AUSTRALIA 40 NEW ZEALAND 8
TOM SMITH, CommBank Stadium, Parramatta, Sunday

JULIA ROBINSON claimed a double to lead the Jillaroos to a thumping defeat of the Kiwi Ferns in the women’s Pacific Cup final.

Robinson scored a try in each half, including another breathtaking aerial effort, as the Australians easily brushed off their trans-Tasman rivals to claim the silverware.

New Zealand lost Ashleigh Quinlan to the sin bin in the first half then Ivana Lauitiiti in the second, and the Aussies capitalised with four tries while their opponents were down a player.

These two teams entered this clash knowing Australia had beaten New Zealand in ten of their 11 last meetings.

But the Kiwi Ferns’ sole success came in this same fixture two years ago, when they prevailed 12-6 in the final match of the 2023 Pacific Championships.

Australia were in no mood to allow a repeat of that here, cementing an early lead the New Zealanders never threatened to retain the title.

The Jillaroos overcame the Kiwi Ferns 10-4 in a defensive struggle seven days earlier at Auckland’s Eden Park, with debutant Abbi Church scoring what proved the decisive try.

Tamika Upton recovered from her calf complaint to replace Church in the number-one jumper, while Olivia Higgins deputised for Keeley Davis (shoulder) and Jakiya Whitfeld forced winger Jessica Sergis from the wing and Sarah Togatuki off the bench in Jess Skinner’s line-up.

Ricky Henry reshuffled his line-up before kick-off, bringing Tyla King in to start at stand-off instead of Ashleigh Quinlan, with Patricia Maliepo dropping out of the 17. Leianne Tufuga’s concussion also brought Tysha Ikenasio onto the wing.

It took Olivia Kernick less than three minutes to open the scoring, steaming on to a perfect Higgins pass from dummy-half.

Then Robinson produced a replica of the stunning aerial try she scored against Samoa a fortnight ago, soaring to snatch a Jesse Southwell cross-field kick out of Shanice Parker’s grasp.

After King reeled in a runaway Whitfeld, Quinlan’s interference in the ruck forced Belinda Sharpe to give her ten minutes.

And Keilee Joseph cashed in on the numerical advantage straightaway thanks to Quincy Dodd.

The Jillaroos struck again with Quinlan off the park to make it 24-0 at the break, when Whitfeld made a break deep in her own territory and released Sergis to sprint 65 metres to score.

The New Zealanders finally gained a foothold in the second half, as some quick hands by Raecene McGregor, Apii Nicholls and Abigail Roache put Parker into the right corner.

Upton registered a signature try, surging past Roache to scythe through New Zealand’s goal-line defence.

However, Ikenasio stepped into the left corner to shave the gap again.

The Kiwi Ferns copped another blow when Lauitiiti landed in the bin for her dangerous hip-drop tackle on Higgins.

And the hosts slammed on two more tries in the final ten minutes.

Barnstorming prop Ellie Johnston spun over for her first international try, then Robinson placed an exclamation mark on the result in the left corner.

All eyes now turn to the 2026 World Cup hosted by Australia and Papua New Guinea, where the Jillaroos will start heavy favourites and the Kiwi Ferns, despite this score, represent their greatest threat.

GAMESTAR: Julia Robinson collected player-of-the-match honours for her two tries and 159 running metres.

GAMEBREAKER: Robinson’s second in the final minute capped the Jillaroos’ thumping win.

MATCHFACTS
AUSTRALIA
1 Tamika Upton (Brisbane Broncos)
2 Julia Robinson (Brisbane Broncos)
3 Isabelle Kelly (Sydney Roosters)
4 Tiana Penitani Gray (Cronulla Sharks)
5 Jakiya Whitfeld (North Queensland Cowboys)
6 Ali Brigginshaw (Brisbane Broncos)
7 Jesse Southwell (Newcastle Knights)
8 Ellie Johnston (Cronulla Sharks)
9 Olivia Higgins (Newcastle Knights)
10 Jessika Elliston (Gold Coast Titans)
11 Kezie Apps (Wests Tigers)
12 Yasmin Clydsdale (Newcastle Knights)
13 Olivia Kernick (Sydney Roosters)
Subs (all used)
14 Quincy Dodd (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
15 Keilee Joseph (Brisbane Broncos)
16 Jessica Sergis (Sydney Roosters)
17 Rima Butler (Sydney Roosters)

Tries: Kernick (3), Robinson (13, 70), Joseph (25), Sergis (32), Upton (49), Johnston (63)
Goals: Southwell 6/7

NEW ZEALAND
1 Apii Nicholls (New Zealand Warriors)
2 Tysha Ikenasio (New Zealand Warriors)
3 Mele Hufanga (Brisbane Broncos)
4 Abigail Roache (North Queensland Cowboys)
5 Shanice Parker (Newcastle Knights)
14 Tyla King (Cronulla Sharks)
7 Raecene McGregor (St George Illawarra Dragons)
8 Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa (Canterbury Bulldogs)
9 Brooke Anderson (Cronulla Sharks)
10 Tiana Davison (Newcastle Knights)
11 Annessa Biddle (Cronulla Sharks)
12 Otesa Pule (Sydney Roosters)
13 Georgia Hale (Gold Coast Titans)
Subs (all used)
6 Ashleigh Quinlan (Canterbury Bulldogs)
15 Shaniece Monschau (Canterbury Bulldogs)
16 Alexis Tauaneai (Canterbury Bulldogs)
17 Ivana Lauitiiti (New Zealand Warriors)

Tries: Parker (41), Ikenasio (52)
Goals: Nicholls 0/2
Sin bin: Quinlan (25) – professional foul, Lauitiiti (60) – hip drop

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0, 24-0; 24-4, 30-4, 30-8, 36-8, 40-8

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Women of the Match
Australia: Julia Robinson; New Zealand: Apii Nicholls

Penalty count: 5-4
Half-time: 24-0
Referee: Belinda Sharpe
Attendance: 28,084