Reece Walsh hat-trick helps Australia beat Samoa and reach Rugby League World Cup final

Australia beat Samoa in a men's Rugby League World Cup semi-final and qualified for the final. Reece Walsh scored a hat-trick for Australia. The two teams met in the previous World Cup final, which Australia also won.

According to BBC Sport, the final score was 44-12. The half-time score was 26-2. BBC Sport reported that the match was played at Sydney Football Stadium. The Guardian's report does not state the final score.

Before kick-off

Samoa's Siva Tau ended with players from both teams face to face. Samoa's Brian To'o put his forehead against that of Australia prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, who has previously played for Samoa. The Guardian reported that Junior Paulo led the Siva Tau and that the crowd of 41,529 was largely Samoan.

How the match unfolded

Samoa took an early lead with a penalty goal. BBC Sport reported that Stephen Crichton kicked it after three minutes. Tom Dearden then scored Australia's first try, running from a scrum. Jacob Preston scored the second try and Tom Trbojevic the third. According to BBC Sport, it was Trbojevic's eighth try of the tournament, making him the joint-top try scorer.

In the first half, Crichton grounded the ball after Francis Manuleleua contested a high kick with Walsh. The video referee reviewed the replay and disallowed the try for a knock-on by Manuleleua. Walsh later celebrated a first-half try with a backflip. Bradman Best scored in the corner shortly before half-time.

Samoa's Spencer Leniu was sin-binned just before half-time for addressing referee Adam Gee. Australia led by 24 points at the break.

Early in the second half, Walsh dropped a high kick, which led to a Crichton try for Samoa. According to BBC Sport, Australia scored eight tries in total: three by Walsh, and one each by Dearden, Preston, Trbojevic, Best and Bostock. BBC Sport said it was Walsh's first international hat-trick. Isack Tago also scored a try for Samoa.

What is disputed

The reports differ on the timing of Preston's try. BBC Sport placed it at 15 minutes. The Guardian placed it at 14 minutes.

What each side says

According to The Guardian, Australia coach Kevin Walters said on the broadcast that Walsh should avoid further needless acrobatics after his earlier backflip. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include post-match comments from either team. They also do not include any explanation from match officials for the video-referee decisions.

The final

According to BBC Sport, Australia will face New Zealand in the final in Brisbane next Sunday, with kick-off at 08:35 GMT. BBC Sport reported that Australia have reached a 16th successive men's World Cup final and have won the past three world titles. The Guardian reported that finals day is a double-header at Lang Park, including a women's final between the Jillaroos and the Kiwi Ferns.

Analysis

The result extends Australia's record in men's Rugby League World Cup finals, according to BBC Sport. On the figures reported by The Guardian, Australia controlled possession and limited Samoa's attacking chances. Samoa's large support in Sydney points to the team's following at the tournament. The pre-match Siva Tau and Leniu's sin-binning drew attention. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not say whether either incident will lead to further action. The final against New Zealand is a rematch of the tournament's opening match, which, according to The Guardian, Australia were lucky to win. The score of that earlier match is not given in these reports.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.