Kalyn Ponga named on New Zealand reserve list for World Cup semi-final after broken forearm

Kalyn Ponga trained this week with a black bandage around his recently broken left arm and has been named on New Zealand's reserve list for their Rugby League World Cup semi-final against Tonga in Newcastle, New South Wales.

Hooker Phoenix Crossland has also been added to the reserve list after completing a four-match ban, meaning New Zealand have two recently sidelined players available as they approach the knockout phase of the tournament.

Ponga suffered a broken forearm on 15 October during New Zealand's opening game against Australia; he played on for around 20 minutes as Australia narrowly triumphed 24-22 before undergoing surgery. Head coach Stacey Jones had expressed at the time that Ponga could be fit for the final on 15 November if New Zealand progressed that far.

Crossland's suspension originated from a 'hip-drop' tackle on Australia's Nathan Cleary on 27 September in the NRL play-offs. The incident left Cleary with a compound fracture and dislocation to his left ankle, ruling Cleary out of the World Cup on home soil, and Crossland apologised to Cleary afterwards.

Crossland missed the NRL Grand Final, which the Newcastle Knights lost to the Sydney Roosters, and sat out all three of New Zealand's Group A matches while serving his ban. As it stands, Crossland and Cleary would not play in Saturday's semi-final as reserves, but they could still be moved into the 19-man matchday squad later this week before the game against Tonga in Newcastle, New South Wales (09:05 GMT).

Tonga are unchanged from their final group match; they beat England 30-12 in their opening game on 17 October and finished top of Group B-C with a 20-18 win over Samoa, and will look to repeat their 2017 World Cup group-stage victory over New Zealand.

In the other men's semi-final, reigning champions Australia face Samoa in Sydney on Sunday (09:05 GMT); Australia's XIII is unchanged with Reece Walsh continuing ahead of James Tedesco at full-back, while Samoa bring in Ronald Volkman at stand-off after losing Chanel Harris-Tavita to a hamstring injury.

In the women's semi-finals, Australia are back to full strength to face Fiji in Sydney on Sunday (06:45 GMT) after resting players for their final group game against Wales. Jocelyn Kelleher returns at stand-off, Millie Elliott, Simaima Taufa and Olivia Higgins are back among the forwards, Tiana Penitani Gray returns from a foot injury to join Shaylee Bent and Olivia Kernick in the back row after missing last Sunday's 124-6 win over Wales, and Maria Paseka returns on the wing for the islanders after missing two games with a leg injury.

New Zealand's next confirmed fixture is the World Cup semi-final against Tonga in Newcastle, New South Wales (09:05 GMT) on Saturday, with final team selections for the 19-man matchday squads still subject to change later this week.