Australia reach World Cup semi-finals as Tom Trbojevic scores hat-trick in Brisbane

Australia beat Fiji 36-22 in Brisbane on 25 October 2026 to secure a place in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals, with Tom Trbojevic scoring a hat-trick.

Fiji enjoyed territorial advantage in the first half and led 16-12 after the break, despite having lost their previous five meetings with Australia by an aggregate score of 246-16, while a stunned home crowd looked on during the contest.

Momentum swung in a decisive 60-second spell when Solomone Saukuru's try that would have put Fiji 20-12 ahead was ruled out for obstruction and Australia immediately responded as Tom Trbojevic scored to level the game.

Trbojevic, who was noted as looking vulnerable in defence, crossed twice more to complete his hat-trick and Jacob Preston added a further try after Semi Valemei had completed his own hat-trick for Fiji; Brisbane Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs opened the scoring for Australia and Sam Walker finished his debut with a try and 12 points with the boot.

"There are definitely some areas to improve on," Trbojevic told Premier Sports. "We didn't start as we wanted to and couldn't get a flow. We just needed to play our style of footy. "We weren't at our best but we came away with two points. We need to improve. We've got to enjoy a win but we've got to be our harshest critics too."

Concerns remain over the manner in which Australia's pack were outmuscled and how they allowed Taane Milne and Semi Valemei to score, issues that will trouble coach Kevin Walters even though his side progressed after two unconvincing performances against New Zealand and Fiji.

New Zealand's men will face Fiji in a make-or-break final pool game on Saturday, 31 October (04:30 GMT) after an 82-16 win over the Cook Islands in Christchurch in which Jamayne Isaako scored a record 38 points; the Cook Islands had recovered from 12-0 down to lead 16-12 before the Kiwis took control to lead 36-16 by half-time.

Isaako crossed three times overall and converted 13 goals as he eclipsed Tasesa Lavea's single-game points record of 32 set in 2000; Test debutant Tanner Stowers-Smith, Ronaldo Mulitalo and Casey McLean each scored twice, while Scott Sorensen, Kodi Nikorima, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Keano Kini also registered tries, with Kini replacing injured full-back Kalyn Ponga in the New Zealand line-up.

In the women's competition the Kiwi Ferns thrashed France 92-0 in the same stadium, Apii Nicholls scoring four tries, Stacey Waaka and Mele Hufanga claiming hat-tricks, Mackenzie Wiki, Raecene McGregor and Tenika Willison scoring twice, and Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Kaiyah Atai also crossing in an 18-try performance; New Zealand have now beaten France by a combined 236-0 across three World Cup meetings.

New Zealand's women, who beat Fiji 18-12 in their opening match, will finish Pool B against Papua New Guinea on Saturday, 31 October (06:45 GMT), while Fiji face France in the remaining group fixture on Saturday, 31 October (02:20 GMT); Ricky Henry's side look set to face either Samoa or England in the semi-finals.