New Zealand faces Tonga in Rugby League World Cup semi-final
Two tournament form teams clash Saturday in Newcastle with the Kiwis favoured but facing a genuine test.
New Zealand and Tonga meet in the Rugby League World Cup semi-final on Saturday night in Newcastle. New Zealand and Tonga have been the competition's standouts, with the Kiwis starting strong and improving throughout the tournament while Tonga have hardened through tough recent matches.
New Zealand hold advantages in the forward pack, with deeper experience and quality. Tonga have the weapons to match them physically and bring genuine attacking threats.
The Kiwis have the better halfback in Jahrome Hughes and young star Isaiya Katoa, though Tonga's Kristian Woolf is their club coach as well. New Zealand should progress but cannot afford execution errors that have cost them heavily against Australia and the Cook Islands.
- Newcastle, 10:05pm NZT Saturday
- Match location and time
- Jahrome Hughes with nearly 200 NRL games
- New Zealand halfback
- Samoa in epic contest last Sunday
- Tonga's recent opponent
Why it mattersThe winner advances to next week's final. For New Zealand, reaching the decider would complete a difficult path they have faced in almost every World Cup semi since 1995.
AustraliaAustralians will watch one of rugby league's fiercest rivals advance toward the trophy. If New Zealand wins, they face the grand final next weekend.
