Stacey Waaka Hat-Trick Sends New Zealand Into World Cup Final

New Zealand secured their place in the Women’s Rugby League World Cup final after defeating Fetu Samoa 32-0 in their semi-final in Newcastle on Saturday. A superb hat-trick from dual international Stacey Waaka helped the Kiwi Ferns complete a dominant victory, with four tries arriving in the final 12 minutes to turn the result into a convincing win.

Stacey Waaka leads New Zealand into the final

Waaka played a central role in New Zealand’s attacking performance. She helped create the opening try before scoring three times herself, making the most of the opportunities presented by the Kiwi Ferns’ attacking pressure.

Her hat-trick also took her tournament tally to nine tries, drawing her level with Australia winger Jaime Chapman at the top of the Women’s Rugby League World Cup scoring chart. Waaka’s performance gave New Zealand a major boost as they prepare for the tournament’s final match.

Although the Kiwi Ferns were rarely seriously threatened, Fetu Samoa competed during significant periods of the contest. However, the Samoan side struggled to turn promising attacking positions into points, while New Zealand became increasingly effective as the match progressed.

Kiwi Ferns strike early after Samoan mistake

New Zealand made an immediate impact, opening the scoring within the first two minutes. A Samoan error gave the Kiwi Ferns an opportunity to attack, and they quickly took advantage as winger Mackenze Wiki crossed the line out wide.

The early try gave New Zealand control of the scoreboard, but the remainder of the first half was far less straightforward. Both teams made errors, disrupting the flow of the game and preventing New Zealand from building a substantial lead.

Fetu Samoa enjoyed some of the better attacking opportunities during that period and managed to put the Kiwi Ferns under pressure. However, despite reaching promising positions, the Samoans could not find a way to register points.

New Zealand were forced to defend for an extended period, repelling a five-minute assault near their own try-line. Their defensive effort proved important, as they prevented Samoa from gaining momentum or bringing themselves back into the contest.

Waaka punishes Samoa as New Zealand extend their advantage

After surviving that spell of pressure, New Zealand caught Samoa off guard and increased their lead. Waaka secured her first try of the match after the Samoan defence failed to deal effectively with a kick from Raecene McGregor.

Winger Mercedez Taulelei-Siala lacked urgency while attempting to secure the ball, allowing Waaka to capitalise. The centre’s persistence paid off as she added another four points to New Zealand’s total.

The Kiwi Ferns carried their advantage into the second half and extended it five minutes after the restart. McGregor again provided the attacking spark, delivering a kick that landed perfectly for Waaka to score her second try.

That score pushed New Zealand’s lead to 14 points and strengthened their grip on the semi-final. Waaka’s finishing ability and McGregor’s accurate kicking continued to cause problems for the Samoan defence.

Four late tries complete New Zealand’s 32-0 victory

New Zealand saved their most productive attacking spell for the closing stages. With 12 minutes remaining, the Kiwi Ferns launched a late scoring burst that produced four tries and put the result beyond doubt.

Waaka completed her hat-trick during that final flurry, taking her tournament tally to nine. McGregor also crossed the try line, rewarding her contribution to New Zealand’s attacking performance throughout the match.

Centre Mele Hufanga and back-rower Kaiyah Atai joined the list of scorers as the Kiwi Ferns continued to exploit gaps in the Samoan defence. The late surge transformed a competitive contest into a comprehensive 32-0 victory.

For Fetu Samoa, the final score reflected their difficulty in containing New Zealand during the closing period. Despite having opportunities in the first half, they were unable to convert their attacking territory into points and eventually struggled to stop the Kiwi Ferns’ momentum.

New Zealand await Australia or Fiji in the final

The victory sends New Zealand into next weekend’s Women’s Rugby League World Cup final, where they will face either Australia or Fiji. The two sides are scheduled to meet in the second semi-final in Brisbane on Sunday afternoon.

The Kiwi Ferns will be aiming to avenge their defeat in the 2021 final, when Australia’s Jillaroos claimed a commanding 54-4 victory. Reaching the final gives New Zealand another opportunity to challenge for the world title, although their opponent will only be confirmed after Sunday’s semi-final.

With Waaka in outstanding try-scoring form and McGregor providing an important attacking threat through her kicking, New Zealand will enter the final with confidence after their performance in Newcastle. Their 32-0 win over Fetu Samoa has secured their place in the championship match, setting up a decisive test against either Australia or Fiji.