It will take something special to top what Australia and New Zealand delivered at Allianz Stadium on Thursday night.
The Rugby League World Cup kicked off in fantastic style with a Kangaroos’ 24-22 victory in front of 41,255 Sydney fans.
Winger Jack Bostock scored three tries on debut for Australia, while the No.1 battle between Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga was worth the admission alone.
Ponga skipped past Cameron Munster and then stood up Walsh for a breathtaking try on the hour.
Walsh then returned serve when he somehow made Ponga and Jahrome Hughes miss him simultaneously before running almost the length of the field to hit back for the Kangaroos.
Walsh also denied Ponga late in the first half when he looked destined to score.
Australia coach Kevin Walters defended picking Walsh ahead of Roosters grand final hero James Tedesco for the opening Cup game. Based on the effort against the Kiwis, you have to wonder how Tedesco gets a start at the pointy end of the tournament.
Ponga, sadly, came from the field with just over 10 minutes remaining, with reports in TV commentary suggesting he may have broken his left arm.
And to think he was only cleared to play for the Kiwis at the start of the year when the ARL Commission relaxed the Origin international eligibility rules, enabling Queensland and NSW Origin representatives to play for New Zealand.
The Kiwis dominated early with their brilliant pack laying the platform, and giving their outside men, especially Ponga plenty of space.
New Zealand enjoyed the perfect start when winger Ronaldo Mulitalo out leapt Tom Trbojevic for a high ball, then kept the ball alive for Isaiah Papali’i who passed to Casey McLean to score a spectacular try in the left corner.
McLean clutched at his left shoulder and gave the impression he may have dropped the ball, or placed it into touch, but he did an excellent job to come up with the first four-pointer of the tournament.
The Roos struggled for good field position early, and that led to poor last-tackle options, with Jacob Preston putting through a grubber on one occasion, and Harry Grant kicking on the fourth tackle straight to Ponga.
Just as New Zealand pushed for more points, Bostock plucked the ball out of the air to score an 80m intercept try.
Trbojevic did likewise on the other side of the field when he caught a McLean pass and charged 90m. For a few seconds, fans inside the Moore Park venue feared ‘Turbo’ might pop a hamstring when he launched into full flight – but they had nothing to fear.
Kotoni Staggs was binned for holding Kodi Nikorima off the ball before half-time, and the Kiwis eventually got across the line early in the second half via Ponga.
When Ponga bagged a second, the upset looked complete. But Walsh scored, then Bostock had a third, and a memorable Cup win was sealed.
Mitch Moses was replaced by Tom Dearden two minutes into the second half with a calf injury, while Ponga will await scans.
Australia play Fiji next Friday, while the Kiwis return home to face the Cook Islands in Christchurch.
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