Kangaroos halfback's World Cup ends with calf muscle injury

Mitchell Moses will miss the remainder of the Rugby League World Cup, after being ruled out of the Kangaroos' title defence with a lower leg injury that continues his representative misery.

The Parramatta playmaker suffered the injury during Australia's 24-22 win over New Zealand in the tournament opener on Thursday night in Sydney.

He attempted to play on but eventually left the field less than two minutes into the second half.

Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea's men's and women's sides began their tournaments with wins, and England eased to victory over Wales in the women's competition.

While initially believed to be a calf issue or a hairline fracture, scans following the match revealed Moses had suffered an unspecified "high-grade muscle tear", meaning his World Cup campaign is over.

It's a blow to the Kangaroos, who are already missing Nathan Cleary with a serious leg injury, with Moses the Kangaroos' strongest last-tackle kicker.

Moses switched allegiance to play for Australia at this tournament after captaining Lebanon at the 2022 World Cup.

Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters said the 32-year-old was understandably disappointed to miss the remainder of the campaign.

"Mitch made a wonderful contribution to our World Cup preparations during the camp in Sydney and very bravely tried to play through the injury until he eventually had to come from the field on Thursday night," Walters said in a statement on Saturday.

"He is naturally disappointed at the outcome today, and the fact that he tried to stay out there when he was clearly injured shows just what it means to him to represent his country and play in the Kangaroos jersey."

In Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea's men's side earned a gritty 42-18 win over Lebanon hours after the country's women's team had dispatched France 58-4.

Veteran Rhyse Martin began his farewell tournament in style, scoring a try and going perfect from seven conversions against a dogged Lebanon outfit.

His try with nine minutes left on the clock finished off the Cedars, who were fading in humid conditions.

But Lebanon never stopped trying, with fullback Jacob Kiraz (207 metres) and winger Tony Frances (292 metres) constant threats in attack, while Wests Tigers stalwart Alex Twal led the defence with 48 tackles.

Winger Naomi Kelly crossed four times in the women's game as the Orchids ran in 12 tries to one.

England ended the day's women's action in comprehensive fashion against Wales, with Connie Boyd and Anna Davies both scoring hat-tricks in the 70-6 rout in Perth.