Kiwis v Tonga Rugby League World Cup semi-final, Digi Mart USA News (Newcastle, Australia): The Kiwis and Tonga will resume their rivalry when the two sides meet in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals on Saturday night at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, kicking off at 10.05pm. The winner will face either Australia or Samoa in the final, with that semi-final scheduled for Sunday.
There is a strong connection between the two sides since Jason Taumalolo decided to defect from New Zealand to represent his heritage nation, Tonga, in 2017. Since then, fans have been treated to many high-class contests, and this clash is expected to be the biggest yet given what is at stake.
The Kiwis are aiming to reach their first World Cup final since 2013, while Tonga are seeking to make their first. Kiwis hooker Jeremy Marshall-King said he expects a tough match.
“It’s going to be not easy,” Marshall-King said. “We know it’s going to be a grinding game.
“It’s going to go back and forth and that’s something we’re focusing on as a team and that’s what we want to build ourselves on is that sort of footy, going set for set. I thought we’d done that against Australia and it’s just something we’ve got to be consistent at doing that.
The last two games probably haven’t been that way, but you know, we’ve got the confidence of doing that.”
Kalyn Ponga is in line to make a swift return from a broken arm after being named on the Kiwis’ extended bench. Ponga has been selected in jersey No. 21 as he bids to return to the side after breaking his left arm in his test debut against the Kangaroos in Sydney on October 15.
Hooker Phoenix Crossland is also back and listed in jersey No. 22 after being called into the squad on Monday night as a replacement for injured second rower Jacob Laban, who has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament. In a forced change to the starting line-up, Kiwis head coach Stacey Jones has selected utility Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad on the left wing to replace the suspended Ronaldo Mulitalo.
Kiwis starting lineup: 1. Keano Kini, 2.
Jamayne Isaako, 3. Dane Gagai, 4.
Casey McLean, 5. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 6.
Kodi Nikorima, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8.
James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10.
Moses Leota, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12.
Briton Nikora, 13. Joseph Tapine.
Kiwis interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15.
Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17.
Xavier Willison, 18. Scott Sorensen, 19.
Leo Thompson, 20. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 21.
Kalyn Ponga, 22. Phoenix Crossland.
Tonga coach Kristian Woolf has named the same 19-man squad that prevailed 20-18 over Samoa in an epic contest on Sunday. Their team features four players who have previously represented the Kiwis: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Tuimoala Lolohea, Addin Fonua-Blake and Jason Taumalolo.
Tonga starting lineup: 1. Lehi Hopoate, 2.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Tolutau Koula, 4.
Robert Toia, 5. Jojo Fifita, 6.
Tuimoala Lolohea, 7. Isaiya Katoa, 8.
Addin Fonua-Blake, 9. Salesi Foketi, 10.
Jason Taumalolo (c), 11. Haumole Olakau’atu, 12.
Siua Wong, 13. Tyson Frizell.
Tonga interchange: 14. Soni Luke, 15.
Stefano Utoikamanu, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17.
Taniela Paseka, 18. Leka Halasima, 19.
Latu Fainu, 20. Paul Alamoti, 21.
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, 22. Sione Katoa.
This is expected to be an intense physical battle between two elite forward packs. The Kiwis’ James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota and Joseph Tapine will face the experienced trio of Fonua-Blake, Taumalolo and Tyson Frizell.
The Kiwis have the edge in experience and skill on the bench, with Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark and Xavier Willison providing impact.
Tonga may have the upper hand in the back five, with Tolutau Koula, Robert Toia and Jojo Fifita offering strike power and speed. Halfback Isaiya Katoa is directing the team well and playing with confidence.
The game will likely come down to which team makes the most of its opportunities.
The Kiwis finished second in Pool A with a two-win, one-loss record. They opened with a 24-22 defeat to the Kangaroos before winning comfortably over the Cook Islands (82-16) and Fiji (78-0).
Their combined 182 points were the most scored by any team during the pool stages.
Tonga’s road to the final was tougher, but they finished top of the combined Pool B and C standings. They started with a 30-12 win over England, beat Lebanon 36-0, and then defeated Samoa 20-18.
This will be the ninth meeting between the two nations, with New Zealand holding a 6-2 record. New Zealand had largely dominated Tonga until the international rugby league landscape changed in 2017, when Taumalolo and numerous others defected to Tonga before the World Cup.
Tonga recorded their first win over the Kiwis in the tournament, 28-22, thanks to a David Fusitu’a hat-trick.
The Kiwis won the next two tests before Tonga claimed their second win, a 25-24 triumph at Mt Smart as part of the 2024 Pacific Championships. In their most recent clash, the Kiwis claimed a comfortable 40-14 win at Eden Park, although the occasion was overshadowed by a frightening incident on the sideline when Eliesa Katoa had a seizure after multiple head knocks.
The match can be watched on Sky Sport 2 and will be livestreamed on Sky Sport Now from 9.35pm. Live updates are also available at nzherald.co.nz.
