The Jillaroos have overcome a first-half ambush to defeat Fiji 30-14 and secure their place in next week’s Rugby League World Cup final against New Zealand.
Fiji were strong out of the blocks and became the first team to open the scoring against Australia since the 2013 World Cup final, running out to an 8-0 lead inside the first 20 minutes.
But the shellshocked Jillaroos steadied and levelled things up before half-time when Tamika Upton got involved as the star fullback put Abbi Church over in the corner then scored one of her own four minutes later.
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Church nabbed a second-half hat-trick for four tries in the game to put the result beyond doubt.
Jaime Chapman also scored a try before finishing the game on the bench with what the team said was “major cramping”.
Fijian captain Sereana Naitokatoka’s return to the field in the second half brought about another Bulikula surge and Maria Paseka scored to keep their slim hopes of a comeback alive.
But it wasn’t to be as the Jillaroos booked their fifth straight appearance in a World Cup final.
“Very physical. We were always so excited to come up against Fiji. So much respect for what they’re doing, that was a brutal competition out there,” captain Isabelle Kelly said.
As well as Chapman’s reported cramping, Aussie centre Jess Sergis also appeared to be dealing with a leg concern but played out the game.
Church claimed “Fiji did exactly what they thought they were going to do” in coming out hard but the Jillaroos struggled to come to terms with the “real fight”.
“I think it was an incredible game, we needed that going into next week,” she said.
“Absolutely (there were nerves).
“You’d be mad if you weren’t nervous going into a World Cup semi-final so we just had to get back to our systems and I guess shake off a couple of errors and get back to playing our simple footy.”
