Australia met Samoa in the second semi-final of the 2026 men’s Rugby League World Cup at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Saturday night, with the winner set to advance to New Zealand in Brisbane next weekend. It was the penultimate fixture of the tournament and a match that carried immediate weight for both teams, not only because of the final spot on offer but because of the scrutiny already surrounding Australia’s campaign.
The Kangaroos entered the semi-final amid criticism of their team selection and underwhelming tournament form, while Samoa arrived after a narrow loss to Tonga. Kick-off was scheduled for 8.05pm local time in Sydney, which was 9.05am GMT.
Australia's selection call
Kevin Walters had already revealed his hand last weekend by selecting Reece Walsh ahead of James Tedesco at fullback and Tom Dearden ahead of Sam Walker in the halves. That was the clearest indication yet of how Australia wanted to line up for the knockout stage, and it left the Kangaroos with one enforced change heading into the semi-final.
For Australia, the selection decisions were part of the bigger story. The team had not been judged solely on results, but also on how convincing it had looked along the way. This was the sort of game that could either quieten the criticism or increase it depending on the performance.
Samoa's path to the semi-final
Samoa’s route into the second semi-final was shaped by resilience as much as momentum. The team had already shown it could stay in tight contests, even if it came in after a narrow loss to Tonga. That result only added to the sense that Samoa would be dangerous if it could keep the match close late.
Against Tonga, Chanel Harris-Tavita pulled his hamstring while kicking for goal, a development that added another layer of uncertainty around Samoa’s preparation. In a knockout game, those small disruptions can matter just as much as the bigger tactical calls.
What was at stake
The winner of Australia vs Samoa would meet New Zealand in Brisbane next weekend for a place in the final. That made the semi-final more than just another knockout match: it was the last hurdle before the championship game, and a chance for either side to turn a difficult tournament into a run that mattered most when it counted.
For Australia, the task was straightforward on paper and more complicated in practice. For Samoa, it was an opportunity to extend its tournament and keep its final hopes alive. With the title picture now in focus, the result in Sydney would decide which of those two paths continued.
