Australia secured a place in the Men's Rugby League World Cup final by defeating Samoa 44-12 in Sydney. Reece Walsh notably scored a hat-trick, contributing to Australia's 16th consecutive final appearance. Despite an early lead from Samoa, Australia quickly took control of the match, capitalizing on Samoa's penalties and discipline issues.
The match was marked by contentious refereeing decisions that frustrated the Samoan team. While Samoa managed to score two tries in the second half, Australia maintained their lead, showcasing their strength ahead of the final against New Zealand next week.