Content overview: “Australia Edge New Zealand 24-22 in Thrilling Rugby League World Cup Opener as Jack Bostoc”. Australia survived a major scare to beat New Zealand 24-22 in a pulsating Rugby League World Cup opener in Sydney on Friday. Debutant winger Jack Bostock was the hero, scoring a hat-trick as the hosts fought back to snatch victory in the dying minutes. The 21-year-old's third try came with just seconds remaining, sealing a dramatic win for the Kangaroos in front of a raucous home crowd at Accor Stadium.
The match was a nail-biting contest from start to finish, with New Zealand leading for much of the second half. The Kiwis, led by captain James Fisher-Harris, looked poised to pull off an upset before Bostock's late heroics. Australia's win extends their dominance over their trans-Tasman rivals, but the narrow margin suggests this World Cup could be one of the most competitive in recent memory. The full version stays on the original page, which this listing opens directly.