Australia has claimed the 2026 men's Rugby League World Cup, triumphing over New Zealand in the final. The Kangaroos celebrated their victory at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, with Isaah Yeo hoisting the Paul Barrière Trophy.
The victorious Australians received their winner's medals, marking their fourth consecutive World Cup title. Kevin Walters, the coach, was among the happy group celebrating with family members.
Jack Bostock, who turned 23 in late August, was named player of the match for his two-try performance. Bostock, a try-scoring machine for the Dolphins and NSW, dominated New Zealand's Jamayne Isaako during the final.
New Zealand's performance was marked by struggles, including an opening kick-out on the full and a failure to execute basic plays. Despite spending large spells of the tournament as favourites, the Kiwis were unable to find cohesion in attack or defence.