New Zealand booked their place in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals with a hard-fought 24-18 win over Fiji in a game of the tournament contender at the MKM Stadium on Saturday night.
The Kiwis, ranked number one in the world, were on the hunt for revenge having been stunned at the same stage by the same opponents in a tryless fixture in Wellington at the 2017 edition of the World Cup.
There was no upset this time but boy, did it come close? New Zealand were pushed all the way by a Fiji side that rocked the apple cart from the first whistle.
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After a pulsating opening 10 minutes between the two sides, it was Fiji, looking to reach the semi-final stage for a fourth time, who drew first blood. Viliame Kikau showed quick hands to tip Apisai Koroisau’s wide pass into the hands of Maiko Sivo who powered his way over the line. Brandon Wakeham had no troubles converting from the touchline.
The underdogs sensationally doubled their lead out of nowhere in the 18th minute courtesy of Kevin Naiqama. The Huddersfield Giants winger latched onto a lovely pass from Sunia Turuva to burst inside and get over the line. Wakeham was again at hand to convert.
The 2008 winners bit back seven minutes later with NRL top scorer Ronaldo Mulitalo showing the pace and power of his footballing namesake to split Fiji open and dive over in the corner. Jordan Rapana’s conversion then helped half the deficit going into the break.
Things went from bad to worse for New Zealand in the second-half, with Fiji getting their third try of the night just three minutes in. Some sloppy play saw the Kiwis concede possession after spilling it in the Fiji half, and Naiqama made them pay with his second of the night.
Wakeham kept his 100% conversion rate intact in the follow up to restore the Bati’s 12-point lead.
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True to the back-and-forth nature of this truly exquisite tie, New Zealand bounced back quickly. Fiji successfully halted Briton Nikora 10 metres short of the line but they tried to strip the ball and it fell away from Nikora, giving the forward the chance to break free and touch down. Rapana was at hand to convert once again.
New Zealand finally looked to have a foothold on the game and they found themselves level after Joseph Manu got his first try of the night, with Rapana dutifully converting, setting up a grandstand final 15 minutes. Some excellent work from Mulitalo saw him cut back inside before finding the full-back in support to burst over the line.
It was a penalty that saw New Zealand take the lead for the first time on the night. Manu lost the ball as he tried to break through in the opposition’s half and the video referee ruled that Fiji had tried to strip it rather than it being a loose carry. Rapana’s pinpoint accuracy remained under the immense pressure of a superlative-defying night for the sport.
The favourites wrapped up the win on the stroke of full-time and Rapana was the hero once again. The Canberra Raiders winger capitalised on some neat work from Brandon Smith to find the corner and hand the Kiwis a collective sigh of release.
Defending champions Australia moved into the semi-finals on Friday night with a 48-4 drubbing of Lebanon at the John Smith’s Stadium in Huddersfield, while England turned up the heat against Papua New Guinea to sail through themselves, thrashing the Kumuls 46-6. The last quarter-final gets underway on Sunday at 2.30pm as Pacific heavyweights Tonga and Samoa go toe-to-toe at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington.
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