2 mins: A much better start from the Australian pack, denying Cook Islands any room in their opening drive. Bostock, Walsh and Best then make good metres with ball in hand allowing a dangerous high bomb on the last that Brown spills in the corner! The Kangaroos regather and they are immediately on the front foot.
Reece Walsh swings his boot through the Steeden and the final match in Pool A is under wayâ¦
Time for the Cook Islandsâ dramatic pregame PeâÂÂe.
As an aside, I have pilfered stacks of my 11 year oldâÂÂs halloween candy haul, so apologies in advance for the sugar crash that IâÂÂm predicting will arrive around half-time.
The two teams walk out into the muggy Townsville evening. With plenty of empty seats in the half-full arena it is not the most ferocious of welcomes.
The Kangaroos will be wearing their familiar dark green uniform with gold accents. Plenty of green in the Cook Islands outfit as well, but it is the secondary colour to a majority white base.
TonightâÂÂs referee is NRL veteran Ashley Klein.
Conditions are tropical in north Queensland with the temperature a balmy 27C, made to feel stickier with cloud cover and high humidity. Showers are drifting around on a moderate onshore breeze.
Knockout permutations
Pool A
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If Australia beat Cook Islands they will top the group.
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Assuming that is the case, New Zealand will finish second and join the Kangaroos in the semi-finals.
Pool B
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The winner of Tonga v Samoa tomorrow will top the group and play New Zealand in the semi-finals, the loser will finish second and face Australia.
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Unless⦠Tonga win by more than 46 points, in which case England will progress as runners-up.
The biggest match of round three takes place tomorrow with Tonga and Samoa taking over western Sydney in a clash that will determine the make-up of the semi-finals.
Demand for tickets has been so great it has caught organisers flat-footed. A plan to move SundayâÂÂs Tonga-Samoa blockbuster from Commbank to Accor Stadium at Olympic Park, which the NRL believes would have brought in 60,000 fans, was only unsuccessful because it would have clashed with pre-booked concerts.
Round 3 Scores
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England 34-12 PNG
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New Zealand 78-0 Fiji
In todayâÂÂs earlier match the Kiwis continued their march to the semi-finals in a fiery encounter against Fiji. New ZealandâÂÂs Ronaldo Mulitalo was red carded for a high shot that could rule him out of next weekâÂÂs action, while FijiâÂÂs Brandon Wakeham was sent off for punching the Sharks winger after the incident. There was also bad news for Api Koroisau who broke his jaw in the first half.
Yesterday, England all-but bowed out of the competition after they failed to press home their early advantage against PNG to secure the comprehensive victory they required to keep their slim hopes alive.
But when their fate is officially sealed on Sunday, the inquest should really begin into how English rugby league has found itself in the position among international rugby leagueâÂÂs new-age pecking order it is in. Talk about who should coach the team or who should play half-back are distractions. If those in charge do not wake up, England will continue to drift from the worldâÂÂs elite.
Team News
Australia: Kevin Walters has signalled that Reece Walsh is winning the race for AustraliaâÂÂs No 1 jersey after the Queenslander was selected at fullback ahead of New South Welshman James Tedesco. The other crucial decision has fallen the way of Tom Dearden, with the Cowboy edging out halfback rival Sam Walker.
Up front, Walters has reverted to the forward pack that started against New Zealand in round one, suggesting places remain up for grabs in the engine room. The only figure to miss out through injury is Cameron Murray, who was a late withdrawal from the bench.
Cook Islands: Just the one change to Karmichael HuntâÂÂs squad, and itâÂÂs an enforced one, with last weekâÂÂs hat-trick hero Esom Ioka missing out with injury. Esan Marsters comes off the interchange and onto the wing with Pride Petterson-Robati moving onto the bench. ThereâÂÂs also a shuffle in the starting XIII with Chaev Kolone taking the No 11 jersey from Amare Milford.
1. Valentine Holmes 2. Cameron Brown 3. KL Iro (c) 4. Reubenn Rennie 5. Esan Marsters 6. Maui Winitana-Patelesio 7. Brad Takairangi 8. Davvy Moale 9. Ruatapu Ngatikaura 10. Rhys Dakin 11. Chaev Kolone 12. Delahia Wigmore 13. Mason Teague.
Interchange: 14. David Tuariki 15. Makahesi Makatoa 16. Pride Petterson-Robati 17. Amare Milford 18. K-Ci Newton-Whare 19. Glassie Glassie
1. Reece Walsh 2. Jack Bostock 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Bradman Best 5. Tom Trbojevic 6. Cameron Munster 7. Tom Dearden 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Harry Grant 10. Tino FaâÂÂasuamaleaui 11. Jacob Preston 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo (c).
Interchange: 14. Ethan Strange 15. Keaon Koloamatangi 17. Reuben Cotter 18. Lindsay Smith 19. James Tedesco 22. David Fifita
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Australia v Cook Islands in the 2026 menâÂÂs Rugby League World Cup. Kick-off at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville is from 7.05pm local time (8.05pm AEDT/9.05am GMT).
The hosts and favourites have been unconvincing in their two victories so far but they are still just 80 minutes away from topping Pool A and reaching the semi-finals. Against a Cook Islands side that has already lost to New Zealand and Fiji, the assignment for the Kangaroos is to find some form ahead of a far sterner task next weekend against either Tonga or Samoa.
Of particular note this evening will be the battle for the No 1 and No 7 jerseys. Reece Walsh and Tom Dearden have been given the nod by Kevin Walters but either could play their way out of the side with James Tedesco and Sam Walker nipping at their heels. Walters will also be eager for a reaction from his pack after consecutive humblings.
This is the Kangaroosâ final tune-up before the serious action begins. It is an opportunity that cannot be wasted.
IâÂÂll be back with final team lists and more shortly. Please send me your emails and keep me company throughout the evening. The address is [email protected].