Live: World Cup semifinal — New Zealand vs Tonga
By Michael Doyle
59' Tonga cannot kick long as wind remains intense
This strong wind you keep reading about is having a massive impact on this match.
Essentially, the wind is directly behind the Kiwis, and Tonga is struggling.
Halfback Isaiya Katoa tried kicking long down the field for territory, but the ball was held up by the wind, and barely went 20 metres.
54' TRY: Jahrome Hughes (7) scores for New Zealand
The weather has wreaked havoc again.
The Kiwis put up another high kick that Tongan fullback Lehi Hopoate cannot get to.
Hopoate then drops the ball, and New Zealand have the ball with a great chance to score.
And the Kiwis do score.
Halfback Jahrome Hughes throws a dummy, then steps inside and through the defensive line to score.
In the context of this match, and with rain coming down, this is a big lead.
New Zealand 24
Tonga 10
51' New Zealand go close as wind wreaks havoc
A high kick from New Zealand gets caught in the wind, and blows away from everyone and towards to Tongan goal-line.
The ball bounced into the in-goal, but the Kiwis were unable to ground the footy.
48' TRY: Casey McLean (4) scores for New Zealand
What a passage of rugby league.
It started with Tonga making a big break, before a huge shot by Kiwi centre Dane Gagai forced the ball loose.
The Kiwis then rolled down the field and were on the doorstep of the Tongan goal-line.
Left centre Casey McLean got the ball, then produced a step to beat fellow Penrith Panthers teammate Paul Alamoti to score.
With a massive wind running up and down the field, Jamayne Isaako has a kick from the left touchline. Isaako kicks the footy essentially to the centre of the field, and the wind pushes it between the sticks.
New Zealand 18
Tonga 10
46' Lehi Hopoate saves the day for Tonga
New Zealand runs the ball on the final play, and the short-side raid leads to Dane Gagai running for the goal-line.
Only Tongan fullback Lehi Hopoate can stop him, and the Tongan number 1 nails the ball-and-all tackle.
New Zealand 12
Tonga 10
44' New Zealand miss a huge chance
Jahrome Hughes slices through the Tonga defence.
He runs clear and then passes for Briton Nikora, who will score if he catches the ball cleanly.
But a Tongan hand knocks the footy off course, and Nikora drops the ball.
New Zealand 12
Tonga 10
42' Kiwis defend their goal-line
The Kiwis needed to defend stoutly to start the second half, and they did.
Tonga threw plenty at the Kiwis, but could not score a try to take the lead.
New Zealand 12
Tonga 10
Tonga kick the ball out, on the bounce, from the kick-off
The wind has picked up in Newcastle.
Tonga is kicking into the wind, and the kick-off to start the second half falls short.
New Zealand players allow the ball to bounce, and it goes out. Tonga get the ball.
A massive second half is just minutes away
HT: New Zealand 12 lead Tonga 10
That brings an end to the first half — and what a half of footy it was.
The Kiwis exploded out of the gate, with Briton Nikora scoring in the third minute.
New Zealand dominated the opening 20 minutes, before Tonga winger Jojo Fifita made a line break from his own goal-line, setting up a break down the left wing by Tolutau Koula, who then threw it back to Fifita for the try.
Fifita was in for a second to give Tonga the lead, but a mistake from fullback Lehi Hopoate allowed Kiwi Dane Gagai to score and give the Kiwis a 12-10 half-time lead.
37' TRY: Dane Gagai (3) scores for New Zealand
It is a disaster for Tonga.
Jahrome Hughes puts in a grubber for Kalyn Ponga to chase.
Tonga fullback Lehi Hopoate has it covered, but he looks over his shoulder before he gathers the ball, AND HE BOBBLES IT.
He is taken out by Ponga — that is legal.
The ball bounces around the in-goal and Dane Gagai is there to ground the ball for the Kiwis.
Jamayne Isaako nails the conversion to give the Kiwis the lead.
New Zealand 12
Tonga 10
33' TRY: Jojo Fifita (5) scores a second try for Tonga
Tonga has the lead.
With a scrum just 10 metres from the New Zealand line, the Tongans shifted to the left and winger Jojo Fifita was able to reach out and ground the ball with one arm, with a defender all over him.
New Zealand 6
Tonga 10
32' Kalyn Ponga makes a stunning try-saving tackle
Kalyn Ponga is playing without fear.
Big Tongan Demitric Vaimauga was charging to the line, but Ponga was able to come across and made an amazing one-on-one tackle.
24' Tonga lose their captain's challenge
A bad challenge from Tonga.
