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Find your Sport Nation frequency'So beatable': Kiwi Ferns have history on side
Murray Wenzel, AAP • November 10th, 2026 3:10 pm
New Zealand are confident they have the grit and firepower to win a first World Cup since 2008 | Photo: Jason O’Brien/AAP
The Kiwi Ferns are adamant they have the tools to pry open the Jillaroos' "cracks and flaws" when they meet in the World Cup final.
The hosts will start favourites in Sunday's decider in Brisbane, having won 12 of their last 14 encounters in the last 11 years.
Things were different in the 20 years before that, with New Zealand winning all but three of their 18 contests.
It leaves them ahead 17-15 in women's rugby league's biggest rivalry, but Kiwi captain Georgia Hale isn't leaning on that.
Georgia Hale is hoping to help NZ to a fifth win of this World Cup and a fourth title overall | Photo: Darren England/AAP
"We're right where we want to be, but the Jillaroos are the best and we want to beat the best," she said on Tuesday.
"The pack we have, the flair and speed we have ... absolutely they are so beatable.
"Every team has cracks and flaws.
"We've beaten them before, and I remember that feeling and it's one we want to grasp on Sunday."
Jillaroos skipper Isabelle Kelly expects a forensic examination of her side after they were pushed by an impressive Fiji in a 30-14 semi-final win.
"It was a good match-up; we needed a physical game and the Fijian girls, a lot aren't contracted in NRLW that will now be pushing for spots," he said.
"They've watched all our games and there's always little things every team can find.
"It's preparing for everything and we've done that well, changing our plan and against the Kiwis we might play a different style as well."
