Brief
Reece Walsh vomits and Kalyn Ponga plays on broken arm in World Cup opener
The Kangaroos edged the Kiwis in Sydney while star full‑backs endured extreme physical strain.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Australia defeated New Zealand 24‑22 in the Rugby League World Cup opener at Allianz Stadium on Thursday, a match marked by visible physical distress among the star full‑backs, according to BBC Sport.
What happened
The game unfolded as a tightly contested battle, with the Kangaroos securing a dramatic winning try by Jack Bostock in the final minutes. Reece Walsh, playing his first match in eight weeks after recovering from an ankle injury, doubled over and vomited during the first half but later made a crucial try‑saving tackle on Kalyn Ponga and completed a 60‑metre run that set up the decisive play. New Zealand full‑back Kalyn Ponga continued for about 20 minutes despite a suspected broken arm, only leaving the field minutes before Bostock’s try. Mitchell Moses left the field with a calf issue, and Australia captain Isaah Yeo played on despite delaying surgery on a pectoral injury.
What the reports add
BBC Sport highlighted that Walsh’s performance came after an eight‑week lay‑off, noting his “cramping and vomiting” and describing him as a “power athlete” rather than an endurance athlete. The outlet also reported that Yeo’s decision to postpone surgery underscored his durability against a “powerhouse Kiwis pack.”
What was said
Australia head coach Kevin Walters said, “Walshy was very good tonight having not played for eight weeks… He’s cramping and vomiting and all sorts of things. He’s not an endurance athlete. He’s a power athlete and he had some big efforts there a couple of times,” as reported by BBC Sport.
Yeo added, “For Reece to come back in a contest like that with some of those plays is a massive effort after not playing for eight weeks. It won’t get spoken about enough but it is really hard to do at this level,” also cited by the BBC.
How it came about
The match followed a series of pre‑tournament storylines, including Kalyn Ponga’s debut for New Zealand after a State of Origin eligibility change (Felo) and the Kiwis’ heavyweight forward pack being billed as the strongest in the world (Felo). Attendance expectations were high, with just under 40,000 tickets sold for the Sydney fixture (Felo).
Key facts
- Australia beat New Zealand 24‑22 in the World Cup opener at Allianz Stadium. (bbc.co.uk)
- Reece Walsh vomited on the field after an eight‑week lay‑off and later made a try‑saving tackle. (bbc.co.uk)
- Kalyn Ponga played for about 20 minutes with a suspected broken arm before being withdrawn. (bbc.co.uk)
- Australia captain Isaah Yeo played despite delaying surgery on a pectoral injury. (bbc.co.uk)
- Jack Bostock scored the winning try for the Kangaroos in the final minutes. (bbc.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] bbc.co.uk — originally reported as “Rugby League World Cup 2026: Reece Walsh vomits and Kalyn Ponga plays through pain”
