Kangaroos Final Dossier

Evidence code:OS official NRL match-centre statPR public reportBS broadcast scoreboardNE not establishedTP team target / coaching proposal

Head coach's page

Fixture: Australia v New Zealand · Sunday 15 November · Suncorp Stadium · 6.35 pm AEST. OS ^{S9, S12}

Plan: Keep our completion strength. Fix the three repeated misses: kick receipt, effective tackling and set-restart control. OSTP ^{S1–S4, S17}

Our three jobs

Own the kick-to-exit chain

Pressure onside. Primary catcher calls, second catcher supports, nearest player controls the loose ball, then we connect two carries.

MeasureAt least 80% official kick defusal. We missed this in all four matches: 48%, 71%, 64%, 55%. OSTP ^{S1–S4, S17}

Complete the tackle and rebuild

Square first contact, finish with help, release, set markers and move A/B together.

MeasureAt least 90% effective tackles. We missed this in three of four matches and recorded 85.11% in the semi-final. OSTP ^{S1–S4, S17}

Give away no extra possession

Win the ruck legally, clear the tackle and reset before the next effort.

MeasureZero set restarts conceded. We missed this in all four matches: 5, 6, 4, 3. OSTP ^{S1–S4, S17}

Keep the semi-final ball control: 87% completion, 36/41, met our 82% target; seven errors were our lowest total across the four matches. OSTP ^{S1–S4, S17}

Our chance: New Zealand defused 2 of 7 kicks in the pool game against us and 2 of 7 against Tonga. Those are small counts and do not prove a weakness, but they are why D6 last-tackle kick and chase is in three of this week's sessions. OSNE ^{S1, S5}

Three New Zealand threats

ThreatHughes-led bombs and grubbers, with a live chase.

Our answerPressure without breaking the line; call the take and escort early; own the loose ball and connect the first two carries. PR ^{S6, S8}

ThreatA fullback joining both sides around an organised spine.

Our answerHold our middle count and edge spacing until the fullback shows, then reconnect for the last play. PRNE ^{S5, S14}

ThreatA middle that can carry, offload and bring short-side shapes behind it.

Our answerWin consecutive tackle decisions, keep A/B connected and make both edges solve the same count. OSPRNE ^{S1, S5–S6}

Match lines

With ball: Carry square, keep two threats alive and call the finish by tackle three.

Without ball: Complete first contact with help, release, set markers and move A/B together.

Last tackle: Give our kicker room; pressure theirs onside; chase, catch and exit as one chain.

Restarts: Land the kick, stay onside and concede no set restart after the receipt.

Calls and decisions to confirm

Scenario	Job	Squad wording
Kick receipt	Name primary, second, loose-ball player and first two carries.	Team call · kick receipt and exit
Protecting a lead	Finish in the corner, chase together and concede no cheap exit.	Team call · protect a lead
Chasing	Earn another possession through our carry, finish and chase.	Team call · chase the game
Tied or golden point	Set field position, protect the kicker and know run, kick, chase, receipt, challenge and referee jobs.	Team call · tied or golden point

Staff confirm the squad wording and the starters in each role, agree how to code effective metres, and complete the final rules briefing.

What we set last week and what happened

Catching kicks: under the line in all four games.

R1 11/23 · R2 5/7 · R3 7/11 · SF 6/11.

The pool game, 24–22: score by minute.

Official Try and Goal timeline events; dots mark tries.

Semi-final: our mistakes and Samoa's scores.

Order of events only. This does not show that one caused the other.

Semi-final check against every team target

Target set last week	Semi-final number	Result
Complete at least 82% overall.	87%, 36/41.	Met. OSTP ^{S4, S17}
Make at least 90% effective tackles.	85.11%.	Missed. OSTP ^{S4, S17}
Concede zero set restarts.	Three conceded.	Missed. OSTP ^{S4, S17}
Take at least 80% of kicks cleanly.	Official kick defusal was 55%, 6/11.	Missed. OSTP ^{S4, S17}

The official data cannot score our other nine targets, so they stay open until staff code the video: opening sets, consecutive unforced losses, effective metres from matched starts, early exit penalties and late ruck restarts, goal-line dummy-half, restart landing, kick chains, tackle-four shape and the bench message. NETP ^{S4, S17}

The semi-final gave us one clean target to keep and three repeated gaps to close. The score does not change the process check. We make no claim that last week's report caused any result.

