New Zealand Beat Fiji 78-0 to Reach World Cup Semis — SkimNews
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- New Zealand beat Fiji 78-0 to reach the Rugby League World Cup semifinals, with four converted tries producing a 24-0 lead in the opening 13 minutes.
- Casey McLean scored four of New Zealand’s 13 tries and Keano Kini added two, with eight arriving in the first half and five after the break.
- Fiji, who pushed reigning champions Australia close a week earlier, scored no tries and conceded 13 in a match played on Australia’s Gold Coast.
- Apisai Koroisau suffered a suspected broken jaw after clashing heads with Joseph Tapine in the eighth minute, while Semi Valemei left the field with a head injury.
- Brandon Wakeham and New Zealand winger Ronaldo Mulitalo were sent off during the second period, and Mulitalo awaits a ruling on whether he faces a tournament-ending ban for a high shot on Ronald Philitoga.
- Stacey Jones confirmed that Kalyn Ponga, who broke his arm in the tournament opener against Australia on 15 October, trained this week and could be involved against Samoa, Tonga or England.
- Samoa and Tonga meet Sunday, with the winner due to face New Zealand and the loser Australia; England’s slim semifinal hopes require Tonga to defeat Samoa by more than 46 points.
Why it matters: New Zealand’s semifinal place is secure, but its last-four preparation is complicated by an unresolved high-shot case for Ronaldo Mulitalo and uncertainty over Kalyn Ponga, who has trained this week after breaking his arm. The match produced two send-offs and two Fiji injury concerns, while England’s qualification hinges on Tonga beating Samoa by more than 46 points.
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