New Zealand beat Samoa 32-0 to reach seventh straight Women’s Rugby League World Cup final
New Zealand’s Kiwi Ferns beat Fetu Samoa 32-0 in a Women’s Rugby League World Cup semi-final in stormy Newcastle, north of Sydney, on Saturday afternoon, reaching a seventh successive final. Dual international centre Stacey Waaka scored a hat-trick among seven New Zealand tries and drew level with Australia winger Jaime Chapman atop the tournament’s try-scoring list with nine.
The Kiwi Ferns were rarely threatened by an inexperienced Samoa side. They led 8-0 at half-time after an error-marred first half in which Samoa had the better of the chances but failed to score in good territory. New Zealand struck within two minutes, capitalising on a Samoan error to send winger Mackenze Wiki over out wide. After repelling a five-minute assault on their try-line, they caught Samoa napping when Waaka scored her first try, after winger Mercedez Taulelei-Siala showed a lack of urgency trying to gather a Raecene McGregor kick.
Five minutes into the second half another McGregor kick sat up perfectly for Waaka’s second, stretching the lead to 14-0. Four tries in the final 12 minutes sealed the result, with McGregor, centre Mele Hufanga and back-rower Kaiyah Atai joining Waaka on the scoresheet. New Zealand will face the winner of Sunday afternoon’s Australia–Fiji semi-final in Brisbane next weekend, seeking to avenge a 54-4 loss to the Jillaroos in the 2021 final.
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