Welcome to Island City Media’s live coverage of Fiji Bati vs the New Zealand Kiwis from Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast. A place in the Rugby League World Cup semifinals is on the line, so follow along for every big moment, turning point and update as the action unfolds.
Kiwis: 1. Keano Kini, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 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 (v/c)
Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Xavier Willison, 18. Charnze Nicoll-Klostad, 19. Scott Sorensen, 20. Leo Thompson, 21. Jacob Laban, 22. Tanner Stowers-Smith
THE KIWIS ARE OUT OF THE BLOCKS! Mulitalo and McLean take runs over halfway before Fisher-Harris is contained 42m out on the fourth. New Zealand swing it right to Kini, who flicks a pass off to Gagai who zips inside 20m. He also unloads to Nikora who is rounded up 3m out. The Kiwis get a quick play the ball as the ball is fired from Gagai to Hughes, who sprints through a huge hole in the middle of the defence to score under the posts.
Isaako converts from in front.
KINI EXTENDS THE LEAD! Fisher-Harris brings it back from the kickoff before Leota surges to the 20m on the second. Tapine unloads to Kini who zips over the 40m on the third. McLean is rounded up 42m out before Marshall-King scoots out of dummy half and unloads to Papali’i. The ball is then shifted to Tapine who dishes it onto Kini, who bursts into a hole before he cuts back inside Turuva to score out wide on the right.
Isaako converts from 10m in from the right sideline.
Kini zips back over his 20m from the kickoff before Leota rumbles within 17m of halfway on the second. Tapine trundles another 15m before Fisher-Harris is stopped 45m out on the fourth. Papali’i is tackled 33m out on the left before Hughes bombs high to a contest, where Mulitalo knocks on 3m out. Fiji will work it out from the handover.
The Bati swing it left to Donoghoe who is cut down 18m from halfway. Koroisau zips towards the 40m but is pulled up for a forward pass mid-count. Tapine also knocked it on but the Kiwis will feed the scrum 38m out.
Koroisau has left the field for an HIA.
MCLEAN CRUISES ACROSS! Fisher-Harris and Tapine take runs inside 30m as New Zealand are awarded a set restart. Leota powers 18m out before Kini spins out of Donoghoe’s tackle and is contained 13m out on the third. Tapine takes another run 5m out before the ball is shifted left at pace. Hughes combines with Nikorima who dummies his way past Philitoga before he hands off a short pass to McLean, who dives over to score untouched out wide.
Isaako converts from 10m in from the left sideline.
Mulitalo brings it back from the kickoff before Fisher-Harris rumbles to his 30m on the second. Tapine and Nikora take further runs over the 40m before Leota is stopped 43m out on the fifth. Hughes bombs high to Valemei, who falls as he takes it 5m out from his line.
GAGAI GETS A GIFT! After Valemei is tackled 5m out from his line, Donoghoe fires a pass that is spilt backwards by Milne. Gagai swoops on the loose ball and dives over to score the easiest of tries from 2m out.
Isaako converts from 20m in from the right sideline.
Koroisau has been ruled out after failing his HIA.
Fiji come up with a result from the kickoff as the Kiwis at it deflects off Isaako’s legs. Gagai bats it back infield but Hughes then knocks it on on the ground. The Bati with the scrum 10m out.
Milne takes the first carry from the scrum before Navale hammers away near the posts on the second. Lanyon receives an offload and is rounded up before Navale has another crack on the fourth. Fiji then shift it right to Blake who is stopped 2m out, before Wakeham hooks a threatening kick back towards the middle where it spills dead in-goal off hands. The first touch went forward off Tapine so the Kiwis will have the line dropout.
The dropout goes 75m on the bounce before Saifiti surges back near his 40m. Philitoga takes a carry as the Bati are awarded a set restart. Donoghoe and Kautoga take further runs inside 40m before Navale plays short right to Milne on the third.
