Rugby League World Cup: Australia 42-8 Fiji - Kangaroos dominate in Leeds

Holders Australia got their Rugby League World Cup disconnected to the cleanable commencement with a ascendant triumph implicit Fiji.

Jeremiah Nanai, Josh Addo-Carr and Angus Crichton each crossed to enactment the Kangaroos 18-6 up astatine half-time aft Semi Valemei gave Fiji a daze lead.

Australia's Latrell Mitchell, Harry Grant, James Tedesco and Addo-Carr went implicit successful the 2nd half, earlier Fiji's Sunia Turuva scored a consolation try.

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Australia person won 8 of the past 9 World Cups and were ever dense favourites to bushed a Fiji broadside who mislaid 50-0 to England 8 days ago.

After Nanai cancelled retired Valemei's fourth-minute opener, Australia recovered their rhythm, going into an eight-point pb erstwhile Addo-Carr ran the magnitude of the tract to people a stunning intercept effort midway done the archetypal half.

His effort opened the floodgates with Crichton and Mitchell going implicit aft bully build-up play either broadside of the break.

Mitchell's effort gave Australia a 20-point pb with 30 minutes remaining and Fiji ne'er looked similar mounting an improbable comeback arsenic Australia continued to adhd scores.

Fiji instrumentality connected Italy successful Newcastle connected Saturday, 22 October successful Newcastle successful their adjacent fixture, portion Australia look Scotland successful Coventry connected Friday.

They volition beryllium without North Queensland Cowboys' Reuben Cotter who walked disconnected the tract with a concussion aboriginal successful the 2nd half.

Australia caput manager Mel Meninga told BBC Two:

"I'm blessed with that, I'm truly blessed with our defence. There are a fewer things to hole up with the shot but each successful it was a bully effort.

"The effort astir our defence and cognition was spot on. Everything we asked of our players they executed well.

"We've got existent contention successful the team. I'll remainder immoderate of the guys adjacent week and hopefully we'll turn arsenic the tourney goes on."

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