Abbi Church scores four tries as Australia beat Fiji 30-14 to reach Women’s RL World Cup final

Abbi Church scored four tries as Australia defeated Fiji Bulikula 30-14 in Australia on 8 November 2026 to reach the Women’s Rugby League World Cup final. The Jillaroos will meet New Zealand at Lang Park next weekend.

Fiji led for much of the first half and were level with Australia at halftime, driven by 23‑year‑old playmaker Luisa Yaranamua, who has yet to play an NRLW match and represents South Sydney in Sydney’s second tier. The visitors combined Yaranamua’s kicking and running with strong contributions from halfback Losana Lutu, fullback Cassie Staples and hooker Sereana Naitokatoka. The Bulikula delivered a passionate pre‑match hymn and were visibly emotional during the anthem in what was their first women’s World Cup campaign.

Church’s quartet of tries included a put‑down from a Tarryn Aiken kick and a late solo score as Australia produced a cleaner, more composed second half to settle the contest. Jaime Chapman, one of Australia’s wingers, was taken off with a quad injury after scoring, raising concern for the hosts.

Fiji dominated the opening phase: Yaranamua rattled Tiana Penitani Gray with an off‑the‑ball shoulder early on and forced an error from Church with a kick inside three minutes. A potential Bulikula score by backrower Talei Holmes was stopped when Jess Sergis held her up, then Yaranamua kicked a penalty goal following an illegal strip to put Fiji ahead.

A strip by Naitokatoka on Chapman gave Fiji possession on the Australian line and Yaranamua deceived markers at dummy half before overpowering Jocelyn Kelleher to score, leaving Australia scoreless for the first time in a World Cup match since the 2013 final and with the score 8-0 after 20 minutes.

Fiji continued to press in the ruck, with prop Lorren Ieli producing heavy tackles and strong carries, and forced errors that threatened Australia until Church regained the ball from another Yaranamua kick. Church finally finished a spread to the right after a needless Bulikula ruck penalty, and Tamika Upton levelled the scores shortly afterwards.

After halftime Australia maintained better possession and Aiken began to exert control, pulling the game away in the second period while Fiji tired. Maria Paseka scored a late try created by a Yaranamua blindside raid, but it proved a consolation as Australia closed out a 30-14 victory.

The final will be the fifth successive Australia–New Zealand World Cup decider; the Jillaroos’ last defeat came more than three years ago when the Kiwi Ferns beat them 12-6 in Melbourne. Australia and New Zealand meet at Lang Park next weekend for the tournament title.