Live: World Cup begins as Origin stars make historic starts for Kiwis

Hello Australia.

Welcome to ABC Sport’s live digital coverage of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup live blog.

The men’s tournament begins tonight with a clash between two heavyweights, Australia vs New Zealand.

Australia will be favoured, but the Kiwis can now pick players who are also part of State of Origin, so you will see Maroons and Blues united in black.

Join the conversation and be part of the live blog in the comment section.