SYDNEY: Jack Bostock bagged a hat-trick on debut as Australia edged New Zealand 24-22 to kick off their Rugby League World Cup defence with a thrilling victory on Thursday.
The 12-time champion Kangaroos were strong favourites going into the opening match at a sold-out Sydney Football Stadium but they were put through the ringer and only just hung on.
They crossed twice in the first-half but were always on the back foot and lucky to reach the break at 10-10.
With a man in the sin-bin, Australia conceded an early second-half try and looked beaten before Bostock pounced with four minutes left to keep them on track for a fourth consecutive title.
"It was a hell of a battle out there," said Australia captain Isaah Yeo.
"I thought they had a fair bit of ascent in that first-half. We were putting ourselves under a fair bit of pressure, but just felt like for the most part we were really resilient.
"Obviously scored a couple of intercept tries, which probably helped steer us a little bit. But then thought we were able to sort of grind our way back into it in that second half."
It stretched Australia's record over New Zealand to 19 wins and just two defeats.
"That's Test footy, it was a close game, like the full 80 minutes we were battling," said New Zealand skipper James Fisher-Harris.
"Much respect to Australia. Just a few moments went their way, and we fought to the death, which I'm really proud of."
In a big setback, New Zealand could be without superstar Kalyn Ponga for the rest of the tournament with a possible broken arm.
Sensational try
New Zealand applied the early pressure and opened the scoring in spectacular fashion after four minutes through Casey McLean.
The young centre capitalised on a high kick from Jahrome Hughes to somehow dot down in the corner with his body in the air and outside the field of play.
It was a sensational try and Jamayne Isaako curled over a touchline conversion to put the visitors 6-0 ahead.
But the hosts clung on and against the run of play hit back when Dolphins winger Bostock intercepted a stray Hughes pass and sprinted almost the length of the field to haul them into the contest.
Brisbane Broncos' Reece Walsh missed a difficult conversion and then sent a sloppy line drop-out into touch on the full, handing New Zealand a penalty and Isaako made no mistake.
Despite New Zealand applying all the pressure Australia again stunned them with another intercept try, this time from Tom Trbojevic who like Bostock streaked 90 metres to the line and this time Walsh made no mistake.
With the clock ticking to half-time New Zealand drew level when Isaako nailed a penalty that saw the Kangaroos' Kotoni Staggs sent to the bin for a professional foul.
With Staggs on the sidelines, New Zealand piled on the pressure in the second-half and Ponga dotted down after a line break, his first try for the Kiwis after switching allegiance from Australia.
It fired up the hosts and Bostock claimed his second after plucking the ball out of the air at full stretch and riding a collision with Walsh, converting to level at 16-16.
But Ponga then produced some magic, slicing through the defence with his shorts falling down for a converted try to restore New Zealand's lead with 20 minutes left.
Walsh went one better, collecting a flick pass from Bostock and seeing off four defenders for a stunning try in the corner.
He vomited afterwards and was unable to take the kick, with Latrell Mitchell stepping up and missing to leave New Zealand 22-20 ahead with 10 minutes left.
Australia kept coming and Bostock outjumped Isaako at the death to cross for his third to seal the win. - AFP
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