Kalyn Ponga return — Kalyn Ponga’s return from a broken forearm proved decisive as New Zealand reached their first Men’s Rugby League World Cup final in 13 years with a 34-10 semi-final win over Tonga in Newcastle. The full-back, who had surgery just 23 days earlier, was directly involved in four of the Kiwis’ six tries.
Ponga had been named as a reserve and then on the interchange bench before being thrust into the starting side. His left forearm was heavily bandaged, but the 28-year-old showed no hesitation in attack or defence, setting up tries for Briton Nikora, Casey McLean and Xavier Willison while also playing a key role in Dane Gagai’s score.
Coach hails toughness
Head coach Stacey Jones said Ponga had been adamant he would play despite the severity of the injury, which he sustained in the tournament opener against Australia on 15 October. Ponga had scored two second-half tries in that match before being forced off, and New Zealand went on to lose 24-22.
Jones said the medical staff had been uncertain about Ponga’s availability until after the second-to-last training session, when he passed all the necessary checks. The coach described the plate or rod covering the arm as spanning its entire length and praised Ponga’s toughness.
Captain James Fisher-Harris was equally impressed, highlighting the defensive stops that saved tries and describing Ponga’s leadership as underrated.
Supporting cast steps up
While Ponga’s performance drew the spotlight, New Zealand’s victory was built on a broader effort. Gagai forced a knock-on around halfway to spark the counter-attack for McLean’s try. Jahrome Hughes provided directness with his carries and kicking, and winger Jamayne Isaako handled difficult wind conditions to kick five conversions from six attempts, including two from the left touchline. Isaako has now kicked 36 goals from 38 attempts in the tournament.
Fisher-Harris said the team was chasing history, noting that the current squad had been building for six or seven years since New Zealand’s only title in 2008.
Tonga's missed chance
For 48 minutes, Tonga matched New Zealand’s intensity and appeared capable of forcing extra time. But two tries in five minutes extended the Kiwis’ lead to 14 points and turned the contest into a procession. The second half was played in deteriorating wind and rain, with one restart blowing back into Tonga’s own half.
Tonga coach Kristian Woolf refused to blame the weather, saying his side simply did not handle the conditions as well as New Zealand. He acknowledged poor decision-making at the end of sets and vulnerability under the bouncing ball. Woolf called the defeat a missed opportunity given the talent in the group but said Tonga now sees itself as a genuine contender rather than merely happy to compete.
Women maintain perfect record
New Zealand’s women’s team also advanced to the final with a 32-0 win over Samoa, maintained by a hat-trick from Stacey Waaka. The Kiwis have conceded just 24 points across four matches and will face either Australia or Fiji in the final. Captain Georgia Hale said the tournament had been about building and that the team was hungry for the challenge, with preparations focused on internal standards and belief.
