The 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup final was a rugby league match which determined the winner of the 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup. It was played between reigning champions Australia and their rivals New Zealand on 2 December 2017 at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane, immediately before the final of the concurrent men's competition. It was the third consecutive time that the two sides played in the World Cup final.
Australia emerged victorious, winning the match 23–16 and earning their second World Cup win.
Route to the final Both teams had little difficulty reaching the final, each winning their group matches and semi-final by large margins.
AustraliaRoundNew ZealandOpponentResultGroup stageOpponentResult58–4Match 150–438–0Match 238–088–0Match 376–0TeamPldWDLPFPA+/−Pts Australia 3 3 0 0 184 4 +180 6 England 3 1 0 2 52 68 -16 2 Cook Islands 3 1 0 2 26 150 -124 2Final standingTeamPldWDLPFPA+/−Pts New Zealand 3 3 0 0 164 4 +160 6 Canada 3 1 0 2 26 146 -120 2 Papua New Guinea 3 0 0 3 16 96 -80 0OpponentResultKnockout stageOpponentResult58–6Semi-finals52–4
Match
Summary
First half
Kelly 8' Try Moran conversion Hireme 12' Try (Converted Nati) Hireme 20' Try (Conversion missed by Nati) Moran 35' scores for Australia on the back of her own kick-chase, and converts
Second half
Walton scores 56'. (Moran Converts) Ballinger receives medical attention (59') McGregor scores for new Zealand (69') (Converted by Nati)
Details
FB1Nakia Davis-WelshWG2Karina BrownCE3Corban McGregorCE4Isabelle KellyWG5Chelsea BakerFE6Ali BrigginshawHB7Caitlin MoranPR8Steph HancockHK9Brittany BreayleyPR10Heather BallingerSR11Renae Kunst (c)SR12Kezie AppsLK13Simaima TaufaSubstitutes:IC14Elianna WaltonIC15Ruan SimsIC16Lavina O'MealeyIC17Zahara TemaraCoach: Brad Donald FB1Apii Nicholls-PualauWG2Atawhai TupaeaCE3Maitua FeterikaCE4Shontelle WoodmanWG5Honey HiremeFE6Raecene McGregorHB7Kimiora NatiPR8Lilieta MaumauHK9Krystal RotaPR10Aieshaleigh SmalleySR11Teuila Fotu-MoalaSR12Hilda PetersLK13Laura Mariu (c)Substitutes:IC14Nita MaynardIC15Krystal MurrayIC16Ngatokortoru ArakuaIC17Amber KaniCoach: Tony Benson
Touch judges: Robert Hicks (England) Michael Wise (Australia) Video referee: Shayne Hayne (Australia)
Statistics
AustraliaNew ZealandTries 4 3Conversions (attempts) 3 (4) 2 (3)Penalty goals (attempts) 0 (0) 0 (0)Field goals (attempts) 1 (1) 0 (0) PossessionPossession 54% 46% Total sets 42 35 Completed sets 33 27 Completion rate 79% 77% AttackingAll runs 160 149All run metres 1424 1262Line breaks 4 5Offloads 6 6 DefendingKick metres 264 41240/20 0 0Tackles 274 288Missed tackles 46 37Goal line dropouts 0 0Try saves 3 0 DisciplinePenalties conceded 7 11Errors 10 10Send offs 0 0Sin bins 0 0Reference: Jillaroos vs Ferns - NRL Match Centre
Australia:
Most tries: 2 – Isabelle Kelly Most goals: 3 – Caitlin Moran Most field goals: 1 – Caitlin Moran Most try assists: 2 – Ali Brigginshaw Most runs: 15 – Corban McGregor, Simaima Taufa Most running metres: 154 – Kezie Apps Most tackles: 43 – Simaima Taufa Most missed tackles: 5 – Chelsea Baker, Simaima Taufa Most line breaks: 1 – Nakia Davis-Welsh, Caitlin Moran, Zahara Temara, Elianna Walton
New Zealand:
Most tries: 1 – Honey Hireme, Raecene McGregor Most goals: 2 – Kimoira Nati Most field goals: 0 – Most try assists: 2 – Raecene McGregor Most runs: 15 – Laura Mariu Most running metres: 130 – Laura Mariu Most tackles: 40 – Krystal Rota Most missed tackles: 5 – Nita Maynard, Hilda Peters Most line breaks: 2 – Honey Hireme
References