The dropout goes 75m on the bounce before Saifiti surges back near his 40m. Philitoga takes a carry as the Bati are awarded a set restart. Donoghoe and Kautoga take further runs inside 40m before Navale plays short right to Milne on the third.
New Zealand work it up to halfway before Nikorima plays flat to Papali’i 40m out on the left. Tapine is tackled 33m out before Marshall-King goes scheming from dummy half on the fifth. Hughes bombs high to a contest where Mulitalo is pulled up for a knock on 5m out. Fiji will work it out from the handover.
Saukuru takes it outside his 20m before Wakeham scoots to his 30m on the fourth. Lanyon darts out of dummy half but spills it forward in solid contact near his 40m as New Zealand pounce on the loose ball
FISHER-HARRIS GOES OVER! Gagai and Leota take runs inside 20m before the Kiwis swing it left to Mulitalo who is forced backwards by Philitoga on the third. McLean unloads to Tapine who straightens things up before Papali’i goes on a searching run on the fifth. Hughes then chips back to the left where it spills backwards off the hands of Mulitalo in the aerial contest. Fisher-Harris scoops up the rebound and dives over to score from 1m out.
Isaako’s conversion grazed through off the right-hand upright from 10m in from the left sideline.
Clark brings it back with gusto but is then driven back by multiple defenders. Whyte and Nikora take runs to the 30m before Whyte makes a clean bust over halfway on the fourth. New Zealand shift it left to Papali’i who keeps it alive to Nikorima who sends it onto McLean, whose pass evades Mulitalo and goes into touch 20m out.
The Bati work it over their 40m before Turuva dummies over halfway on the fourth. Milne is tackled 41m out but is then pulled up for a sloppy play the ball. Fiji used their CAPTAIN’S CHALLENGE and were unsuccessful, with Milne deemed to be “milking” after grabbing the leg of Nikorima. New Zealand with the scrum on their 40m.
Kini steps his way towards halfway before Tapine is cut down 45m out on the second. Clark powers another 15m before Nikorima is cut off by Wakeham on the fourth. Whyte surges 12m out before Hughes bombs to the left where Philitoga takes it uncontested on his goal line. The Kiwis however will get the penalty following an escort by Blake on Mulitalo. They will keep the pressure on.
MCLEAN GETS A DOUBLE! Whyte takes a strong carry towards the posts before Hughes dishes it left to Nikorima, who passes it onto McLean, who bursts through a couple of defenders as he cuts back into a hole to score to the left of the posts.
Isaako converts from 21m in from the left sideline.
Willison brings it back from the kickoff before Clark is contained 18m from halfway on the second. Nikora is cut down on the 40m before Whyte surges to halfway on the fourth. Willison takes another hit up 38m out before Hughes bombs to the right where Philitoga spills it forward in the aerial contest with Mulitalo. Navale dives on the loose ball but is penalised for offside.
RELENTLESS! The Kiwis pop it into touch 15m out before Whyte takes an angled run in the middle. Willison hammers away 10m out before Nikotima dummies and is rounded up on the third. Willison takes another hit up in the middle before Hughes plays short to Nikora on the right. Marshall-King’s grubber is deflected before New Zealand regather and shift it to Hughes, who plays deep into the line as he fires a sharp flat pass to Mulitalo who bursts through the gap to score under the sticks.
Isaako converts from in front.
Nikora claims the short kickoff and then unloads to Kini who unloads back to Nikora who is tackled 5m from halfway. Willison is driven back on the second before Papali’i is tackled on halfway. Clark powers 40m out on the fourth before Whyte is stopped 27m out. The Kiwis keep the ball alive on the last as they swing it left to Papali’i, who pops in a well-weighted grubber that is taken dead in-goal by Turuva for a dropout.
WILLISON POWERS OVER! Isaako claims the short kickoff before Kini is tackled 8m out. New Zealand hammer away near the posts before the ball is shifted left from Hughes to Willison, who bursts through a couple of defenders as he powers over to score just to the left of the sticks.
