NEW ZEALAND 78 FIJI 0
MARC BAZELEY, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast, Saturday

WE’VE been here before. Nine years ago, to be precise.

New Zealand versus Fiji. Win or go home from the World Cup.

The venue on the Gold Coast might have been different to Wellington, as was the fact this was a pool match rather than a quarter-final, but the stakes were still the same.

Anyone hoping for a repeat of the 2017 clash when the Fijians pulled off a nail-biting 4-2 upset, though, was rapidly snapped back to reality as New Zealand shot out of the blocks with back-to-back tries inside the first five minutes and barely let up from there.

By half-time, it was eight tries and an unanswered 48-point lead. At the final hooter, it was 13 and a 78-point margin of victory, not to mention both teams without their full complement after Ronaldo Mulitalo and Brandon Wakeham were dismissed shortly after the break, and Fiji’s Jordan Miller also sinbinned with three minutes left.

Casey McLean led the way with four tries in a scintillating display at centre which saw him break the line four times and bust nine tackles.

Fullback Keano Kini grabbed two tries as well, while Jahrome Hughes, Dane Gagai, James Fisher-Harris, Mulitalo, Xavier Willison, Briton Nikora and Erin Clark also crossed for single scores.

Jamayne Isaako, meanwhile, was perfect with the boot as he nailed all 13 conversion attempts from all angles, helping New Zealand secure their record margin of victory, the previous best having been 74.

Three-time semi-finalists Fiji looked a shadow of the team which ran reigning champions Australia so close in Group A the previous week – their cause further harmed by talismanic captain Api Koroisau being forced off early on and taken to hospital with a suspected broken jaw.

By contrast, the Kiwis looked every bit genuine contenders to go on and lift the Paul Barrière Trophy for only the second time in their history.

However, the win did not come without costs for Stacey Jones’ men.

New Zealand will now be sweating on how long Mulitalo might be suspended for after a high-tackle on opposite number Ronald Philitoga twelve minutes into the second half resulted in him being sent off, with Fiji scrum-half Wakeham also receiving his marching orders for swinging a punch at the Kiwi winger’s head in response.

Of perhaps even more concern, though, is livewire halfback Hughes, who got the ball rolling for his side with the opening try just two minutes in after taking a pass from centre Gagai and surging through a huge gap, but suffered a leg injury during the first half and was withdrawn from the contest after the break.

Nevertheless, the foundation for this win was laid by the Kiwi middle forwards. Starting props Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota put in plenty of hard yards, while Naufahu Whyte racked up 200 metres off the bench.

If New Zealand are to go on and repeat the 2008 World Cup triumph, they will need that pack strength again when they likely face either Tonga or Samoa in the semi-finals.

GAMESTAR: Casey McLean’s four tries capped a performance in which the 20-year-old centre showed just why he is regarded as one of the brightest young stars in world rugby league.

GAMEBREAKER: Back-to-back tries inside the first five minutes from New Zealand set the tone for a contest in which they were utterly dominant.

MATCHFACTS

NEW ZEALAND
1 Keano Kini
2 Jamayne Isaako
3 Dane Gagai
4 Casey McLean
5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
6 Kodi Nikorima
7 Jahrome Hughes
8 James Fisher-Harris
9 Jeremy Marshall-King
10 Moses Leota
11 Isaiah Papali’i
12 Briton Nikora
13 Joseph Tapine
Subs
14 Te Maire Martin
15 Naufahu Whyte
16 Erin Clark
17 Xavier Willison
18 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (not used)
19 Scott Sorensen (not used)

Tries: Hughes (2), Kini (5, 79), McLean (9, 26, 57, 62), Gagai (12), Fisher-Harris (20), Mulitalo (30), Willison (34), Nikora (64), Clark (73)
Goals: Isaako 13/13
Dismissal: Mulitalo (52) – high tackle

FIJI
1 Sunia Turuva
2 Ronald Philitoga
3 Waqa Blake
4 Solomone Saukuru
5 Semi Valemei
6 Kurt Donoghoe
7 Brandon Wakeham
8 Jacob Saifiti
9 Api Koroisau
10 Emosi Ravosai
11 Taane Milne
12 Kitione Kautoga
13 Caleb Navale
Subs
14 Josese Lanyon
15 Jordan Miller
16 Elijah Keung
17 Joseph Litidamu
18 Jordan Leiu (not used)
19 Apenisa Driti

Sin bin: Miller (78) – headbutt
Dismissal: Wakeham (52) – punching

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0, 24-0, 30-0, 36-0, 42-0, 48-0; 52-0, 58-0, 66-0, 72-0, 78-0

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Man of the Match
New Zealand: Casey McLean; Fiji: Caleb Navale

Penalty count: 4-2
Half-time: 48-0
Referee: Grant Atkins