The closest evidence: Australia 24–22 New Zealand

That night	What the numbers say	What has changed since
Ball and field position	We had 48% possession, completed at 76% and made 1,676 m. New Zealand had 52%, completed at 78% and made 1,959 m. Their average set was 47.79 m to our 42.98 m. OS ^S1	Against different semi-final opponents, we reached 55% possession and 87% completion; New Zealand reached 55% possession and 76% completion. This is movement, not a like-for-like comparison. OS ^S4–S5
Tackle and kick receipt	We recorded 85.75% effective tackles and 48% kick defusal. New Zealand recorded 87.04% and 29%. OS ^S1	In the semi-finals, we recorded 85.11% and 55%; New Zealand recorded 85.06% and 29%. Both sides played different opponents, so these are current figures, not a forecast. OS ^S4–S5
How it finished	New Zealand led 22–16. Bostock's exit carry and offload released Walsh for the 68th-minute try. A New Zealand kick ran dead; Munster's kick to Bostock produced the winning try at 75 minutes. New Zealand's final possession ended when a play-the-ball was not received. The order is established; it does not establish one cause. OSPR ^{S1, S6, S18–S19}	Both teams have since shown different routes. We scored eight semi-final tries; New Zealand scored six. Their semi-final was against Tonga and ours was against a different opponent, so the totals do not rank the attacks. OSPR ^{S4–S5, S7–S8}

Staff clips to pull first

This report was built from official match data and public reports and the video has not been coded, so these clips are what staff should check first.

Match	Time	Timeline marker	Staff check
R1 NZ	3:34	Try — Casey McLean	Our preceding set, goal-line numbers, first contact and next ruck. OS ^S1
R1 NZ	14:31	Error — Harry Grant	Carry, pass or kick context, support and set ending. OS ^S1
R1 NZ	23:54	Error — Reece Walsh	Carry, support, set ending and next defensive job. OS ^S1
R1 NZ	24:29	Line dropout — Reece Walsh	Restart legality, landing, contest and chase. OS ^S1
R1 NZ	37:17	Sin bin — Kotoni Staggs	Phase, decision, edge numbers and twelve-player cover. OS ^S1
R1 NZ	46:35	Try — Kalyn Ponga	Preceding set, goal-line numbers, first contact and next ruck. OS ^S1
R1 NZ	59:37	Try — Kalyn Ponga	Preceding set, goal-line numbers, first contact and next ruck. OS ^S1
Semi-final	1:23	Penalty — Tino Fa'asuamaleaui	Official infringement, field position, tackle and next set. OS ^S4
Semi-final	19:00	Line dropout — Reece Walsh	Restart legality, landing, contest and chase. OS ^S4
Semi-final	43:00	Opposition try	Kick receipt, loose-ball response, goal-line set and exit. OS ^S4
Semi-final	60:40	Opposition try	Preceding set, left-edge count, first contact and next ruck. OS ^S4

Gaps, unit plans and measures

Ranked priorities

Kick receipt and exit · G5
Tackle completion and line rebuild · G4
Set-restart control · G3
Keep completion · G1
Last play and close game · G6/G9

Unit work

Unit	Job and check
Back three and edges	Primary catcher calls; second catcher supports; nearest player controls the loose ball. Connect the first two carries. Keep 80% as the official match target. In practice, record the call, take, escort, loose ball and next play separately; do not combine that result with official defusal. TP ^S17
Middles	Complete square contact with help, release, set both markers and move A/B together. Judge the whole tackle and next ruck against the 90% match target. TP ^S17
Edges	Count from marker and A, protect inside, make one jam-or-slide call, then reconnect for the kick. Both edges solve the same pictures.
Spine	Keep the semi-final completion standard. By tackle four, give the kicker room and keep two real threats. Call exit, pressure or strike through the squad's words. OSTP ^{S4, S17}
Captain and ruck leaders	Name tackle, field position and next job after every penalty or restart. The captain handles the referee; the line resets.

