A backflipping Reece Walsh has helped put Australia within touching distance of their fourth-straight World Cup crown as the Kangaroos dismantled Samoa 44-12 in their semi-final.
In their most complete performance of the tournament to date, Kevin Walters' outfit put an ill-disciplined Samoan side to the sword, running in eight tries at Sydney's Allianz Stadium on Sunday night.
Led by fullback Walsh, who scored a hat-trick, the Kangaroos rarely looked troubled.
Australia will face New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane in next Sunday's final as they look to extend their stranglehold on the World Cup that stretches back to 2013.
"That's just Reece, he's always brings up something that you don't expect and the backflip was no different," said Walters.
"Tonight was a really good performance. I still think there's a bit more in us too, so that's exciting.
"Our middle forwards, I thought they stood up really well, they've been questioned and criticised by some people but not within our group."
As fluent as Australia were, Samoa were all at sea in one of their most underwhelming showings since their surprise run to the 2022 final.
With a side stacked with NRL talent and a groundswell of support from their diaspora community, Samoa have a realistic hope of breaking international rugby league's glass ceiling in the years to come.
But on Sunday they made nine errors and gave up 12 set restarts or penalties, while prop Spencer Leniu was sin-binned for dissent late in a disastrous first half.
Samoan coach Ben Gardiner claimed Australia benefited from "homeground calls".
"On the back of some of the penalties that were given, we just didn't react very well on the back of it," said Gardiner.
"Then it was one thing into another and then a try, so it made it really difficult to be able to fight back from that."
Who else but Reece ⚡ #RLWC26 https://t.co/rrsdZdnXhP
— Rugby League World Cup 2026 (@rugbyleaguewcup) November 8, 2026
After a lively pre-game siva tau where they came face to face with the Kangaroos, Samoa were first on the board when Stephen Crichton kicked a fourth minute penalty.
But it was all one-way traffic from then on as Australia asserted their dominance, starting when Tom Dearden scythed through some feeble defence off a scrum play to put the home side on the board.
Jacob Preston pinballed his way over from close range before Tom Trbojevic, Walsh and Bradman Best all crossed to push the Kangaroos out to a 26-2 halftime lead.
Walsh - chosen ahead of James Tedesco for the starting No. 1 spot - celebrated his try with a backflip.
"He probably didn't need to do that but he did it for some sick kids," Walters explained.
But he was left red-faced soon after halftime when he leapt to claim a Samoa bomb, which Crichton scooped up to score.
The Brisbane fullback soon made amends by slaloming his way through the Samoan defence and palming off Brian To'o to add his second.
Izack Tago barged his way over as Samoa showed something of a fightback.
But again, Walsh was the man in the right place at the right time.
The fullback backed up a Cameron Munster break to add his third before having a hand in Australia's final try to winger Jack Bostock.
Australian Associated Press
