RLWC live updates: Minor miracle that would save England from shock low

Fetu Samoa is through to the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals after a 24-6 win over England.

Samoa dominated the match, although England didn't help their own cause by making several simple errors.

England half Georgia Roche had a shocking night. She gave away penalties, put two kicks into touch and then didn't find touch off a penalty at a time England were starting to gain some momentum.

Somehow, Freedom Crichton Ropati played out the game.

Uh oh! Samoa's hat-trick scorer looks to be in all sorts of trouble. From first receiver, Freedom Crichton Ropati almost crawled into a tackle and was clearly in pain.

"That looked bad from the start," Andrew Moore said in commentary for Seven.

"You never like to see players go down without contact," Emma Verran added.

It looks like it might be an ankle injury. The Samoa physio strapped it up tightly and then did a test and then took her out the back of the line.

She's still yet to come off the field, but is clearly still in some discomfort.

England's earlier surge looks like it has stalled out, and Samoa can probably lock this one away and secure a spot in the semis if they can score again.

Samoa scored just three minutes into the second half, but England are still absolutely in this fight.

Piliae-Rasabale missed her fourth conversion of the afternoon (to be fair all have been from the sideline), Evie Cousins got England on the board minutes later.

And then when Isabel Rowe kicked the conversion the four-try-to-one lead was only 10 points!

England have been much better in this second half, and the Samoan's look like they're starting to tire.

They elected to kick for two points from an illegal strip, and Piliae-Rasabale finally kicked her first of the afternoon.

This match is far from over.

That’s half-time in Wollongong, and England will be rapt to go into the sheds only 12-0 down.

With the breeze behind their back, Samoa dominated the first 35 minutes but some wayward kicking from Pauline Piliae-Rasabale – she’s 0/3 – has kept the English in the match.

Freedom Crichton Ropati has scored all three tries.

Samoa has had 61 per cent of the ball, 75 per cent of the territory and made four line breaks to zero.

England also put two kicks out on the full, which won't have helped.

They'll be hoping for a huge turnaround in the second half to make it into the semis.

Brian To’o eat your heart out!

After blowing the earlier chance, Samoa are on the board courtesy of a stunning try in the corner to Freedom Crichton Ropati.

Coming under heavy pressure from the England defence, Chrichton Ropati lept for the corner and planted it down almost upside down.

That’s as good a winger try as you’ll ever see!

Unfortunately, the wind got a hold of Pauline Piliae-Rasabale’s conversion, and it snuck on the wrong side of the near post.

We had to wait for the start – the players were so keen to get going they were in position about a minute early and we had to wait for the clock to tick over.

It felt for a moment like we were at the cricket.

Anyway, once play began, Samoa were quick on the attack and looked as if they had scored in just the third minute.

But referee Chris Kendall sent it upstairs as no-try, and the Bunker confirmed Destiny Mino-Sinapati dropped the pill over the line.

England get an early let-off.

The anthems are underway in Wollongong, where the England and Somoa ladies are about to do battle.

Hard to pick who’s going to win this one – both sides have a thumping win and a thumping loss to their name.

The winner will go through to the semis.

Cowboys halfback Tom Dearden has again strongly denied there is any truth to whispers of a move to the Roosters, insisting there is “zero chance” he will land in Bondi as Sam Walker’s replacement.

Dearden was quizzed on talk of a move to the Tricolours when he addressed media in Townsville on Friday, ahead of Australia’s World Cup clash with the Cook Islands at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday night.

Rumours of Dearden leaving the Cowboys for the Roosters have swirled for months because his partner, Millie Oliver, lives in Sydney.

The couple have in recent days welcomed their first child into the world, their baby daughter Dolly June.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Fijian flier Brandon Wakeham has just signed a two-year extension with the Manly Sea Eagles in the NRL.

After four seasons as a fringe first-grader with the Bulldogs, Wakeham joined the Tigers in 2023 and then Manly in 2024.

After two seasons in the NSW Cup playing mainly in the halves, he switched to hooker in 2026 and made his first grade return in round two of this season.

He would quickly cement himself as the Sea Eagle's first-choice starting hooker, but is back at No.7 for the Bati.

"Brandon is the type of player every coach wants in their squad. His work ethic is outstanding, his attitude is first-class and he is incredibly tough and resilient," Manly coach Kieran Foran said.

“Brandon is an incredibly talented halfback as we know, and he did an excellent job for the team last season adapting to a new role in the middle … and we are really pleased that he will remain part of the Sea Eagles for the next two seasons."

Rugby league legend Laurie Daley has ruled himself out of making a play for the Australian men’s coaching job.

Kevin Walters will step down as Kangaroos coach following the World Cup, as he heads to England to take up a job in the Super League.

It means the ARL will be looking for a new coach, but Daley has no plans to put his hand up.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE