Walsh stars in big Kangaroos win to put claim on No.1

Joel Gould | October 31, 2026

Reece Walsh and Tom Dearden have made a statement to keep their starting spine positions, as Australia finished their World Cup pool games undefeated with a 66-6 win over the Cook Islands.

Fullback Walsh was preferred over James Tedesco and Dearden edged out Sam Walker at halfback and both were highly influential in the emphatic win in Townsville on Saturday night.

Second-rower Jacob Preston was superb with two line breaks and a try ahead of Australia’s semi-final clash with either Samoa or Tonga on November 8 in Sydney.

The Kangaroos were sloppy with the ball and their completion rate of less than 70 per cent won’t be good enough in the knockout phase.

Australia took a 28-6 lead into halftime after the Cook Islands took it to them in the opening exchanges.

After the break, Australia put their foot down with wingers Jack Bostock and Tom Trbojevic both scoring hat-tricks.

Walsh tweaked an ankle during the match but played through pain to record five try assists and score himself in a quality display.

Dearden, with two first-half try assists, combined well with five-eighth Cameron Munster, who assumed the goalkicking duties from Walsh after his foot complaint.

Harry Grant started at hooker and will be the No.9 for the rest of the tournament.

Walsh’s subtle double pump put Bostock over for the first try, but the Cook Islands dominated the next 15 minutes

Second-rower Delahia Wigmore, who played this season for Penrith in the NSW Cup, made a barnstorming charge and stood over Kangaroos prop Tino Fa’asumaleaui after running over the top of him.

It was a statement of intent but Fa’asuamaleaui responded with two tries of his own.

Cook Islands rake Rua Ngatikaura crashed over from close range to give the Aitu a 6-4 lead in their first Test against Australia.

The Kangaroos forwards were underwhelming early, but Dearden set up Trbojevic to get Australia in front and they were never headed from there.

Fa’asuamaleaui crashed over and Dearden was provider for centre Kotoni Staggs, before Walsh streaked away after Preston’s second line break.

Australia weren’t headed in the second half, but the Aitu did not turn it up.

Cook Islands veteran Brad Takairangi’s kicking game at halfback was impressive. It was the 37-year-old’s last game for his country in a stellar Test career that included 17 Tests for the Kukis and four for New Zealand.

Takairangi led the pe’e haka for his country before kick-off in an emotional display and Canberra playmaker Ethan Strange had an impressive Test debut off the bench for Australia.