Australia will commence their Rugby League World Cup campaign against Fiji in Leeds on the opening day of the tournament.
Zero Tackle will have live coverage of the clash from 5:30am (AEDT) on Sunday, October 16.
Australia threw down a marker to their 2021 Rugby League World Cup rivals after shaking off a rusty start to dismantle a beleaguered Fiji with a 42-8 win at Headingley in Group B.
The Kangaroos, playing their first competitive match since 2019, blooded over half-a-dozen new faces as Mal Meninga's side look to retain the crown they defended on home soil in 2017.
A brace for Canterbury flyer Josh Addo-Carr and a magnificent performance off the bench from Melbourne hooker Harry Grant certainly made for impressive viewing, reminding fellow contenders that they will likely be the ones to beat.
The Rugby League World Cup kicks off today and fittingly today in the tournament’s second game holders Australia are in action.
The tournament’s most successful side who have won the last two World Cups are looking to make it three on the spin and start their journey against a side they often meet in the semi-finals in the shape of Fiji.
Kick-off time and venue
The game kicks off at 19:30 at Headingley.
TV Channel
TV coverage starts at 19:00 on BBC Two.
Team News
Mal Meninga has elected to rest all of his Grand Final stars including Penrith’s star man Nathan Cleary. This means Daly Cherry-Evans will partner Cameron Munster in the halves with Ben Hunt at hooker. Skipper James Tedesco starts at fullback with Cameron Murray at 13 with no Isiah Yeo.
It marked another tough night for the Bati, under the guidance of interim boss Wise Kativerata following coach Joe Dakuitoga's hospitalisation, though tries at the start and the end of the match for Semi Valemei and Sunia Turuva arguably earned the biggest cheers of the night in north Leeds.
Following England's imperious defeat of Samoa in Group A, the Kangaroos didn't quite reach the same blockbuster heights, but Meninga will be more concerned on how he fits his Penrith contingent into the fold, having rested them for the opener.
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