Jaime Chapman scored three tries before the half-hour, and the Jillaroos had their fourth straight World Cup won by half-time

The Jillaroos are world champions again. Australia beat New Zealand 34-10 in the Women’s Rugby League World Cup final at Lang Park in Brisbane on Sunday afternoon, a fourth consecutive title, and the contest was over long before the sweltering heat started to bite.

Winger Jaime Chapman scored in the second minute, breaking wide and beating her opponent with a stutter step. She added a second in the 14th minute with a diving, one-handed finish, then completed her hat-trick with a long solo run from inside her own half before the half-hour mark.

Shaylee Best, Jess Sergis and fullback Tamika Upton also scored, and halfback Jesse Southwell kicked five of six conversions. Australia led 34-6 at half-time. New Zealand’s only first-half points came from Shannon Mato’s converted try in the 23rd minute, and Mackenzie Wiki crossed late for the Kiwi Ferns’ second, the only points of an error-strewn second half.

How good was Chapman?

Her 13 tries equal the World Cup record for a single campaign, across both the men’s and women’s tournaments. She was named player of the final. Afterwards she said she was proud to win it with her teammates and for her country.

Is anyone in Australia’s way?

Not on this evidence. The two nations have now met in five consecutive World Cup finals, and Australia won the last one, four years ago, 54-4. Captain Isabelle Kelly said wearing the green and gold meant “always striving to be the best”.

For first-time World Cup coach Jess Skinner, it was a perfect start. For prop Millie Elliott it was a farewell: she announced her retirement from rugby league after the game, finishing unbeaten in State of Origin, a premiership and a World Cup. Teammate Keeley Nizza said there was “no better competitor in the game”.

What does it mean beyond the scoreboard?

A sell-out crowd in Brisbane for a women’s final is the clearest sign yet of how far the women’s game has come since its first World Cup in 2000. The gap between Australia and the rest of the world remains the challenge for the sport’s administrators before the next tournament.

What happens next?

The Kangaroos play the Kiwis in the men’s World Cup final at 6.35pm AEST (4.35pm AWST) on Sunday. Latrell Mitchell has been ruled out with illness, and James Tedesco comes onto the bench. Australia has won 12 men’s World Cups, including nine of the last 10; New Zealand has won one, in 2008.

VNN will update this story as more is confirmed.