The Kiwi Ferns sealed their seventh consecutive final spot at the Rugby League World Cup with a 32-0 victory over Fetu Samoa in Newcastle on Saturday.
Having led 8-0 at halftime through tries to McKenzie Wiki and Stacey Waka, the side took control in the second half to claim the win, scoring 24 points.
Waka ended the game with a hat-trick, helping the side get seven tries in total.
Kiwi Ferns player Apii Nicholls said they knew Samoa would be tough but she was proud of the players sticking to their game.
“I’m so proud, you know we knew it was going to be a tough game,” she said.
“We knew they it was going to be a physical.
“It was tough but am proud of the girls for staying in it.”
But it was not all Kiwi Ferns throughout the 70-minute battle, with the Samoans making their first semifinal appearance in a world cup, pushing them hard, especially in the first spell of 35 minutes.
Fifteen minutes of possession in the first half should have given Samoa some points but they could not turn that to their advantage on the scoreboard, as the Kiwi Ferns also stood hard on defence.
Fetu Samoa captain Evania Isa’ako said even though they felt short she was still proud of her teammates.
“Obviously we really gutted but super proud of the girls,” she said.
“That didn’t reflect our campaign I am sure.”
She said what they were able to do will be massive for the game in Samoa.
Waka claimed her second try in the 45th minute, running past the Samoan defence to catch the ball in the air from a Raecene McGregor chip and ran around the score behind the posts.
The rain pelted the Mcdonald Jones Stadium as the excitement built in the second half.
Tongan heritage player and centre Mele Hufanga crashed her way through tacklers to claim a try with 11 minutes to go, sending the Kiwis to an 18-0 lead.
Fetu Samoa fell in their defensive pattern and with 10 minutes to go Kaiyah Atai took on the opposition to work over the line and score her try, taking the Kiwi Ferns lead further.
The Pacific islanders also lost a lot of momentum through knock-ons, losing possession in the process a
Waka got her third with less than five minutes to go, as Samoa looked disjointed towards the end of the match.
See how it all unfolded with our live blog below:
Squad lists
Kiwi Ferns: 1. Apii Nicholls, 2. Leianne Tufuga, 3. Mele Hufanga, 4. Stacey Waaka, 5. Mackenzie Wiki, 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu, 7. Raecene McGregor, 8. Alexis Tauaneai, 9. Georgia Hale, 10. Otesa Pule, 11. Shaniece Monschau, 12. Kaiyah Atai, 13. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa
Interchange: 14. Ashleigh Quinlan, 15. Annessa Biddle, 16. Shannon Mato, 17. Ivana Lauitiiti
Reserves: 18. Brooke Anderson, 19. Brianna Clark, 20. Zahara Temara, 21. Abigail Roache, 22. Tenika Willison
Fetu Samoa: 1. Destiny Mino-Sinapati, 2. Mercedez Taulelei-Siala, 3. Monica Tagoai, 4. Tyra Ekepati, 5. Freedom Crichton Ropati, 6. Evania Isaako, 7. Pauline Piliae-Rasabale, 8. Annetta Nuuausala, 9. Mary-Jane Taito, 10. Laikha Clarke, 11. Leilani Wilson, 12. Ivana Lolesio, 13. Fanua Rimoni
Interchange: 14. Tavarna Papalii, 15. Christabelle Onesemo-Tuilaepa, 16. Jasmine Fogavini, 17. Christian Pio
Reserves: 18. Jaydika Tafua, 19. Anastasia Leatupue, 20. Evelyn Roberts, 21. Jetaya Faifua, 22. Amanii Misa