Close-game jobs

We won the pool match by two points after trailing by six. Golden point is first score wins; after the first five minutes, teams change ends and continue until a score. Staff assign possession, field-goal, chase, receipt, challenge and referee communication before match day. OS ^{S1, S11}

Player development priorities

Staff only. These are official facts and narrow development points. They are not ratings, blame, availability, medical or selection calls.

Player or group	Fact and development point
Reece Walsh	Official errors were 3, 4 and 1 across his three matches; he also recorded 1, 1 and 3 tries. Pull the listed receipt and restart clips. Rehearse primary, second and loose-ball roles in D5 restarts and D6 last-tackle kick and chase while keeping his support threat. OS ^{S1, S3–S4}
Harry Grant	Official errors appeared in two matches and missed tackles in three. Keep his ruck decision role; review the R1 error in full context and connect nine, markers and A in D2 tackle, release and rebuild. OS ^S1–S4
Kotoni Staggs	An official error appeared in all four matches; the pool game also included the sin bin. Review the full listed sequence, then use D4 right-edge decisions for count, inside protection and twelve-player edge cover. OS ^S1–S4
Tom Trbojevic	He scored in all four matches and official errors appeared in three. Keep the strike and support work; use D1 set finish and chase and D6 last-tackle kick and chase to connect security, set finish and receipt. OS ^S1–S4
Cameron Munster and Tom Dearden	Both recorded kicks and line breaks across the tournament. Keep their run-kick threat; D7 spine by zone checks that tackle-four shape and the called finish survive pressure. OS ^S1–S4
Middles and edge forwards	The team missed the effective-tackle target in three matches. Individual missed-tackle fields identify clips, not blame or a match-long cause. D2 tackle, release and rebuild and D3 goal-line to exit join contact, release, markers, A/B and the next ruck. OSNETP ^{S1–S4, S17}

What New Zealand will test in our game

Evidence	Our answer and what it tests in our game
New Zealand made 1,959 m to our 1,676 m in the pool game. In the semi-final they made 1,923 m, 593 post-contact metres and 19 offloads against Tonga. Opponents and match states differ.	Carry square, win consecutive contacts, control the offload and rebuild the next ruck. What it tests in our game: whether our tackle completion and A/B connection survive repeated middle decisions. OS ^{S1, S5}
Hughes' bombs and grubbers created pressure in the pool game. Against Tonga, a grubber preceded Gagai's try and Jones praised New Zealand's last-play choices; strong wind affected second-half territory.	Pressure onside without opening the line, call catch and escort early, win the loose ball and connect the first two carries. What it tests in our game: the full kick-to-exit chain, not the catch alone. PRNE ^{S6, S8, S15–S16}
The official match record and public reports show Ponga joining both sides, short-side passing and Clark's cross-field kick for the final try. The exact final spine and bench were not established at the cut-off.	Hold count and spacing, make one edge call and reconnect for last play. Keep both-edge roles ready until the official list confirms the spine and bench. What it tests in our game: equal clarity on both edges through every interchange. OSPRNE ^{S5, S13–S16}
New Zealand defused 2 of 7 kicks in the pool game and 2 of 7 in the semi-final, with 8 of 12 and 3 of 5 in the two matches between. These are small counts and do not prove a weakness.	Kick where the squad has called it, chase in one line and contest the loose ball. What it tests in our game: our own kick placement and chase, not their catching. OSNE ^{S1, S5}

The week · D-6 to D-1

Performance and medical staff set every load, minute, contact level, participation rule, recovery action and stop rule.

