New Zealand thrash Fiji 78-0 to reach Rugby League World Cup semi-finals
New Zealand beat Fiji 78-0 on Australia's Gold Coast in the Rugby League World Cup on 31 October 2026 to secure a place in the semi-finals. The Kiwis produced an early onslaught and ran up a one-sided scoreline to advance.
New Zealand opened the match with four converted tries inside 13 minutes to establish a 24-0 lead. Fiji, who had pushed reigning champions Australia close a week earlier, were unable to respond on the Gold Coast and conceded eight tries in the first half and five in the second.
Casey McLean finished with four tries, Keano Kini scored two, and Jahrome Hughes, Dane Gagai, James Fisher-Harris, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Xavier Willison, Briton Nikora and Erin Clark also crossed for Stacey Jones' side. The scoring spread underpinned the margin of victory.
The game featured two sendings-off, with Fiji half-back Brandon Wakeham dismissed alongside New Zealand winger Ronaldo Mulitalo. Fiji captain Apisai Koroisau suffered a suspected broken jaw after a clash with Joseph Tapine in the eighth minute, and Semi Valemei also left the field with a head injury during the first half.
New Zealand now face an anxious wait over Mulitalo, who could confront a tournament-ending ban for a high shot on Ronald Philitoga that sparked the post-incident fracas involving Wakeham. In his post-match news conference Kiwis head coach Jones confirmed that star full-back Kalyn Ponga "has trained this week and could be involved in their last-four match against either Samoa, Tonga or England."
"Pretty special and pleased about how we went about our business," said New Zealand captain Fisher-Harris. "Fiji are a good team but I thought we played really well. It was a battle of the forwards."
Across other matches, Australia maintained a 100% record with a 66-6 win over the Cook Islands in Townsville; Jack Bostock and Tom Trbojevic each scored three tries, and the Cook Islands briefly led 6-4 when Rua Ngatikaura went over and Valentine Holmes added the extras. Debutants Fiji will take on Australia in the other last-four match after registering 10 tries in a comprehensive 54-6 triumph over France.
New Zealand's women beat Papua New Guinea 40-12 as Mackenzie Wiki and Abigail Roache scored two tries apiece and Stacey Waaka, Kaiyah Atai, Otesa Pule and Leianne Tufuga also crossed. In the wheelchair competition Australia defeated New Zealand 102-14 in Wollongong with captain Bayley McKenna scoring 44 points from four tries and 14 goals from 15 attempts. France opened their Pool B campaign with a 114-0 win over Scotland; Jeremy Bourson scored seven of France's 20 tries while Jonathan Hivernat and Adrien Zittel combined for nine.
New Zealand will now await the result of Samoa versus Tonga on Sunday to learn their semi-final opponent, with Samoa and Tonga both appearing set to advance from Pools B and C. England remain in contention only if Tonga defeat Samoa by more than 46 points, and the loser of the Pacific Island match will face Australia next.