New Zealand stormed into the Rugby League World Cup semifinals with a commanding 78-0 demolition of Fiji on the Gold Coast, scoring 13 tries in a one-sided contest.
Centre Casey McLean led the charge with four tries, while Jamayne Isaako converted all 13 attempts as the Kiwis overwhelmed their Pacific rivals from the outset, racing to a 48-0 halftime lead. The match was marred by red cards for New Zealand winger Ronaldo Mulitalo, following a high tackle, and Fiji halfback Brandon Wakeham, who retaliated with a punch.
Fiji also lost captain Api Korisau to a suspected broken jaw and had Jordan Miller sin-binned late in the match. The emphatic victory secured New Zealand’s place alongside defending champions Australia in the semifinals, with their next opponents to be determined by the Samoa-Tonga clash. The Kiwis will also be hoping injured star Kalyn Ponga returns for the knockout stage.
