Australia has won an all-time Rugby League World Cup classic, with a hat-trick from debutant Jack Bostock earning a thrilling 24-22 win over New Zealand.
The Kiwis, trying to inflict a first home defeat on the Kangaroos in 11 years, dominated much of the game but a trio of long-range tries, including a pair of 90-metre intercepts, lifted Australia to a stunning win.
Kiwi fullback Kalyn Ponga, playing his first match for New Zealand, suffered a suspected broken arm after starring with two second-half tries and putting the Kiwis on the verge of victory.
But Bostock’s three-try performance, including the match-winner with less than four minutes to play, sunk the Kiwis.
The Kangaroos have injury concerns of their own, with halfback Mitchell Moses limping off just moments into the second half.
Relive all the action below in the ABC Sport live blog.
That is all for tonight’s live coverage
That is where we will leave tonight’s live blog coverage of the Kangaroos vs Kiwis.
The Kangaroos won an all-time classic.
Mitchell Moses limped off, while Kiwi fullback Kalyn Ponga has suffered a suspected broken arm.
ABC Sport will be back tomorrow for the opening match of the women’s Rugby League World Cup, as Australia takes on Samoa.
We hope you join us then.
Goodnight.
REPORT: Bostock treble helps Roos edge NZ in World Cup opener
— reporting by AAP
Australia have survived a scare in a see-sawing World Cup opener, claiming a 24-22 win over New Zealand.+
In front of 41,255 at the Sydney Football Stadium, Kangaroos debutant Jack Bostock scored a hat-trick of tries as Australia narrowly avoided their first home defeat in 11 years.
But the real story was the battle between Kangaroos fullback Reece Walsh and New Zealand counterpart Kalyn Ponga.
Ponga scored twice in the second half, the best of which was when he sidestepped Walsh and left him for dead.
It would have been a near-perfect debut for the Newcastle captain, but he was taken off with 10 minutes left with a suspected broken arm.
Walsh didn’t go quietly in his battle with Ponga and also chalked up a solo try for the ages.
Walsh showed few signs of rust in his first game in two months, and there will be significant intrigue through Australia’s campaign as to whether Kevin Walters settles on the Brisbane number one or James Tedesco for the fullback jersey.
But Walters is likely to face a headache after Mitchell Moses limped off soon after halftime with a calf injury.
The teams were level 10-10 at the break, but despite Ponga’s best efforts, the Kiwis couldn’t put their foot down on the Aussies’ throats.
Walsh’s late try took the Kangaroos within a score, and when Bostock climbed above Jamayne Isaako, Australia sealed a narrow victory.
New Zealand fullback Kalyn Ponga with ‘suspected broken arm’
We have big news coming from the Sydney Football Stadium.
ABC Sport’s sideline eye Michael Carayannis has reported that New Zealand fullback Kalyn Ponga has suffered a “suspected broken arm”.
Ponga came off late in the second half. He was holding his left arm after a tackle on Cam Munster early in the second half.
He stayed out there, but appeared to hit his arm again in a collision with teammate Jarome Hughes in an attempt to tackle Australia’s Reece Walsh.
Tom Trbojevic speaks with ABC Sport
Australian winger Tom Trbojevic has joined ABC Sport after the Kangaroos’ 24-22 win.
“Went back and forth. We got ourselves in a bit of trouble out there, but Jack Bostock … he won us that game.”
FULL-TIME: Australia 24 def. New Zealand 22
Australia has won a classic World Cup clash against New Zealand, with debutant Jack Bostock scoring a match-winning hat-trick.
Bostock’s third and final try won the match for the Kangaroos, who were second-best for so much of Thursday night’s World Cup opener.
Both the Kangaroos and Kiwis have injury worries, with Mitchell Moses limping off and Kalyn Ponga having his arm in a sling.
76′ TRY: Jack Bostock has a Test debut hat-trick
JACK BOSTOCK — YOU ARE A STAR.
At the opposite end, Jahrome Hughes put in a poor kick which was caught by Australia in-goal, for a seven-tackle set.
The Kangaroos march down the field and Cam Munster puts in a kick to the wing of Jack Bostock.
Dolphin teammates Bostock and Jamayne Isaako compete for the ball.
Isaako appears to catch it, but Bostock rips the footy from his arms and scores.