Isaako converts from just to the left of the posts.
Willison brings it back over his 20m from the kickoff before Papali’i is stopped on his 30m on the second. Nikora powers through Valemei’s tackle and is rounded up by Donoghoe on his 40m, before Whyte and Willison take further runs 32m out. Hughes bombs high to Turuva, who takes it well 3m out from his line.
Valemei took a heavy head knock attempting to tackle Nikora in the last set. It is a category 1 HIA and he won’t return this afternoon.
Milne and Saukuru take runs outside the Fiji 10m before Blake is stopped on his 20m on the fourth. Wakeham kicks deep to Mulitalo who brings it back to his 40m.
McLean is forced back a few metres before Isaako is stopped near halfway on the third. Gagai is stopped 42m out before Clark shovels it left with quick hands before McLean is pulled up for a knock on on the ground. Fiji with the scrum on their 40m.
Saifiti takes it up to halfway before Fiji swing it two passes left to Kautoga who unloads to Donoghoe who shifts it onto Milne who is tackled 40m out. Driti takes a hit up before Wakeham swings it back to the middle where Fiji fumble it backwards several metres. Kini collects a kick by Kautoga and brings it back to his 15m.
thats is Half-time with the Kiwis dominating the fijians 48-0
It was an emphatic statement by the Kiwis as they ran in eight unanswered converted tries to lead Fiji 48-0 at halftime. The carnage started in New Zealand’s first set as they kept the ball alive with several offloads down their right edge. After Briton Nikora was stopped 3m out, the ball was spread back to the middle by Dane Gagai to Jahrome Hughes who zipped through the gap to score under the posts. Keano Kini was prominent early and he scored the second try when he ran onto a Joseph Tapine short pass and burst through the gap to score from 30m out.
Fiji really struggled to contain the rampant New Zealand forwards and their task was made even tougher when Api Koroisau (suspected broken jaw) and Semi Valemei (failed HIA) were ruled out through injury in the first half. The Kiwis remained ruthless as Casey McLean received a gift from Kodi Nikorima to score on the left edge, before Dane Gagai and James Fisher-Harris added further tries inside the first quarter. McLean cut back infield to score his second try in the 26th minute before Ronaldo Mulitalo got in on the action on the half hour mark. Xavier Willison capped the first half scoring when he powered onto a Hughes’ flat pass to score next to the sticks in the 33rd minute.
Fiji get the second half underway with the kickoff down to the New Zealand line where Kini collects and sends Willison back into contact outside his 10m. Whyte unloads to Marshall-King, who spills it forward under pressure from Ravosai. The Bati get an early chance to hit back via a scrum 20m out.
Donoghoe takes the first carry from the scrum before Miller is tackled 10m out on the second. Driti takes a hit up towards the posts before Donoghoe is rounded up on the left. The Bati are awarded a set restart for a 10m infringement as Navale and Turuva hammer away.
ISAAKO DENIES SAUKURU! Saifiti takes a settler in the middle on the fourth before Fiji shift it to the left where Wakeham combines with Donoghoe, who shifts it onto Saukuru who is bundled touch in-goal in a strong tackle by Isaako. New Zealand with the 20m restart.
Gagai and Mulitalo take runs over the Kiwis’ 30m before Clark plays short to Whyte who is contained 7m from halfway on the third. Clark surges over halfway before Papali’i is stopped 33m out on the left. Hughes bombs high towards Philitoga, where Mulitalo is penalised for a push. Fiji find touch near their 30m.
Navale takes it over his 30m before Donoghoe floats a pass left to Saukuru who is stopped 3m from halfway on the fourth. Kautoga is cut down on the fifth before Wakeham bombs deep to Kini, who centres play 15m out from his line.
