Walsh vomit & Ponga pain - the physical toll of World Cup opener

Key points

• Australia beat New Zealand 24-22 in Sydney in the Rugby League World Cup opener.
• Reece Walsh was vomiting and cramping after eight weeks out with an ankle injury.
• Kalyn Ponga played 20 minutes with a suspected broken arm and faces scans.

Australia opened the Rugby League World Cup with a 24-22 win over New Zealand in Sydney on Thursday. The match was decided by a late try from Jack Bostock, who scored a hat-trick.

The game highlighted the physical toll on the players. Australia full-back Reece Walsh, playing his first match in eight weeks after an ankle injury, was seen exhausted and vomiting during the contest.

Walsh's effort after injury

Walsh made a try-saving tackle on Kalyn Ponga in the first half and then ran 60 metres to set up Australia's winning try. He was cramping and vomiting and did not have the energy to kick a goal.

Australia head coach Kevin Walters said Walsh was good despite not having played for eight weeks. Walters added that Walsh is not an endurance athlete but a power athlete who made several big efforts.

It's a possible fracture of the arm but he's going to go for scans and we're not going to make a call on him right now where he's at

— Stacey Jones

Ponga's injury concern

New Zealand full-back Kalyn Ponga scored two tries but played on for about 20 minutes with a suspected broken arm before leaving the field. He was injured in a tackle with Cameron Munster.

New Zealand head coach Stacey Jones said Ponga will have scans and no decision has been made on his availability. Jones said Ponga was in a lot of discomfort and could not catch the ball.