Australia retain Rugby League World Cup after holding off spirited Samoa

There is an argument across the rest of the international game that the Australian authorities need to show more willingness to stage Kangaroos fixtures. Yes, the pandemic has stunted rugby league across the globe but the fact Australia had not played a single Test since 2019 before this World Cup underlines the apathy with which their hierarchy treat the international game. Whether this latest victory changes that remains to be seen: but the world needs Australia to be playing more often in the years between now and the next World Cup in 2025.

But this proud nation can look back on an unforgettable tournament.

Hopefully, they have created a legacy for more Australian-born players to commit to Pacific nations and in the long term, that could help close the gap on the Kangaroos. It could, in the years to come, be viewed as a breakthrough moment for the sport.