McLean and Kini take scoots up to the Kiwis’ 40m before Marshall-King and Hughes wreak havoc down the left edge. Clark takes a carry 20m out on the fifth, before Hughes chips to the right where Isaako tips it forward in the aerial contest near the goal line. Fiji will work it out from the handover.
Blake takes it over his 30m before Saifiti is tackled on his 40m on the third. Turuva scoots over halfway before Donoghoe and Milne keep the ball alive on the left. Donoghoe receives a return pass and then sends Wakeham into a hole with a nice short pass, that unfortunately is ruled forward by the referee. New Zealand with the scrum 11m from halfway!
Willison and Papali’i take runs over halfway before Kini is rounded up 45m out. Whyte surges 33m out before Papali’i takes another run 22m out on the fourth. Clark plays short to Willison who spills it forward in the tackle of Wakeham as Fiji come away with possession.
The Bati earn a set restart before Navale surges over halfway. Kautoga is rounded up on the left before Saifiti is tackled 30m out on the third. Fiji are awarded another set restart before Navale and Saifiti take runs inside 20m.
Fiji hammer away inside the red zone before they shift it right to Donoghoe, who plays short to Miller who loses it forward in contact. New Zealand with the scrum on their 10m.
Gagai and Whyte take runs to the New Zealand 30m before Kini is contained on his 40m on the fourth. Marshall-King scoots another 15m from dummy half before Hughes bombs deep to Saukuru, who claims it on the bounce and brings it back to his 10m.
SPOTFIRES! Mulitalo rushes out of the line and puts a heavy high shot on Philitoga. That triggers a few spot-fires as Wakeham has a swing at Mulitalo but misses and several other players need to be held back. Turuva is also involved in the scuffle! There is bound to be more to this as the Bunker gets involved.
TWO SEND OFFS! Mulitalo is sent off for direct high contact on Philitoga. Wakeham has joined him for throwing a punch as both sides are down to 12-a-side for the rest of the afternoon.
Philitoga has also been rules out with a Category 1 HIA.
After play settles down again, Fiji are awarded the penalty and they find touch on their 40m. Ravosai surges over halfway before Miller is tackled 40m out on the third. Navale is stopped 30m out before a high kick is put up down the middle of the park. Turuva takes clean possession in the aerial contest with Kini initially but then spills it forward on the ground. New Zealand will work it out from the handover.
Leota takes it over his 30m before Whyte comes up with an unforced error in the face of rush defence in the middle. The Bati with the scrum 40m out.
Fiji come up with an error early in the count as Lanyon spills it forward in the tackle of Whyte. The Kiwis with the scrum on their 40m.
Kini takes it over his 40m before Nikora is stopped 45m out on the second. Papali’i surges another 10m before Willison is tackled 30m out on the fourth. New Zealand are awarded a penalty following a late tackle by Kautoga on Martin. They will keep the pressure on.
MCLEAN GETS A HAT-TRICK! Kini scoots inside 20m before Whyte is cut down 3m out as New Zealand are awarded a set restart. A quick play the ball follows as Martin zips to the short side and floats a pass out to McLean who brings it around to score his third try to the left of the posts.
Isaako converts from 20m in from the left sideline.
The Bati come up with a result from the short kickoff as Donoghoe slices it off the side of the boot to the right. Papali’i knocks on and Fiji will feed the scrum 33m out.
Ravosai and Keung take runs inside 20m as the Bati are awarded multiple set restarts for ruck infringements. Kautoga powers 5m out before Lanyon is contained 5m out. A deflected grubber by Donoghoe lobs in the hands of Marshall-King who brings it back near his 20m.
Isaako makes a clean 30m break down the right sideline before Kini is rounded up 35m out in the middle on the fourth. McLean is tackled 22m out before Martin bombs back to the right where Litidamu takes it uncontested 5m out from his line.
Litidamu takes another run before Turuva slips into contact on his 30m on the fifth. Donoghoe kicks deep to Kini, who zips back within 8m of halfway.
MCLEAN GETS FOUR TRIES! Isaako and Leota take runs inside 40m before Clark sends it left to Papali’i, who keeps the ball alive. McLean collects and bursts through a few ineffectual tackles as he weaves his way towards the posts. Turuva grounds him with an ankle tap, but Fiji fail to complete the tackle as McLean gets up and dives over to score just to the right of the sticks.
Isaako converts from just to the right of the posts.
NIKORA SCORES FROM A MARTIN CHIP KICK! Isaako claims the short kickoff and is tackled 13m from halfway before Willison surges towards halfway on the second. Clark and Whyte take further runs 25m out before Martin pops in a pinpoint chip kick down the left edge. Nikora sprints after it and manages to ground it cleanly centimetres inside the touch in-goal line to score New Zealand’s 11th try.
Isaako converts from the left sideline.
Fiji’s short kickoff fails to go 10m to the left, but Gagai is penalised for playing at the ball before it crosses the plain of the 40m line. New Zealand used their CAPTAIN’S CHALLENGE and were unsuccessful.
Fiji opt to tap on halfway as Keung surges forward into solid contact 40m out. There is more push and shove after some high contact by Tapine but this time there is very little in it. The Bati get the penalty and will reload.
Fiji work it inside 30m before Turuva fires it left to Saukuru but is pulled up for a forward pass. New Zealand with the scrum on their 25m.
McLean and Papali’i take runs over the Kiwis’ 40m before Nikorima turns an errant pass that evades Nikora, who rushes back but bobbles it forward on the ground. Fiji with the scrum 40m out.
Litidamu takes it into contact from the scrum before Keung is contained 28m out on the second. Ravosai unloads to Keung who sends it left to Kautoga who is rounded up on the third. Navale takes a hit up 22m out before Donoghoe and Milne keep it alive to Blake on the right. Turuva goes on a searching run on the last but bobbles it forward into Kini who also knocks on. The Kiwis will work it out from the handover.
Gagai and Kini take runs over the New Zealand 30m before Whyte powers towards halfway on the third. Ravosai rushes up on Tapine before Leota is tackled 48m out on the fifth. Martin bombs high to Turuva, who spreads it right to Blake who is stopped on his 10m.
The Bati come up with an error through Lanyon in a solid three-man tackle. New Zealand with the centre field scrum 10m out.
CLARK SCORES FROM DUMMY HALF! Whyte hammers away inside 10m before Martin shifts it left to Papali’i who loses his footing on the third. Tapine takes a hit up 5m out on the fourth before Clark surges out of dummy half and burrows his way over to score in a two-man tackle to the left of the posts.
Isaako converts from 18m in from the left sideline.
Isaako claims the short kickoff and keeps it alive to Martin before Leota surges over his 30m on the second. New Zealand swing it left to Nikora who steps his way into space, before Papali’i surges down the left edge and dishes a forward pass to McLean. Fiji with the scrum on their 20m.
Litidamu takes it up to his 30m before Fiji keep the ball alive with offloads as Driti is forced backwards. Leota irons out Navale with a powerful shot before Fiji swing it wide to the left where New Zealand knock down a pass. Kautoga takes it over his 40m before Navale surges to halfway.
Saukuru puts in a chip kick down the left edge that is collected by Kini who brings it back over his 20m. Whyte takes a hit up towards his 30m where another scuffle breaks out.
MILLER IS BINNED! Miller is sent to the sin bin for a high shot on Whyte.
KINI GETS A DOUBLE! New Zealand stream back onto attack before Martin goes scheming on the left edge as he unloads back infield to Clark who dishes an errant offload that is scooped up by Kini, who zips through the middle of the defence to score under the posts.
Isaako converts from in front.
The Kiwis spread it wide to their left from the kickoff as Nikorima streaks up towards halfway before he passes it off to McLean, who chips ahead. Turuva collects and runs it into touch. There won’t be time for the play the ball and that will be fulltime!
