'This World Cup feels different': Record crowd treated to epic opener

This World Cup feels different and it is only just getting started!

That was the view of Australian captain Isaah Yeo after leading his Kangaroos to an epic 24-22 win against New Zealand in the opening match of IRL Rugby League World Cup 2026.

Played before Sydney’s biggest Test crowd in more than 50 years, the clash of the trans-Tasman titans had everything fans could hope to see – the game’s biggest stars scoring spectacular tries and stopping them, brutal defence, high drama and an atmosphere deserving of the occasion.

“To get that at the end of the year it is just what we want. It’s what players want,” Yeo said. “A game like that deserves an atmosphere like that. International rugby league feels like it is growing and that was an outstanding way to start this tournament.

“It feels like even just the media surrounding this World Cup has been different. The last World Cup was over in England, so it maybe didn’t get spoken about enough but I felt like there was a real excitement around it here.”

The crowd of 41,255 was the biggest for a Test in Sydney since 55,505 fans packed the SCG to watch the decider in the 1974 Ashes series between Australia and Great Britain and the city’s biggest World Cup attendance since the 1968 final between Australia and France.

Kiwis captain James Fisher-Harris said: “That was probably the best Australia versus New Zealand atmosphere I’ve played in to be honest. It was pretty special”.

And no one went home disappointed after the two heavyweights of the World Cup traded blow for 80 minutes until Australia ran out narrow victors after Jack Bostock completed a hat trick on debut with a spectacular aerial try.

“It was a high quality game with the intensity and everything about it. We are fierce rivals and that was one of the best games of footy I have seen for a long time,” Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters said.

“We will take the win but understanding and respectful that the next time we come across each other it will be a similar game.”

Kiwis coach Stacey Jones was also upbeat about his team’s chances of winning the tournament, despite the defeat and the loss of superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga, who scored two brilliant individual tries in the second half before coming from the field with a broken arm.

“There’s lots of stuff to be proud of, lots of stuff to like but there is a lot more to go in this tournament,” Jones said.

“There is lots of teams in this competition who are going to play some really good footy and what a spectacle for everyone, unfortunately we were on the losing side but we will learn from it and we will get better and we will make some adjustments – not big adjustments but we are always looking to get better every time.

Fisher-Harris said: “It’s a long tourney, well hopefully it is a long campaign and hopefully we just get better. I back this squad against anyone.”

“It is a big honour to represent my people and my country, everything that comes with it and to have all my family watching. Obviously it a big honour leading the boys out there, singing the anathema and doing the haka, there is no bigger honour than that.

“That was probably the best Australia versus New Zealand atmosphere to be honest. It was pretty special."