Australia secured a decisive 78-0 victory over England in their second Women's Rugby League World Cup Group A match in Perth. The defending champions scored 13 tries to England's zero, with Jocelyn Kelleher contributing significantly to Australia's dominant performance.
From the opening whistle, England struggled, conceding a penalty one second into the match for an offside infringement. This early setback foreshadowed the team's performance, which saw them trail 36-0 at halftime. Australia's tries were scored by players including Chapman (2), Kelleher (2), Church (2), and Kelly (2), with Kelleher also converting nine goals.
The match highlighted a persistent performance gap between the two teams, reminiscent of their previous encounter in March 2025. England's defense appeared passive and error-prone, with players noted as being limp in tackles and exhibiting questionable body language. Despite changes to the squad since the March match, the report suggests little has improved in terms of quality.
England's qualification for the next stage of the tournament will now likely depend on a decider against Samoa. The team also faced additional injury concerns, with Eva Hunter exiting the game with an ankle injury and Jasmin Strange having sustained a serious knee injury in training earlier in the week. Fran Goldthorp, identified as England's best player, continued despite a wrist blow.
Jocelyn Kelleher, who qualified for England through her parentage, played a key role for the Australian side. Her precise kicking game and skillful passing were instrumental in creating scoring opportunities for her teammates. The report notes that England's loss is Australia's gain, referring to Kelleher's significant contribution to the dominant victory.