaiah Papali’i |
| 12 | Liam Martin | Briton Nikora |
| 13 | Isaah Yeo | Joseph Tapine |
| 14 | Tom Dearden | Te Maire Martin |
| 15 | Cameron Murray | Naufahu Whyte |
| 16 | Reuben Cotter | Erin Clark |
| 17 | Keaon Koloamatangi | Xavier Willison |
Kevin Walters picked Reece Walsh at fullback ahead of James Tedesco, and Mitchell Moses beat Sam Walker to the No. 7 jersey.
Jacob Preston and Jack Bostock make their Test debuts for Australia.
For the Kiwis, Kalyn Ponga and Dane Gagai debut, and James Fisher-Harris is captain. Jeremy Marshall-King starts at hooker.
See every Round 1 side on our Rugby League World Cup 2026 team lists page.
Australia vs New Zealand Head to Head
Australia lead the Test head-to-head with 107 wins to New Zealand’s 34, plus three draws, from 144 matches since 1908.
| Year | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Pacific Championship, Christchurch | Australia 22-10 New Zealand |
| 2023 | Pacific Championship final, Hamilton | New Zealand 30-0 Australia |
| 2022 | World Cup semi-final, Leeds | Australia 16-14 New Zealand |
| 2008 | World Cup final, Brisbane | New Zealand 34-20 Australia |
New Zealand have never won an international at this Sydney ground, losing all seven Tests at the old Sydney Football Stadium.
That’s the record the Kiwis want to break on opening night.
Australia vs New Zealand Prediction
Australia start as favourites. They are the defending champions, they’re at home, and they won the last meeting comfortably.
But the Kangaroos are without Nathan Cleary, and the Kiwis thrashed them 30-0 as recently as 2023.
With the teams named, our pick is still Australia by six to 10 points.
Read our Rugby League World Cup predictions for the bigger picture.
Where Is Australia vs New Zealand Being Played?
The opener is at Allianz Stadium in Moore Park, Sydney, rebuilt on the site of the old Sydney Football Stadium.
It holds around 42,500 fans, and a full house is expected for the first match of the tournament.
The easiest way there is the light rail to Moore Park, and buses run from Central Station on match nights.
See every ground on our Rugby League World Cup 2026 venues page.
What Channel Is Australia vs New Zealand On?
The opener is live in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
- Australia: Free on the Seven Network and 7plus
- New Zealand: Sky Sport
- UK and Ireland: Premier Sports (subscription)
In Australia, you can stream it free on 7plus with a free account.
Kiwi fans flying to Sydney can keep watching on Sky Sport Now with a VPN like NordVPN, which also protects you on public Wi-Fi. (We may earn a commission.)
For other countries, see our how to watch the Rugby League World Cup guide.
Australia vs New Zealand Tickets
The opener is one of the matches most likely to sell out, so don’t leave it late.
Tickets start from $19 AUD on Ticketmaster, the official seller.
See our tickets guide to buy safely.
Flying in from New Zealand? An Australia eSIM from Airalo keeps your phone working from the moment you land.
Australia vs New Zealand Result
Australia beat New Zealand 24-22 in a thriller at Allianz Stadium on Thursday 15 October.
| Match | Score |
|---|---|
| Australia v New Zealand, 15 October 2026 | Australia 24-22 New Zealand |
Debut winger Jack Bostock was the hero with a hat-trick, including an 88-metre intercept try and the late match-winner.
Kalyn Ponga scored twice on debut to put the Kiwis in front, but he later went off with a suspected broken arm.
Tom Trbojevic and Reece Walsh also scored for Australia, in front of a crowd of 41,255.
Every score from the tournament goes on our Rugby League World Cup results page too.
Match Updates
15 October 2026: Full-time score and match report added. Australia won 24-22.
13 October 2026: Page published with kick-off times, head-to-head record, team news and our prediction.
13 October 2026: Both teams named. Reece Walsh starts at fullback, and Kalyn Ponga and Dane Gagai debut for the Kiwis.
Next up, Australia play Fiji in Brisbane and New Zealand host the Cook Islands in Christchurch, both on 25 October.
Australia vs New Zealand: FAQ
Here are quick answers to the questions fans ask most about Kangaroos vs Kiwis.
Each answer starts with the key fact, so you can find it fast.
For full details, see the sections above.
What time is Australia vs New Zealand rugby league?
8:05pm AEDT on Thursday 15 October 2026.
That’s 10:05pm in New Zealand and 10:05am in the UK.
It’s the opening match of the World Cup.
Where is Australia vs New Zealand being played?
At Allianz Stadium in Sydney.
It’s the opening match of the Rugby League World Cup 2026.
The stadium holds around 42,500 fans.
Who has won more games, the Kangaroos or the Kiwis?
Australia lead with 107 wins to New Zealand’s 34.
There have been three draws in 144 Tests.
Australia also won the last meeting, 22-10 in 2024.
When did New Zealand last beat Australia?
The Kiwis beat the Kangaroos 30-0 in the 2023 Pacific Championship final in Hamilton.
It was one of the biggest wins in the history of the rivalry.
Australia won the next meeting in 2024.
Conclusion
Australia vs New Zealand on 15 October opens the Rugby League World Cup 2026 with the sport’s oldest rivalry.
The Kangaroos have history on their side, but the Kiwis have beaten them before and arrive with a new-look team.
Both teams are now named, so bookmark this page for the result.
Follow both teams on our Kangaroos next game and Kiwis next game pages, and visit rlwc2026.com for official news.
