Australia Beat Fiji 36-22 to Reach World Cup Semi-Finals
Fiji led 16-12 after the break in Brisbane before Tom Trbojevic's tries turned the match. New Zealand beat the Cook Islands 82-16 in Christchurch.
Australia came from behind to beat Fiji 36-22 in Brisbane and secure a place in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals. Fiji had lost their previous five meetings with Australia by an aggregate score of 246-16, but they held the territory in the first half and led 16-12 after the break.
The match turned within a 60-second spell. Solomone Saukuru seemed to put Fiji 20-12 ahead, but the try was ruled out for obstruction. Australia went straight down the other end and Tom Trbojevic scored to level the match. Trbojevic crossed twice more, and Jacob Preston added another try after Semi Valemei had completed a hat-trick for Fiji. Kotoni Staggs opened the scoring on his home ground in Brisbane, and Sam Walker scored a try and kicked for 12 points on his debut.
"We weren't at our best but we came away with two points."
Trbojevic told Premier Sports that the team did not start as it wanted and could not find a flow. "We've got to enjoy a win but we've got to be our harshest critics too," he said.
Kiwis bounce back
In Christchurch, New Zealand beat the Cook Islands 82-16. Jamayne Isaako, who joins Melbourne Storm next season, scored a record 38 points, including 13 conversions and three tries. He passed the previous single-game mark of 32 points, set by Tasesa Lavea against the same opposition in 2000. The win followed New Zealand's 24-22 opening defeat by Australia in Group A.
The Cook Islands recovered from 12-0 down to lead 16-12, with Esom Ioka scoring a hat-trick. The Kiwis then took control and led 36-16 at the break. Tanner Stowers-Smith on his Test debut, Ronaldo Mulitalo and Casey McLean each scored twice. Keano Kini, who replaced the injured Kalyn Ponga at full-back, was among the other try-scorers.
New Zealand play Fiji in a make-or-break final pool game on Saturday, 31 October, at 04:30 GMT.
New Zealand's women had earlier beaten France 92-0 in the same stadium, with Apii Nicholls scoring four tries. The Kiwi Ferns, who beat Fiji 18-12 in their opener, finish Pool B against Papua New Guinea on 31 October and look set to meet Samoa or England in the semi-finals.
Source: BBC News