The teams are in for Sunday’s double-header at Suncorp. Australia named its Kangaroos and Jillaroos sides on Tuesday 10 November 2026 for the Rugby League World Cup finals against New Zealand, with the women’s final at 4:10pm AEDT and the men’s final at 7:35pm AEDT on Sunday 15 November at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Both games are live on Seven and 7plus in Australia.
Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters named an unchanged team from the 44–12 semi-final win over Samoa. Reece Walsh stays at fullback, Cameron Munster and Tom Dearden are in the halves, captain Isaah Yeo is at lock, and Patrick Carrigan is named to start at prop with Keaon Koloamatangi on the bench — the pair may swap on game day, as they did in the semi-final. Latrell Mitchell and Sam Walker are reserves, with James Tedesco at No. 22.
Australia chase a fourth straight World Cup title and a 13th overall, and have won their last 22 World Cup matches. New Zealand’s only title came in 2008 — a 34–20 win over Australia at Suncorp, the same venue as Sunday’s final.
The Kiwis bring their own threats. Kalyn Ponga is at fullback after returning from a broken arm — he ran 198 metres with three try assists in the 34–10 semi-final win over Tonga. Ronaldo Mulitalo returns from suspension on the wing, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad dropping out, and prop Naufahu Whyte is named despite an ankle injury. James Fisher-Harris captains the side.
The Jillaroos made one change. Jesse Southwell is recalled at five-eighth to partner Tarryn Aiken, with premiership winner Jocelyn Kelleher dropping to No. 21. Southwell set a record with 44 individual points — a try and 20 of 21 goals — in the 124–6 pool win over Wales. The Kiwi Ferns are unchanged from their 32–0 semi-final win over Samoa.
“Making a World Cup Final is hard, and winning a World Cup is even harder,” Walters said. “The players are excited for the opportunity to earn a piece of their own history in the Kangaroos jersey.”
It has been a huge tournament for Australia, from the Kangaroos’ 44–12 semi-final win over Samoa to the Jillaroos’ 30–14 win over Fiji. On Sunday, both teams play for the title at Suncorp.
Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.