One New Zealand Warriors players made vital contributions as both the Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns surged into next Sunday’s Rugby League World Cup finals at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
With their impressive 34-10 semifinal victory over Tonga in Newcastle, the James Fisher-Harris led New Zealanders booked their first appearance in the final since 2013.
There they’ll meet the Kangaroos who disposed of Toa Samoa 44-12 in Sydney on Sunday night.
The Kiwi Ferns shut out Fetu Samoa 32-0 in their semifinal on Saturday with the Jillaroos eliminating Fiji 30-14 on Sunday for another trans-Tasman showdown, the seventh since the women’s competition was launched in 2000 (New Zealand won the first three finals, Australia the last three).
One New Zealand Warriors players had a profound influence in both contests in Newcastle.
Kiwis power into RLWC final with superb victory over Tonga
In the men’s battle, Fisher-Harris followed up another stirring performance of the haka by leading the Kiwis as authoritatively as ever in his 55 minutes on the field finishing with 152 metres from 18 runs (52 post-contact) with three tackle breaks and two off loads plus 33 tackles.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, on the left wing for the suspended Ronaldo Mulitalo, was the busiest ball carrier of the night, with game-high numbers for runs (23) and metres gained (216), a team-best 58 post-contact metres, a line break, four tackle breaks, three off loads and a last-minute try.
Waaka's hat-trick takes Kiwi Ferns into seventh World Cup final
It was Warriors teammate Erin Clark who engineered Nicoll-Klokstad's try with a deft kick on a night when he was typically on song in the middle of the field.
Playing 58 minutes straight off the bench, he clocked 143 metres from 18 runs (54 post-contact), two try assists (he also put halfback Jahrome Hughes over), four tackle breaks, two off loads and 24 tackles.
Warriors star Stacey Waaka again left her mark for the Kiwi Ferns with a player of the match display against Samoa, finishing with a hat-trick to make it nine tries in four games at the tournament.
She made 130 metres from12 runs with two line breaks, two line break assists, a try assist, three tackle breaks and seven tackles.
Clubmate and centre partner Mele Hufanga was all power as usual with a try – her fourth in three games – 117 metres from 13 runs, a line break, six tackle breaks, four off loads and 10 tackles.
At fullback Apii Nicholls finished with 122 metres from 14 runs, a tackle break and three tackles while second rower Kaiyah Atai scored try, made 94 metres from nine runs with a line break and four tackle breaks plus 27 tackles without a miss in an error-free 70-minute effort.
Off the bench Ivana Lauitiiti finished with 68 metres from eight carries with three tackle breaks, an off load and 10 tackles.
