Fetu Samoa’s historic 2026 Rugby League World Cup campaign has come to an end, with the New Zealand Kiwi Ferns securing a 32-0 victory in Saturday’s semi-final at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle. The result sends New Zealand through to their seventh consecutive Women’s Rugby League World Cup final, while Samoa’s journey concludes at the semi-final stage after achieving a landmark result for the nation’s women’s rugby league programme.
For Fetu Samoa, reaching the final four was already a significant achievement. Returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2008, the Samoan side progressed further than any previous Fetu Samoa team, earning their place among the tournament’s leading nations. New Zealand made an immediate impact, opening the scoring inside the first two minutes through Mackenzie Wiki, who finished in the corner to give the Kiwi Ferns an early 4-0 advantage. Samoa worked to settle into the contest and produced periods of defensive resistance, but New Zealand’s experience and attacking execution began to create separation as the match progressed.
The Kiwi Ferns extended their lead through Stacey Waaka, who finished a well-placed kick from captain Raecene McGregor before the break. Despite holding an 8-0 advantage at half-time, New Zealand had not yet found the free-flowing attacking performance they would produce in the second half. Waaka struck again shortly after the restart, collecting another McGregor kick to cross for her second try of the afternoon. The combination between the New Zealand captain and her outside backs continued to cause problems for the Samoan defence.
Mele Hufanga then powered through multiple defenders to score, showcasing the strength and individual ability that has made her one of the Kiwi Ferns’ influential attacking players. Kaiyah Atai added another as New Zealand began to take control of the contest. Waaka completed her hat-trick before McGregor crossed to bring the scoring to a close, with the Kiwi Ferns finishing the afternoon with seven tries and a 32-point victory. The result was a difficult conclusion for a Fetu Samoa side that had given the tournament plenty to remember. Their campaign included a commanding 76-0 victory over Wales and a memorable 24-6 win over England, a result that secured their historic first appearance in a World Cup semi-final.
The victory over England was particularly significant, with teenage centre Freedom Crichton-Ropati delivering a standout performance, scoring a hat-trick to help propel Samoa into the last four. Her performances throughout the tournament represented the emergence of young talent within a team that has given Samoan women’s rugby league a new platform on the international stage. Although their World Cup journey ends without a place in the final, Fetu Samoa leave Newcastle having achieved something that will remain part of the nation’s sporting history. Their return to the international tournament after 18 years, progression to the semi-finals and performances against established rugby league nations have given the programme a foundation to build on. For New Zealand, the victory continues an extraordinary record in the women’s World Cup. The Kiwi Ferns have now reached every final since the tournament began in 2000, demonstrating the consistency and strength of their programme across generations. They will now turn their attention to the final on November 15 in Brisbane, where they will face either Australia or Fiji.
Congratulations to both teams. To the Kiwi Ferns, congratulations on earning your place in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup final. And to Fetu Samoa, congratulations on a historic campaign that has taken Samoan women’s rugby league to new heights. The result may bring this chapter to a close, but what Fetu Samoa have accomplished throughout this tournament will be remembered long after the final whistle. Fa’afetai, Fetu Samoa. Your historic campaign has given the nation plenty to be proud of.
