RLWC RECAP: Aussies ‘outmuscled’ but Turbo’s hat-trick seals semi-final spot
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New Zealand Kiwi Ferns 92 def. France 0
New Zealand Kiwis 82 def. Cook Islands 16
Australia Kangaroos 36 def. Fiji Bati 22
All times are in AEDT.
Good night!
That’s all from us tonight with the Rugby League World Cup action.
We’ll catch you next time.
Semi-final equation sorted
The Aussies are into semi-finals.
Both the Kangaroos and Jillaroos will play in a double header at Allianz Stadium on Sunday, November 8.
The Kangaroos’ 36-22 victory over Fiji Bati earned the team a semi-final at Allianz Stadium at 8.05pm AEDT on November 8. The Jillaroos will play at 5.45pm AEDT.
Australia moves on as winners
A bit of a tense finish there between Taane Milne and Sam Walker.
There little argument continued after the full-time whistle.
But anyway, the Kangaroos have run out 36-22 winners. Wasn’t a convincing victory by any means.
“Australia got outmuscled by Fiji tonight,” Trent Robinson said on Seven.
Robinson added for that reason, it’s hard to define who won the halves battle between Tom Dearden and Sam Walker. Same for James Tedesco and Reece Walsh.
More questions and answers from that match.
“They need to muscle up, they need to get a hell of a lot better,” Robinson said.
Kangaroos hold on!
That’ll do us at Suncorp Stadium I reckon.
Sam Walker showed some beautiful deception close to the line before Jacob Preston ran a strong line and bursted through the defence with all in hand.
Walker converts and it’s 36-22 with two minutes left.
Hold the phone!
Kurt Donoghoe has done it again!
He has combined brilliantly with Brandon Wakeham all night and both men had their hands on the ball before Valemei scored in the corner again.
Tom Trbojevic caught out in defence again on that wing.
The kick’s been converted and it’s 30-22.
It’s a Tommy hat-trick
With his brother Jake watching from the sidelines, Tom Trbojevic has a hat-trick.
The Kangaroos opened up play and had a play the ball on the left side.
The ball then shifted quickly to the right with Trbojevic making the most of another overlap.
Kangaroos fans can breathe easier now.
Tom Trbojevic. NRL Imagery
Turbo makes it two
The Kangaroos might run away with it now.
James Tedesco tried to put a grubber through the line because Sunia Turuva was in the middle of the field.
The ball came off the foot of Caleb Navale and went to Trbojevic’s wing.
Trbojevic then picked it up and stepped inside to score.
Kangaroos lead 24-16.
Australia leads
The Kangaroos have hit the front after a Sam Walker penalty goal.
The penalty was for a late hit on Blayke Brailey. Originally it looked like the Kangaroos would go for a try but eventually the voice of reason, James Tedesco, was given the final say.
Score is 18-16.
Kangaroos flip the script
Tom Trbojevic may be struggling in defence but he’s over the line with ball in hand.
Some beautiful square play from the Kangaroos on the right edge before Trbojevic made the most of an overlap then stepped inside to score.
“Huge momentum swing there,” Luke Keary said on Seven.
Sam Walker misses the kick and it’s 16-16.
Has Fiji gone over again?
Solomone Saukuru has gone over but it looks suspicious.
The Bunker review shows there was an obstruction on the right edge and the Kangaroos have dodged a huge bullet.
Luke Keary is calling for Latrell Mitchell to be injected into the match.
