New Zealand reach Women’s Rugby League World Cup final as Waaka hat-trick sinks Samoa

Star centre Stacey Waaka scored a hat-trick as New Zealand surged past Samoa 32-0 and into their seventh successive Women’s Rugby League World Cup final on Saturday.

The Silver Ferns went to the break with a narrow 8-0 advantage then ran rampant in the second half at stormy Newcastle, north of Sydney.

They will face either perennial rival Australia or Fiji, who play in Sydney on Sunday, in the 15 November final at Brisbane.

Since the women’s World Cup was first contested in 2000, New Zealand have made every final, winning in 2000, 2003 and 2008 before defeat to Australia at the next three editions.

“It’s really special,” said New Zealand captain Raecene McGregor.

“I’ve spoke about the last couple of weeks how we haven’t done ourselves justice, but I think we came out here today and really proved that we’re a team to be reckoned with.”

Samoa, at their first World Cup since 2008, were on the ropes early, conceding a try after just two minutes when Mackenzie Wiki crossed in the corner.

But they dug in and it took New Zealand another 22 minutes to find their second, when Waaka got on the end of a well-judged kick from McGregor.

It was Waaka who once more did the damage early in the second half, again collecting a chip from McGregor to dot down.

When hulking centre Mele Hufanga shrugged off three defenders to score their fourth try and Kaiyah Atai muscled over minutes later it was game over.

Waaka and then McGregor added two more to make sure of the win as Samoa ran out ideas.