Waaka hat-trick propels New Zealand into Women’s Rugby League World Cup final

New Zealand reached the Women’s Rugby League World Cup final after defeating Fetu Samoa 32-0 in a semi-final at Newcastle on Saturday afternoon, with Stacey Waaka scoring a hat-trick and the Kiwi Ferns finishing with seven tries.

The semi-final featured an inexperienced Fetu Samoa and was marked by errors that hindered Samoa’s scoring chances; New Zealand’s defence held firm for large periods and the match opened with an early try for the Kiwis.

New Zealand struck first within two minutes when a Samoan mistake allowed winger Mackenze Wiki to score out wide. Samoa created several promising opportunities in an otherwise error-marred first half but failed to register points from good field position, and New Zealand repelled a sustained, five-minute assault at their try-line before regaining territory.

Stacey Waaka played a pivotal role in the scoring sequence: she set up New Zealand’s early first try and then capitalised on a Raecene McGregor kick that was not secured cleanly by Mercedez Taulelei-Siala to claim her first four-pointer. The Kiwis extended their advantage early in the second half when another McGregor kick found Waaka for her second try five minutes after the break.

Later in the contest, New Zealand added further scores when McGregor herself, centre Mele Hufanga and back-rower Kaiyah Atai joined Waaka on the tryscorers list. Waaka’s three tries accounted for three of New Zealand’s seven touchdowns in the 32-0 win.

With the hat-trick, Waaka drew level with Australia winger Jaime Chapman atop the tournament’s tryscoring chart on nine. New Zealand will now face the winner of Sunday afternoon’s semi-final between Australia and Fiji in Brisbane next weekend as they seek to avenge their 54-4 loss to the Jillaroos in the 2021 final.