RLWC live updates: Premiership winner’s injury blow dampens feel-good Tonga rise

Jillaroos and Wests Tigers star Kezie Apps will reach a milestone of sorts when she runs out for her 25th appearance in green and gold this evening.

The gun second-rower made her Jillaroos debut way back in 2014 and has become a mainstay of the powerhouse side since.

The ridiculousness of Australia’s run in the women’s World Cup reached new heights last Sunday when Jaime Chapman and friends walloped Wales 124-6.

The 21-tries-to-one annihilation followed a 40-0 defeat of Samoa and a 78-0 thumping of England.

The Jillaroos, captained by Roosters premiership gun Isabelle Kelly, are now set for a semi-final date with Fiji.

Is another smashing on the cards, or will Fiji, skippered by prized Wests Tigers recruit Sereana Naitokatoka, throw down a challenge to the stars in green and gold?

Tonga are on the hunt to secure a spot in the RLWC final, but the side will have to step out without their premiership-winning centre Robert Toia in the semis.

Toia was ruled out of the clash with New Zealand due to a minor leg injury. Paul Alamoti has been elevated into the side in his place.

The Kiwis will be without Ronaldo Mulitalo for the match this evening as he serves a one-game suspension for a high shot.

The celebrations of defeating Samoa were short-lived by Tonga last week, with Robert Toia recognising how much work needs to be done to taste ultimate glory.

New Zealand stands in the way of the Pacific nation and a spot in the final, with the two countries flagged by a number of nations as the two teams to beat.

Toia is not listening to the noise about his team’s strength too closely, though.

“It is nice to hear but you can’t listen to the outside noise,” he told reporters after Tonga’s victory over Samoa last week.

“We just have to keep our circle tight and stick with our group.

“The belief in the group is so high – we feel like we can win the competition. We do our stuff, we believe in our guys, I think that is all that matters.”

While he won’t play in Saturday’s semi-final against New Zealand, Toia’s ambition to end the year on a high will be a motivating factor if he’s able to get back on the field for the RLWC decider next week.

“For it to be the last thing for me to tick off this year, it would be so special,” Toia replied when asked what it would mean to end the year with a World Cup title.

“I feel like it is a pretty hard thing to do given how long the year is with Origin and finals. To do this at the end would mean so much.”

CLICK HERE TO SEE WHY TOIA PICKED TONGA OVER AUSTRALIA

5.45pm | New Zealand Kiwi Ferns v Samoa

8.05pm | New Zealand Kiwis v Tonga

Hello and welcome to nine.com.au’s live coverage of the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals.

The countdown to the decider is very much on, and we will learn who the first two nations to compete in that match will be in just a matter of time.

Today’s games will both be played at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.

Manly great Mark ‘Spudd’ Carroll feels Brandon Wakeham was lucky to escape with a one-game ban for the punch he landed on Ronaldo Mulitalo in Fiji’s Rugby League World Cup clash with New Zealand.

The halfback was given his marching orders for striking Mulitalo in an aggressive act that ignited a melee between the two sides.

Mulitalo escaped without any significant injury, but he will miss New Zealand’s semi-final against Tonga due to a high shot that sparked the incident.

Fijian winger Ronald Philitoga was running the ball forward when he was collected high by the Kiwi winger. Wakeham then punched the side of Mulitalo’s head.

Referee Grant Atkins sent both men off the field.

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