Australia edge Fiji 36-22 in Brisbane to remain unbeaten at Rugby League World Cup

Australia defeated Fiji 36-22 in a Rugby League World Cup pool match at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Sunday night to preserve their unbeaten record, with Tom Trbojevic scoring a hat-trick for the Kangaroos.

Fiji delivered an emotionally charged performance, singing a pre-match hymn and showing visible emotion during their anthem, and produced sustained pressure through 80 minutes in front of 41,108 fans at Suncorp Stadium and, the report said, millions watching on prime-time television.

Fiji took the lead early in the second half when winger Semi Valemei finished from a cut-out pass by five-eighth Kurt Donoghoe, and Donoghoe then nearly created a second try that was ruled out for obstruction; from the ensuing set Australia levelled when Sam Walker and James Tedesco combined to put Trbojevic into the corner and Walker added a penalty to move Australia in front.

Trbojevic completed his three-try haul after collecting a Tedesco grubber and later finished on the edge of a flowing move featuring Tedesco to make the result secure with about 15 minutes remaining; Tedesco finished the match with more than 150 run metres and three try assists and was noted as playing his first Test since 2023.

The Fijian comeback had been sustained by earlier pressure and Australian errors: Trbojevic spilled a carry exiting his own end, Donoghoe exploited a defensive miscount for Valemei’s first try, and Brandon Wakeham’s grubber through allowed Taane Milne to put Fiji ahead after a Lindsay Smith ruck penalty left Fiji in the Australian 20-metre area.

Australia’s starting pack, with Lindsay Smith and Keaon Koloamatangi in the middle, had periods where it was outmuscled and Cam Murray left the field with a head injury, but coach Kevin Walters’ rotations—including Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Pat Carrigan and the returned Murray—helped Australia regain control of the yardage battle, aided by depth from the bench.

James Tedesco’s influence featured throughout: he drew defenders to create a first-half try for Kotoni Staggs, and his combinations with Walker and Trbojevic repeatedly tested Fiji’s right edge; Donoghoe also created a late consolation try for Fiji in the final 10 minutes, while Semi Valemei finished with a hat-trick for the visitors.

Australia complete their pool-stage programme with a match against the Cook Islands in Townsville on Saturday; their semi-final opponent will not be known until Tonga play Samoa in Parramatta next Sunday night, and Fiji must beat New Zealand on the Gold Coast on Saturday if they hope to reach the final four.