Day	Work and check
D-6 · Mon 9	Recover under the staff plan. Review the target table and first clip list. Each unit keeps one strength and names one action.
D-5 · Tue 10	Run D2 tackle and ruck, D3 goal-line to exit, D5 restarts and D6 kick and receipt. Staff set all loads. Record the agreed check for each drill and leave every uncoded result blank.
D-4 · Wed 11	Use staff-set recovery, video or walkthrough. Spine and edges set tackle-four shape, kick pressure, receipt roles and replacement wording.
D-3 · Thu 12	Run D1 set finish, D4 edge decisions, D6 kick and receipt and D7 spine by zone. Add score and field position only after the skill is clean. TP ^S17
D-2 · Fri 13	Recheck D2 tackle, release and rebuild, D3 goal-line to exit and D6 last-tackle kick and chase without a coach prompt. Run D8 bench entry and exit and D9 two-minute and golden point. Staff set all participation and contact. TP ^S17
D-1 · Sat 14	At captain's run, rehearse first set, first kick receipt, first restart, twelve-player cover, challenge and the first two golden-point plans. Staff set the load.

Travel, sleep, meals, activation and warm-up remain in the high-performance plan.

Drill bank

D1 · Set finish and chase · TeamKeep the semi-final completion strength and connect every finish to two chase tackles.

Set-up: Play a full set from staff-chosen field starts. Attack calls exit, pressure or strike; defence varies ruck and backfield.

How it runs: Call the finish by tackle three, organise tackle four, finish and play two live chase tackles.

Win criterion: Reach the called finish without an infringement and win both chase tackles. Score at least 4/5. TP ^S17

Staff to set: Players/rotations __ · Field/grid __ · Time or reps __ · Work:rest __ · Contact level __ · Equipment __ · Coach/referee position __ · Progression __ · Team calls __

D2 · Tackle, release and rebuild · Middles and spineComplete the tackle legally and rebuild the next line.

Set-up: Use a live ruck with carrier, supports, nine and half against markers, A/B, edge and fold.

How it runs: Attack varies direct, tip and nine-run. Defence makes square contact with help, releases, sets markers and moves A/B together through the next play.

Win criterion: Complete the tackle, concede no restart and have markers and A/B ready for the next play. TP ^S17

Staff to set: Players/rotations __ · Field/grid __ · Time or reps __ · Work:rest __ · Contact level __ · Equipment __ · Coach/referee position __ · Progression __ · Team calls __

D3 · Goal-line to exit · Middles and back threeDefend goal-line ruck and kick, then connect catch to two exit carries.

Set-up: Play in our goal-line zone. Attack can use dummy-half, short middle, lead, sweep or grubber. Back three enter on turnover.

How it runs: Defend the play, call the kick, secure or win the loose ball, then complete two called carries.

Win criterion: Stop dummy-half, avoid a release infringement, own the kick and complete both exit carries. TP ^S17

Staff to set: Players/rotations __ · Field/grid __ · Time or reps __ · Work:rest __ · Contact level __ · Equipment __ · Coach/referee position __ · Progression __ · Team calls __

D3 · Goal-line ruck to exit. Own try line on the left.

AustraliaOpponentBall / ruckSolid = run · Dashed = kick or called option · Dotted = exit carry

D4 · Right-edge decisions · Right edge, spine and fullbackTrain one edge in detail, then apply the same count and kick connection on both edges.

Set-up: Attack uses middle carry, lead, sweep, short ball or kick. Defence counts from marker and A.

How it runs: Insert squad hold, jam and kick calls. Include fullback arrival, short-side and last-play pictures; repeat on the other edge.

Win criterion: Make one early call, protect inside, cover the kick and rebuild for the next ruck on at least 8/10. TP ^S17

Staff to set: Players/rotations __ · Field/grid __ · Time or reps __ · Work:rest __ · Contact level __ · Equipment __ · Coach/referee position __ · Progression __ · Team calls __

D4 · Right-edge count and connection. Own try line on the left.

AustraliaOpponentBall / ruckSolid = run · Dashed = kick or called option · Dotted = exit carry

D5 · Restarts · Kicker, front line and back threeLand our restart and concede no restart in the following defensive set.

Set-up: Use full-width long and short options. Receivers hold front-line and backfield roles.

