New Zealand have secured a Rugby League World Cup semi-final berth after crushing Fiji 78-0 on the Gold Coast in a fiery clash where Kiwis winger Ronaldo Mulitalo and Fiji’s Brandon Wakeham were sent off.
The Kiwis had effectively wrapped up their spot in the last four by half-time after an eight-try-to-nil blitz gave them a 48-0 lead at the break at CBUS Super Stadium.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Wakeham throws wild punch after Mulitalo shoulder charge
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But Mulitalo’s tournament could be over after he was dismissed in the 52nd minute for a shoulder charge on Ronald Philitoga.
Mulitalo’s shot angered the Fijians with Wakeham swinging a punch that landed on the Kiwi winger’s head in the ensuing melee.
If Mulitalo is charged by the judiciary he faces a fight to avoid a ban which could rule him out of the semi-finals and potential final if the strongly fancied Kiwis make it that far.
Kiwis forward Joseph Tapine was also placed on report for a dangerous tackle midway through the second half.
Mulitalo’s dismissal soured an otherwise imperious display for New Zealand, who could even afford to rest halfback Jahrome Hughes for most of the second half after he and halves partner Kodi Nikorima combined to set up five tries in the opening half.
Try-scoring machine Casey McLean finished with four tries of his own, taking his tally for the tournament to seven, while Jamayne Isaako was perfect with boot, completing 13 of 13 conversions.
Forward Naufahu Whyte was named player of the match, coming off the bench to record 200 run metres in a tireless display.
Wakeham’s dismissal capped a horror day for the Fiji Bati, who lost three players during the game to HIAs including Philitoga and captain Api Koroisau who left the field in the first half with a suspected broken jaw.
“That’s an absolute disaster,” Channel 7’s Mel McLaughlin said.
Lote Tuqiri added: “They needed leadership, they need him in the middle there. Api has been probably their best player.”
The Fijians were already down 12-0 when Koroisau went off the field in the ninth minute, Gold Coast Titans star Keano Kini playing a key role in the opener off New Zealand’s first set of the match before then scoring himself.
From there it was one-way traffic as the Kiwis ran riot over a reeling Fiji who also lost Semi Valemei to a HIA before half-time.
As the teams lined up to kick off the second half, Fiji’s farcical day was highlighted by Kitione Kautoga being forced to jog off before the restart to complete a HIA period.
Fiji started the second half better however and the score was still 48-0 when Mulitalo and Wakeham received their marching orders.
The dual dismissal sparked the Kiwis back into their dominant form as McLean completed his hat-trick and added a fourth, and there was even time for Fiji’s Jordan Miller to be sent to the sin bin for a headbutt on Whyte before Kini’s second try of the game wrapped up the scoring.
