New Zealand are into their first men’s Rugby League World Cup final since 2013 after beating Tonga 34-10 in a wild, wind-affected semi-final in Newcastle on Saturday night, with Kalyn Ponga starring 23 days after breaking his forearm.
Ponga, restored to fullback after being named on the interchange, had three try assists and made a try-saving tackle as the Kiwis scored 22 unanswered points after half-time, according to ABC Sport.
Tonga led 10-6 after 32 minutes thanks to two tries to Jojo Fifita, but Dane Gagai crossed late in the half when Lehi Hopoate failed to clean up a Jahrome Hughes grubber under pressure from Ponga, giving New Zealand a 12-10 lead at the break, NRL.com reported.
Wind turns the semi-final
With wind gusts upwards of 60km/h behind them in the second half, the Kiwis camped in Tonga’s half. Casey McLean scored a brilliant individual try in the 48th minute and Hughes added another five minutes later to make it 24-10.
Read more: Kalyn Ponga Back Training, Eyes Shock World Cup Semi-Final Return
Xavier Willison crashed over in the 70th minute before Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad finished an Erin Clark kick on the final play. Briton Nikora scored the opening try, and Jamayne Isaako kicked five goals.
‘He was so adamant he was playing’
“He’s a tough character and he was so adamant he was playing,” Kiwis coach Stacey Jones said of Ponga, according to BBC Sport. “We didn’t know until after our second-to-last training that he was going to be all right – he ticked all the boxes. Just a tough person.”
Captain James Fisher-Harris said: “Obviously a freak of a player. The defensive mindset he had tonight, he saved a couple of tries. That’s what I love about KP.”
Tonga coach Kristian Woolf did not blame the weather. “It was a disappointing way to finish. Whoever was against the wind in the second half was going to find it tough and we just had to handle it better,” he said.
What’s next
New Zealand will meet the winner of the Kangaroos’ semi-final against Samoa in the final at Lang Park in Brisbane next Sunday. Their only fresh injury concern is prop Naufahu Whyte, who left the field early in the second half with an ankle problem and did not return, NRL.com reported.
The Kiwi Ferns have also booked a final spot after a 32-0 win over Samoa, with Stacey Waaka scoring a hat-trick. They will face Australia or Fiji.
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