They are penalised after Salesi Foketi illegally stripped the ball.
Tonga claimed the other defender in that tackle, Haumole Olakau'atu, was not actually holding onto the ball carrier.
That might be technically true, but he is underneath him in a tackle motion, and the bunker ruled the challenge unsuccessful.
New Zealand 6
Tonga 6
21' TRY: Tonga go length of the field
Tonga has just scored one of the great World Cup tries.
Jojo Fifita collected a kick on his goal-line, but broke through two defenders and was away.
He passes to his left, and then another pass to Tolutau Koula has the centre streaking down the wing.
Koula draws in Kiwi fullback Kalyn Ponga, then passes back to Fifita, who scores under the posts.
We are level.
New Zealand 6
Tonga 6
20' Salesi Foketi nails Kalyn Ponga
WHACK.
Kalyn Ponga is returning a kick, and gets absolutely walloped by Tongan hooker Salesi Foketi.
That has set the tone.
19' Kiwis miss a huge chance
Brilliant from the Kiwis.
Centre Casey McLean made a big break up the middle, getting the Kiwis into an attacking position.
The Tongans had to scramble for a full set.
On the final play, the Kiwis looked to have an overlap, but Joseph Tapine was unable to quickly catch and pass, dropping the footy.
New Zealand 6
Tonga 0
16' Kiwis defend the goal-line well
Tonga tried to force their way over the goal-line, but the Kiwi defence was strong.
The Tongans got a fresh set of six after an infringement by the Kiwis (I think they were offside).
But the Kiwis were able to hold, with a last-play kick to the corner dropped by the Tongans.
14' Tonga get a big chance
Tonga has a big chance.
They were awarded a penalty just 10 metres out after Kiwi winger Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad obstructed the Tonga kick-chase.
James Fisher-Harris (NZ) on report for raised knee while running with the ball
12' Both teams settle into the contest
New Zealand and Tonga have both settled into this match.
Kalyn Ponga, 23 days after breaking his arm, looks threatening every time he has the ball.
The Kiwis are winning the territory battle, but the Tongans have had an attacking grubber to the in-goal, which was defused by the Kiwis.
3' TRY: Briton Nikora (12) scores for New Zealand
BANG.
The Kiwis struck first, and they struck fast.
New Zealand fullback Kalyn Ponga started the passage of play with a raid down the sideline, getting the Kiwis into position.
Ponga then gave a lovely short pass to Briton Nikora, and the back-rower muscles his way over the line.
New Zealand 6
Tonga 0
KICK-OFF: New Zealand vs Tonga
Tonga will have the first use of the ball, and prop Addin Fonua-Blake takes the first run.
He is met by a wall of black jerseys.
The Tongas get to their kick, and Kiwi fullback Kalyn Ponga collects the footy and makes his first run.
New Zealand and Tonga stare each other down
One of the most intense pre-match war cries has just taken place.
Tonga was intense with the Sipi Tau, but copped a mighty reply from the New Zealand Haka.
Then, THE STARE DOWN.
Both sets of players stood, for what felt like an eternity, neither wanting to back down.
New Zealand and Tonga walk onto Hunter Stadium
There is a massive crowd at Hunter Stadium, and there is plenty of red in the crowd.
MATCH WRAP: New Zealand into women's final with dominant win
New Zealand cross-code superstar Stacey Waaka leads her country to another women's Rugby League World Cup final, scoring three tries in a dominant win over Fetu Samoa.
Team lists: Tonga
Paul Alamoti (20) is in at centre, replacing the injured Robert Toia.
Backs: 1 Lehi Hopoate, 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3 Tolutau Koula, 20 Paul Alamoti, 5 Jojo Fifita, 6 Tuimoala Lolohea, 7 Isaiya Katoa.
Forwards: 8 Addin Fonua-Blake, 9 Salesi Foketi, 10 Jason Taumalolo, 11 Haumole Olakau'atu, 12 Siua Wong, 13 Tyson Frizell.
Interchange: 14 Soni Luke, 15 Stefano Utoikamanu, 16 Demitric Vaimauga, 17 Taniela Paseka, 18 Leka Halasima, 19 Latu Fainu.
Team lists: New Zealand
New Zealand have two MASSIVE ins.
Kalyn Ponga, 23 days after breaking his arm, will start at fullback for the Kiwis. That means Keano Kini goes back to the bench.
Meanwhile, Phoenix Crossland has been added to the six-man bench. He missed the pool matches due to suspension after a hip-drop tackle on Nathan Cleary in Newcastle's preliminary final win over Penrith in September.
