Australia (26) 44

Tries: Dearden, Preston, Trbojevic, Walsh 3, Best, Bostock Goals: Munster 6

Samoa (2) 12

Tries: Crichton, Tago Goals: Crichton 2

Before kick-off, Samoa's ceremonial war dance - the Siva Tau - turned into an intense confrontation, with their players getting right into the faces of their Australian opponents, and a couple even going forehead to forehead.

It turned out to be the closest Samoa got to Australia all evening.

Australia dominated at Sydney Football Stadium, triumphing 44-12 to reach a 16th successive men's Rugby League World Cup final.

In a repeat of the previous World Cup final, a worked-up Samoa side lost their way with errors and ill-discipline, allowing Australia to run in eight tries, including a Reece Walsh hat-trick.

Australia - who have won the past three world titles in a row - will face New Zealand in Brisbane next Sunday, with kick-off at 08:35 GMT.

Samoa had taken the lead after three minutes when Stephen Crichton – whose golden-point drop goal beat England in the 2022 semi-final – landed a penalty in front of the posts.

But Australia led soon after when Tom Dearden picked up from a scrum and blasted through the non-existent line to score.

Australia's next two tries came after they got six again thanks to poor Samoa discipline. Jacob Preston burst under the posts on 15 minutes; 10 minutes later, Tom Trbojevic - joint-leading try scorer at this Men's World Cup - got his eighth try of the tournament, benefiting after Crichton reached into the ruck.

Walsh got in on the party - celebrating with a backflip - and the scoring was topped before half-time when Bradman Best bounced off tackles and into the corner.

Both sides were fired up by regional rivalry, as the Siva Tau showed pre-match. Samoa's Brian To'o leaned his forehead into the face of Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, the Australia prop who played for Samoa in 2019.

But Samoa's passion dissolved into frustration as the game got away - not helped by some questionable refereeing decisions.

The most egregious came on the half-hour, when Crichton appeared to have grounded to close the score to 16-6 after Francis Manuleleua had beaten Walsh to a high ball.

But a slow-motion replay led to the debatable conclusion Manuleleua had knocked on. It was the final straw for some Samoa players - Spencer Leniu was sin-binned for speaking out of turn to referee Adam Gee just before the break.

Crichton did get his try in the second half after Walsh dropped a bomb, and Izack Tago scored in the corner with 18 minutes left.

But Walsh quickly responded after both Samoan scores, keeping them at arm's length while scoring his first international hat-trick. Bostock added gloss with eight to go.

The damage was done - mostly by Samoa to themselves.

I loved the industry and punch of Jacob Preston's work for Australia on the left edge. He tirelessly hung on the shoulder of his half- and full-back and it was a genuine weapon to unpick Samoa.

He scored a try with a typical battering ram line to blow Samoa open, showed timing and hands to put Bradman Best away out wide and consistently challenged the Samoans' own formidable back rowers to match his energy and finesse.

Harry Grant was another candidate with his probing from hooker, and Reece Walsh caught the eye with a hat-trick, and from Samoa's perspective captain Stephen Crichton led with quality and effort.

Preston though edges it - work-rate and contribution in tandem for the Kangaroos.