Ponga faces scans after World Cup opener as Walsh battles through exhaustion

Australia beat New Zealand 24-22 in the Rugby League World Cup opener in Sydney, but the dramatic finish came amid a series of injury concerns. New Zealand full-back Kalyn Ponga played on for about 20 minutes with a suspected arm fracture, while Australia’s Reece Walsh vomited after a demanding return from injury. [1]

Ponga scored twice before being hurt in a tackle involving Cameron Munster. New Zealand coach Stacey Jones said Ponga would have scans and that the team would wait for the results before deciding what the injury meant for his tournament. Jones said Ponga had been in considerable discomfort and was struggling to catch the ball before coming off.

Walsh, playing for the first time in eight weeks after an ankle injury, made a try-saving tackle on Ponga and later ran 60 metres to help set up Australia’s late victory. Australia coach Kevin Walters said Walsh was cramping and vomiting, and described him as a “power athlete” rather than an endurance athlete. Captain Isaah Yeo praised Walsh’s performance after his time out.

Australia also lost Mitchell Moses to a calf problem shortly after half-time. Yeo, meanwhile, played despite an injured pectoral muscle, having delayed surgery to take part in the tournament. [1]