Reece Walsh’s conversion attempt hits the post, so Australia leads by two points.
AUS 24
NZ 22
Kalyn Ponga is off
Kalyn Ponga has been nursing an arm issue after a tackle on Cam Munster.
After that Reece Walsh try, Ponga appeared to hit the arm hard into teammate Jahrome Hughes.
Ponga is off and up the tunnel.
70′ Reece Walsh throws up as Latrell Mitchell attempts the conversion
Oh dear.
Reece Walsh has thrown up after that long-range effort.
Latrell Mitchell has had to run from the huddle to attempt the conversion.
Mitchell misses, and the Kiwis hold a two-point lead.
AUS 20
NZ 22
69′ TRY: Reece Walsh scores a stunning try
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AMAZING.
Jack Bostock made a strong run from near his in-goal, then gave an offload to Reece Walsh.
AND NOW IT’S REECE LIGHTING.
Walsh breaks out of one tackle, produces a sidestep so good it beats Kalyn Ponga and Jahrome Hughes, then streaks away to score.
That was an 80-metre run.
Credit to Kiwi forward Joe Tapine who chased him all the way and made him score in the corner.
63′ NO TRY: Reece Walsh called for a double movement
Australia has come so close to scoring.
Reece Walsh, attacking the goal-line, comes close to slicing through the defence. He was brought down short, and then crawled over the line with a Kiwi still holding him.
Penalty New Zealand for a double movement.
AUS 16
NZ 22
60′ TRY: Kalyn Ponga scores for the Kiwis
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Outstanding from Kalyn Ponga.
He slices through the Australian defence, then produces a wicked side step to beat opposing fullback Reece Walsh to score.
Kiwis are back in front.
AUS 16
NZ 22
57′ TRY: Jack Bostock has a double for Australia
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After thinking they were down by 10 points, the Kangaroos are in the corner.
A nice kick for the corner was perfect, and Jack Bostock jumped over his Dolphin teammate Jamayne Isaako to score.
Reece Walsh nails the conversion to level the scores.
AUS 16
NZ 16
56′ NO TRY: Kangaroos saved after Trbojevic shocker
The Kiwis are celebrating a gifted try.
Tom Trbojevic just needed to collect a bouncing ball, but he went over the top of it, and the Kiwis picked it up and scored.
But the Kiwis kick-chase (Isaiah Papali’i) was offside and was within 10 metres when Trbojevic touched the footy.
53′ Kiwis survive an Kangaroo attack
The Kangaroos came so close.
Liam Martin charged over the goal-line, but he was held up by desperate Kiwi defence.
Then an attacking kick went into the in-goal.
Kiwi second-rower Isaiah Papali’i caught the ball in-goal, but had it ripped out by Kangaroo fullback Reece Walsk, who claims the try.
But the video ref correctly ruled that the catch by Papali’i was clean, and the Kiwis get the 20-metre restart.
AUS 10
NZ 16
51′ Kiwis lose their challenge
The Kiwis have lost the captain’s challenge — and it a shocking challenge.
Winger Jamayne Isaako clearly dropped a high kick forward, but for some reason the Kiwis challenged.
AUS 10
NZ 16
48′ Kotoni Staggs returns from sin bin
47′ TRY: Kalyn Ponga scores for the Kiwis
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The Kiwis finally score against the 12-man Kangaroos, and it is Kalyn Ponga.
The Kiwis turned down a possible penalty goal attempt, going for the try with Kotoni Staggs one minute away from coming back on.
Once again, the Kiwis attack where Staggs would be standing, and Ponga scores.
46′ New Zealand attacking the vacant spot where Staggs would be
The Kiwis have done nothing but run to wear Kotoni Staggs, who is still in the sin bin, should be defending.
They are making all sorts of metres, but they are yet to convert these line breaks into tries.
AUS 10
NZ 10
41′ Mitchell Moses is OFF
Mitchell Moses is off. He started the second half, but he cannot run.
Moses is off, and Tom Dearden is on the field.
Second half begins
The second half begins at the SFS.
Australia is down to 12 players for the opening eight minutes, with Kotoni Staggs in the sin bin.
The Kiwis have the first use of the ball in the second half, and enjoy a very nice set before putting up an attacking kick that is left to bounce and is collected by a Kangaroo.
dan