2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup

The odds are stacked against New Zealand heading into Saturday's decider after they fell in their past four games against Australia, including three defeats at the Auckland Nines at the start of the year and the Anzac Test match in April.

Atai, who celebrated her 40th birthday in October, played in the first World Cup in 2000 and also boasts a winner's medal from the 2008 tournament.

Queensland stalwarts Stephanie Hancock and Renae Kunst will go into Saturday's World Cup final against New Zealand preparing for a final match in green and gold after announcing their retirements prior to the tournament.

On Sunday afternoon at Southern Cross Group Stadium, the England Lionesses will play the Kiwi Ferns and the Australian Jillaroos will play the Canada Ravens.

This Women's Rugby League World Cup has had plenty of special moments so far and plenty of those came out of the three games that happened on Wednesday.

The brave side came out on top against Papua New Guinea in an incredibly physical match to close out the second round of the group stages.

After an impressive defeat in their first major hit-out three days ago against New Zealand, Canada brought that same resilience tonight in a game where they defended superbly.

Papua New Guinea were attacking in front of a vocal pack of supporters in the Monty Porter Stand, and they were treated to the perfect view of the opening try of the match when Christie Bulhage completed a right-to-left shift and barged her way over.

It was another runaway win by Australia after beating Cook Islands 58-4 on Thursday in the opening pool round. The Jillaroos ran in another eight tries after their 11 on Thursday, with rookie left-side winger Meg ward bagging a double against England.

But the cloud of unsporting behaviour hung over the match.

New Zealand v Canada

New Zealand and Canada began proceedings, and while Kiwi Ferns dominance would not have been surprising to the neutral, the fight and determination that Canada showed was nothing short of inspirational.

They trailed just 16-4 at half-time against a team with various World Cup’s under their best, showcasing what they can do despite the side only being formed in recent times.

The Canadian team has a Rugby Union background, and their ability to adapt to the 13-a-side (on the field) game was very pleasing for coach Mike Castle.

The Jillaroos game will form part of a triple-header celebration of the women's game which will also see the Kiwi Ferns play against the Canada Ravens and England play against the Papua New Guinea Orchids.

Six competing nations - Australia, Canada, Cook Islands, England, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea - will take part in the tournament that kicks off this month.

Pool matches and the semi-finals will be played at Southern Cross Group Stadium, Sydney, with the final to be decided in Brisbane as a double-header with the men's final on 2 December.
 

The Women's Rugby League World Cup 2017 begins on Thursday, 16 November, with a triple-header featuring New Zealand v Canada, Australia v Cook Islands and England v Papua New Guinea.

The full squads are: