New Zealand will play in a men's Rugby League World Cup final for the first time in 13 years after a 34-10 win over Tonga at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Saturday.
Ponga back three weeks after breaking his arm
Kalyn Ponga started at fullback 23 days after breaking his arm in the tournament opener against Australia, a recovery that changed the shape of the Kiwis' attack. His return gave New Zealand a second playmaking option alongside Jahrome Hughes, who repeatedly broke the Tonga line in the second half.
Tonga, playing in front of a crowd that treated the match as a home fixture, stayed in contact early but ran out of possession as the game wore on.
A fast start and a late cushion
New Zealand led by eight at the break and pushed clear after halftime. Briton Nikora and Xavier Willison crossed for tries, and the Kiwis led 28-10 with three minutes left before Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad finished a move down the right and converted his own try on the final play.
Tonga's tries came from broken play, but the team could not build pressure through repeat sets. The Kiwis' forward pack, led by James Fisher-Harris, controlled the ruck and slowed the ball carriers that had carried Tonga through the group stage.
Two New Zealand teams in two finals
The Kiwi Ferns reached their seventh consecutive women's final earlier in the day, beating Fetu Samoa 32-0. Samoa were playing their first World Cup semifinal and held out for long stretches before New Zealand's bench took over.
The men's final is at Lang Park in Brisbane on November 15, kicking off at 08:35 GMT. The last time New Zealand played a World Cup final in Australia, in 2008, they beat the hosts 34-20. Australia, the tournament favourites, meet their own semifinal opponent on Sunday for the right to face the Kiwis.