2026 Rugby League World Cup Betting Tips - Final

And then there were two! Just Australia and New Zealand remain, and it’s the Final that most were expecting. Australia and New Zealand played each other in the first round of the Rugby League World Cup, and that game was a cracker, with the Kangaroos winning by just two points.

Australia are the slight favourites coming into this match, and if their game against New Zealand in Round 1 is anything to go by, we’ll be in for a doozy. So, before all the action kicks off, make sure you check out our tips. The BettingTop10 team have gone through everything you need to know for this game.

Do Sundays get any better than this? Two of the top teams will face off in the Final at Suncorp Stadium. Australia and New Zealand have played each other 21 times in their history, and it’s the Kangaroos that have a 19-2 stranglehold in the head-to-head record. Australia have won all four of their games so far this tournament.

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s only loss was in the first round, when they went down to Australia 22-24. Since then, they have piled on 82, 78, and 34 points over the Cook Islands, Fiji, and Tonga (respectively). While Australia may have won all four of their games in the tournament, not all of them have been overly convincing.

Kevin Walters’ team remains unchanged for this clash. This means the likes of Sam Walker is on the bench, and James Tedesco, Blayke Brailey and Lindsay Smith are all listed in the extended reserves. For the Kiwis, Ronaldo Mulitalo is back after serving his suspension. Kalyn Ponga returned from a broken arm last time out and is set to keep his spot again.

Australia have only lost once at Suncorp Stadium in 12 games, while New Zealand have only won two from six. While the Kangaroos do come into this one as the favourite, New Zealand certainly aren’t pushovers. They are capable of giving Australia a run for their money, but in the end, I think the Aussies will prove too good.

Bookmaker	Katherine’s Tip	Odds
	Australia to win	NZ$1.74
	Australia to win	NZ$1.74
	Australia to win	NZ$1.74

Predicted Squads

Australia - Reece Walsh, Jack Bostock, Kotoni Staggs, Bradman Best, Tom Trbojevic, Cameron Munster, Tom Dearden, Pat Carrigan, Harry Grant, Tino Fa'asaumaleaui, Jacob Preston, Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo, Ethan Strange, Keaon Koloamatangi, Cameron Murray, Reuben Cotter, Latrell Mitchell & Sam Walker

New Zealand - Kalyn Ponga, Jamayne Isaako, Dane Gagai, Casey McLean, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Kodi Nikorima, Jahrome Hughes, James Fisher-Harris, Jeremy Marshall-King, Moses Leota, Isaiah Papali'i, Briton Nikora, Joseph Tapine, Te Maire Martin, Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark, Xavier Willison, Keano Kini & Phoenix Crossland

The 2026 Rugby League Final is finally upon us! Before kick-off, make sure you take a look at some of the most important betting influences for this game:

1. Australia knows how to turn it up in the important games. While they only just squeaked by New Zealand in Round 1, I don’t think they’ll make the same mistakes twice.
2. In a key game like the Final, defence is usually the focus. Plus, if we look at the last two games between Australia and New Zealand, neither team managed 30 points.
3. I think Australia will end up winning, and that typically means they’ll end up scoring more tries in the process. The game could be close, but the Aussies may end up with one or two tries more.

Multi of the Week

If a multi is more your style, there are plenty of betting apps to choose from. We’ve put together a three-leg multi for the Final. Take a look at our selections before the game right here.