How it runs: Kicker names landing; play catch or contest through the next ruck and defensive set. Reset score and time.

Win criterion: Land the called option within the law, stay onside and complete the next defensive set without a restart. TP ^S17

Staff to set: Players/rotations __ · Field/grid __ · Time or reps __ · Work:rest __ · Contact level __ · Equipment __ · Coach/referee position __ · Progression __ · Team calls __

D5 · Restart lattice: long, short-left, short-right. Own try line on the left.

AustraliaOpponentBall / ruckSolid = run · Dashed = kick or called option · Dotted = exit carry

D6 · Last-tackle kick and chase · Spine, chase and back threeJoin pressure, catch or loose ball, and two exit carries.

Set-up: Play a live last tackle. One team finishes and chases; the other sets primary, second and loose-ball roles.

How it runs: Give the kicker room, pressure onside, call the receipt and play two exit carries. Reverse roles and vary landing.

Win criterion: Complete at least 4/5 chains with no penalty: kick, onside pressure, receipt or loose-ball win, then two connected tackles or carries. TP ^S17

Staff to set: Players/rotations __ · Field/grid __ · Time or reps __ · Work:rest __ · Contact level __ · Equipment __ · Coach/referee position __ · Progression __ · Team calls __

D6 · Fifth-tackle kick chain (Australia kicking). Own try line on the left.

AustraliaOpponentBall / ruckSolid = run · Dashed = kick or called option · Dotted = exit carry

D7 · Spine by zone · Spine, middles and edgesKeep two threats and the finish ready by tackle four.

Set-up: Play through exit, midfield and good-ball starts. Defence varies markers, A and edge call.

How it runs: Call finish by tackle three and align by tackle four. Include a completed set with no score as a clean result when the call is right.

Win criterion: Keep two threats live, name the caller and reach the called finish at least 4/5. TP ^S17

Staff to set: Players/rotations __ · Field/grid __ · Time or reps __ · Work:rest __ · Contact level __ · Equipment __ · Coach/referee position __ · Progression __ · Team calls __

D8 · Bench entry and exit · Team and benchKeep receipt, ruck and line-call jobs covered through every change.

Set-up: A replacement enters on the staff signal while the team defends a set and exits after the kick.

How it runs: Deliver score and time, possession, next set and defensive call. Replacement repeats all four before entry.

Win criterion: Repeat all four parts, cover every key job, concede no restart and complete the exit. TP ^S17

Staff to set: Players/rotations __ · Field/grid __ · Time or reps __ · Work:rest __ · Contact level __ · Equipment __ · Coach/referee position __ · Progression __ · Team calls __

D9 · Two-minute and golden point · Team leadersSet the first two plans when we lead, chase or are tied.

Set-up: Staff vary score, possession and field position.

How it runs: Call run, kick, field goal, chase, receipt, challenge and referee jobs. Golden point continues under the competition rule.

Win criterion: Leaders state score, time, field position and first two plans; every finish has a chase and receipt. TP ^{S11, S17}

Staff to set: Players/rotations __ · Field/grid __ · Time or reps __ · Work:rest __ · Contact level __ · Equipment __ · Coach/referee position __ · Progression __ · Team calls __

Performance psychology and leadership

We make no mental-state call from an error, result, video or body language. The team's performance psychologist and coaches deliver the routine.

Reset

After an error, penalty, set restart, try, review decision or unexpected interchange: exhale, scan ball, score, time and numbers, use the squad cue, then do the next tackle, receipt, carry or finish job. TP ^S17

Leaders

Leader	Job
Captain	Confirm score and time, handle referee communication and end the debate.
Spine	Call the next set and finish.
Middle	Set markers, A/B and the replacement message.
Edges	Count, call and reconnect for the kick.
Back three	Name primary, second, loose-ball role and first two carries.

Teach the skill first. Staff add score, noise and consequence in their progression. Ask what the player saw and used; check again without a prompt.