Backs: 21 Kalyn Ponga, 2 Jamayne Isaako, 3 Dane Gagai, 4 Casey McLean, 5 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 6 Kodi Nikorima, 7 Jahrome Hughes.
Forwards: 8 James Fisher-Harris, 9 Jeremy Marshall-King, 10 Moses Leota, 11 Isaiah Papali'i, 12 Briton Nikora, 13 Joseph Tapine.
Interchange: 1 Keano Kini, 14 Te Maire Martin, 15 Naufahu Whyte, 16 Erin Clark, 17 Xavier Willison, 22 Phoenix Crossland.
What time is kick-off between the New Zealand and Tonga
Here is when the men's Rugby League World Cup semifinal between New Zealand and Tonga will begin in each Australian state and territory, and each country in the tournament.
Player of the match Stacey Waaka speaks after New Zealand's semifinal win
A tremendous outing for Stacey Waaka.
She scored three tries in the semifinal, and now has a chance to add the Rugby League World Cup to her list of accomplishments.
Waaka has already won two Olympic gold medals in rugby 7s and two women's Rugby Union World Cups for New Zealand.
"A really close first half, but the team who was going to win was the one who played right to the end, then I think we done that," Waaka told the 7 Network post-match.
FULL-TIME: New Zealand 32 def. Fetu Samoa 0
New Zealand has secured its place in a seventh consecutive women's Rugby League World Cup final after beating Fetu Samoa 32-0.
Having made the decider in all six previous tournaments, flyer Stacey Waaka scored three tries to guide her nation to semifinal triumph.
New Zealand will face either Australia or Fiji, who play the second semifinal in Sydney on Sunday.
67' TRY: Raecene McGregor (7) scores for New Zealand
The scoreline is starting to get out of hand.
The Kiwi Ferns again roll down the field, picking apart a very tired Fetu Samoa defence.
Captain Raecene McGregor has scored under the posts.
New Zealand 32
Fetu Samoa 0
64' TRY: Stacey Waaka (4) scores a hat-trick
Oh. What a pass from Annessa Biddle.
The Kiwi Ferns were keeping the ball alive near the Fetu Samoa goal-line.
Interchange Annessa Biddle leaps over a downed defender and, while in the air, throws a one-handed flick pass to Stacey Waaka, who scores a third try.
New Zealand 26
Fetu Samoa 0
60' TRY: Kaiyah Atai (12) scores for New Zealand
New Zealand have marched down the field and scored a fourth try.
Quick play-the-balls allowed the Kiwi Ferns to roll down the field, with Fetu Samoa's defence in retreat.
Kaiyah Atai charged onto a short pass with defenders back-pedalling, and Atai muscled her way to the goal-line.
New Zealand 22
Fetu Samoa 0
58' TRY: Mele Hufanga (3) scores for New Zealand
That should be it.
The Kiwi Ferns had a goal-line dropout, which was dropped over the sideline by Samoan halfback Pauline Piliae-Rasabale.
That took the air out of this match, as it felt like Samoa's chances were running out.
The Kiwi Ferns, aided by a penalty, marched down the field.
Destructive centre Mele Hufanga got the ball near the goal-line and shrugged off three defenders to score.
New Zealand 18
Fetu Samoa 0
52' Alexis Tauaneai drops the ball with the line begging
The match could have been sealed for the Kiwi Ferns.
Ashleigh Quinlan made the linebreak near the goal-line, and as she was being tackled, passed inside to Alexis Tauaneai.
But Tauaneai could not hold onto the footy, and a certain try goes begging.
New Zealand 14
Fetu Samoa 0
50' Fetu Samoa throws fourth forward pass as rain falls
Fetu Samoa has been its own worst enemy.
With the ball at halfway line, halfback Pauline Piliae-Rasabale tried to throw a cut-out pass to an open winger, but it went forward.
That is Fetu Samoa's fourth forward pass in this match.
New Zealand 14
Fetu Samoa 0
44' TRY: Stacey Waaka (4) scores for New Zealand
Excellent from New Zealand.
The play started with the Kiwi Ferns shifting to the left, then they passed back to the right.
Raecene McGregor put in a perfect little kick that was caught by a charging Stacey Waaka, who scored.
New Zealand 14
Fetu Samoa 0
Kalyn Ponga to start for Kiwis against Tonga
We have HUGE news from the New Zealand Kiwis.
Kalyn Ponga will start at fullback in tonight's semifinal against Tonga.
Ponga broke his arm in the opening match of the tournament against Australia — 23 days ago.
Second half begins between New Zealand and Fetu Samoa
