World cup

[Dolph]

NZ by 36
FTS: Isaako
MOTM: Niko

 

[SwoopAE]

That sideline conversion from Isaako was beyond incredible

Katoa's a fine goal kicker but that's the one aspect of Isaako's game we will miss. Naufahu will be a better winger than him as far as gameplay's concerned in his prime but that goalkicking is crazy good

 

[Red]

That sideline conversion from Isaako was beyond incredible

Katoa's a fine goal kicker but that's the one aspect of Isaako's game we will miss. Naufahu will be a better winger than him as far as gameplay's concerned in his prime but that goalkicking is crazy good

I was really pessimistic about signing Isaako at first but at his 3rd or 4th club, suddenly he became one of the best wingers in the competition. But unfortunately he had to make way for a younger version of himself. As you said, maybe even better but who can't kick goals.

 

[midlands hobo]

As much as RU bores me to death they do at least have impartial refs.
Australia have played 4 and had 4 home refs. England had 3 games and 3 Australian refs. NZ had 4 Australian Refs.

For the international game to have any credibility moving forwards NZ are going to need to step up withe Refs as are some of the isalnds and France.

 

[SwoopAE]

While I agree that Australia in general had the calls go their way, I can't point to any specific bunker or reviewed refereeing decisions that were wrong

Leniu getting binned for telling the ref he's on the take has to happen, both Samoa no tries were no try by the letter of the law and the unsuccessful challenge wasn't a strip

Samoa just played absolutely terribly combined with Australia playing well and while Australia may have got some calls that sometimes go the other way I can't point to a specific one that changed the game in a major way that was horribly wrong

 

[midlands hobo]

While I agree that Australia in general had the calls go their way, I can't point to any specific bunker or reviewed refereeing decisions that were wrong

Leniu getting binned for telling the ref he's on the take has to happen, both Samoa no tries were no try by the letter of the law and the unsuccessful challenge wasn't a strip

Samoa just played absolutely terribly combined with Australia playing well and while Australia may have got some calls that sometimes go the other way I can't point to a specific one that changed the game in a major way that was horribly wrong

The point is it looks amateur to mark your own homework. Can you imagine if Brazil played argentina in the FIFA world cup and had a Brazilian or Argentinian ref?

 

[Equaliser]

While I agree that Australia in general had the calls go their way, I can't point to any specific bunker or reviewed refereeing decisions that were wrong

Leniu getting binned for telling the ref he's on the take has to happen, both Samoa no tries were no try by the letter of the law and the unsuccessful challenge wasn't a strip

Samoa just played absolutely terribly combined with Australia playing well and while Australia may have got some calls that sometimes go the other way I can't point to a specific one that changed the game in a major way that was horribly wrong

The first Samoa disallowed try was wrong. The ref ruled a try. The attacking team is supposed to get the benefit of the doubt. If there wasn't doubt in that, I'm Artie Beetson. The Munster strip or non-strip that led up to the first try, I thought was wrong. He didn't reef the ball out but it very much looked to me he got it moving in that direction and then let the tackle finish the job.

Also a drop out that was ruled to have "broken the plane" upon reply very obviously didn't.

 

[SwoopAE]

It pretty clearly touched the Samoa player's hand and went forward in the contest when you look in slow motion. I don't have any stake in it either way, but I thought as much as I wanted it to be a try for the good of the game being more competitive that it wasn't

I agree it would be better if we had a pool of international referees and I am not a fan of most of the current NRL refs at all but I didn't think that even cracked top 20 worst officiated games of 2026, it probably wasn't even in the top 50

Yes a few of the 'either way' calls went Australia's way but I can't point to a single major decision that was wrong let alone clearly wrong of the bunker/challenge/major decisions before the game was lost for Samoa

The drop out I can agree with but again the game wasn't remotely close and Samoa only have themselves to blame.

While the overall penalty count of 13-7 was somewhat lopsided there are plenty of games vastly more lopsided than that in terms of penalty count and Samoa did commit more fouls than Australia did pretty clearly over the course of the game.

While I agree Australia got the best of the calls overall it is nowhere near in the most egregious 20 games of 2026 in terms of bad or one sided refereeing