Match day

KPI dashboard · team targets

Priority	Target	Live box
Kick defusal · G5	≥80%	__/__ · TP ^S17
Effective tackles · G4	≥90%	__% · TP ^S17
Set restarts conceded · G3	0	__ · TP ^S17
Completion · G1	≥82%	__/__ · TP ^S17
Opening called sets · G1	≥8/10	__/10 · TP ^S17
Kick chain · G6	≥4/5	__/5 · TP ^S17
Tackle-four shape · G7	≥80%	__/__ · TP ^S17
Bench message · G8	100%	__/__ · TP ^S17

Coach-box sheet

Start □ Tackle and zone □ Contact □ Release □ Markers and A/B □ Set end □ Next start □

Kick: pressure, call, catch, loose ball, escort, first carry, second carry.
Tackle: first contact, help, release, markers, A/B and next ruck.
Restart: category, tackle, field zone, next result and captain response.
Interchange: four-part message and every job still covered.

Game scenarios

Scenario	Plan and leaders
Protecting a lead	Finish in the corner, chase together, complete the tackle and concede no set restart. Captain confirms score and time. Use `Team call · protect a lead`.
Chasing	Earn the ruck, keep two threats and build another possession through the finish and chase. Use `Team call · chase the game`.
Twelve players	Keep receipt, edge count and middle communicator covered. Confirm return-to-thirteen jobs before the return. Use `Team call · twelve-player plan`.
Tied or golden point	Set field position and first two plans. Protect kicker, chase, receipt, challenge and referee jobs. Use `Team call · golden point`.

Captain's Challenge

Captain and staff confirm the competition process before kick-off. Players give the captain the facts; the captain makes the squad's decision and speaks to the referee.

Evidence, clips and learning check

Official data establishes scores, totals and timeline markers. Public reports establish attributed descriptions and comments. Video cause, matched-start effective metres, genuine kick chances, tackle-four shape, bench messages and final availability remain unestablished until analysts code the football measures and staff confirm final availability. OSPRNE ^S1–S19

Analyst coding sheet

The clip list in Section 2 is the first coding queue. Staff use the same written definitions for kick receipt, tackle completion, set restart and kick chain, then leave any result blank until the whole included group is coded.

Sources

S1: NRL official match centre — Australia v New Zealand
S2: NRL official match centre — Australia v Fiji
S3: NRL official match centre — Australia v Cook Islands
S4: NRL official match centre — Australia semi-final
S5: NRL official match centre — New Zealand v Tonga
S6: NRL report — Australia 24–22 New Zealand
S7: NRL report — Australia semi-final
S8: Stacey Jones on New Zealand's semi-final
S9: NRL official final match centre
S10: NRL judiciary report
S11: Official RLWC 2026 rules
S12: Suncorp Stadium final event page
S13: World Cup late mail
S14: Ponga interview and final-week report
S15: ABC semi-final report
S16: NRL report — New Zealand semi-final
S17: Cluefox League Coach knowledge base, scouting notes and independent review records.
S18: ABC live report — Australia 24–22 New Zealand
S19: LeagueUnlimited report — Australia 24–22 New Zealand

Status line for staff: Keep our 87% completion. This week we own the kick-to-exit chain, complete the tackle and rebuild, and concede no set restart. OSTP ^{S4, S17}

Player card

Fixture: Australia · RLWC 2026 Final · Sunday 15 November · Suncorp Stadium · 6.35 pm AEST

Plan: Complete the set we called, finish the tackle, own the kick and give away no extra possession.

Staff note: hand this out only after unit coaches insert the squad's team calls.

Unit	Three cues
All team	Complete the called set · Reset to the next job · Use our team calls
Middle defence	Square contact with help · Release and set markers · A and B move together
Spine and attack	Call finish by tackle three · Two threats by tackle four · Give the kicker room
Edges	Count from marker and A · Protect inside · Reconnect for the kick
Back three	Call the primary catcher · Support as second catcher or loose-ball player · Connect the first two carries
Kick and chase	Pressure onside · Land the called kick · Chase in one line

Keep our 87% completion. This week we own the kick-to-exit chain, complete the tackle and rebuild, and concede no set restart.