Australia's Jillaroos delivered a record-setting performance in the Rugby League World Cup pool stage, overwhelming Wales 124-6 in a contest that starkly illustrated the disparity between established rugby league powers and emerging nations. The match, played on Sunday, set new benchmarks for the women’s World Cup in both score and margin of victory, surpassing Australia’s previous 92-0 win over France in 2022. Remarkably, the total 124 points also exceeded the men's international record of 110-4, set by Australia against Russia in 2000, despite the women’s game being shorter by 10 minutes.
From the outset, Wales struggled to maintain possession, recording only five tackle sets in the opening half, a statistic some pointed to in discussions around rugby league’s kickoff rules and possession dynamics. The Jillaroos dominated in almost every facet: they ran over 2,000 metres, nearly ten times Wales’s output, while registering 22 line breaks, 56 tackle breaks, and 20 tries compared to Wales’s single score.
Wales’ lone try came late in the match when Paige Travis capitalized on a grubber kick from Australia’s Tayla Preston, drawing widespread applause. That try prevented the Jillaroos from setting an absolute margin record in international rugby league, a distinction that still belongs to France’s 120-0 victory over Serbia in 2003.
Australia had already secured a semi-final spot against Fiji set for next Sunday, allowing coach Jess Skinner to rotate players. Notably, halfback Jesse Southwell made her tournament debut, replacing Jocelyn Kelleher, and bench players Makenzie Weale and Sariah Paki were promoted into the starting lineup.
The Jillaroos had previously dismantled Samoa and England with ease, while Wales endured heavy losses in their earlier matches against England (70-6) and Samoa (76-0). Despite a promising start from Wales, whose early kick targeted Tamika Upton, the Australians swiftly took control. A well-executed combination between Olivia Kernick and Weale broke Wales’s defence, leading to a rapid succession of tries. Jaime Chapman, continuing her prolific form, scored multiple tries in the first half, including a hat-trick by halftime.
The match underscored the significant gap between Australia's professional setup and Wales’s relatively amateur squad, feeding ongoing debate about competitive balance in the tournament. By halftime, the Jillaroos had amassed 60 points, with several outside backs—including Chapman, Isabelle Kelly, Jess Sergis, and Abbi Church—among the try-scorers. Veteran players like Kezie Apps and debutant Sariah Paki also contributed, highlighting Australia’s depth and skill.
Despite suffering a wrist injury to Julia Robinson during the tournament, Australia’s dominant form has remained largely unshaken. As the World Cup progresses, the Jillaroos continue to demonstrate why they are heavy favorites to claim the title.