New Zealand Beat Tonga 34-10 to Reach First World Cup Final in 13 Years

New Zealand beat Tonga 34-10 in the men's Rugby League World Cup semi-final at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Saturday 7 November 2026. The win put New Zealand in the World Cup final for the first time in 13 years, since 2013.

Kalyn Ponga was the central figure. He returned at full-back just 23 days after breaking his left arm in the tournament opener against Australia, finished with three try assists, and made a try-saving tackle on Demitric Vaimauga metres from the line.

Tonga led, then New Zealand took the first half

Briton Nikora scored the opener from a Ponga pass. Jojo Fifita then scored both of Tonga's tries to put Tonga 10-6 ahead. Dane Gagai scored a converted try in the 38th minute to restore the New Zealand lead, and the half time score was New Zealand 12-10 Tonga.

A crowd of 29,712 attended in wet and windy conditions in Newcastle. Before kick-off the teams held a 65 second stare-down after the haka and Tonga's Sipi Tau.

Second half settled the semi-final

Casey McLean and Jahrome Hughes extended the New Zealand lead in the second half. Xavier Willison scored in the 71st minute to make it 28-10. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad scored a converted try in the 80th minute, set up by a James Fisher-Harris kick, for the final 34-10 score. Jamayne Isaako kicked the conversions, missing for the first time in the match on the Willison try.

Ponga said after the match: "It's a great feeling when you represent your country. It was everything I was looking forward to. I thought we did a good job with the weather in the first half and the wind helped us in the second. Over the past three weeks, it's been about getting myself right. The surgeons and the medical team gave me the confidence I could come back."

Trent Robinson said of Ponga's tackle on Vaimauga: "That is courage. He's done it all season, but that was probably his biggest task so far."

Injury concern before the final

New Zealand forward Naufahu Whyte left the field with an ankle injury and did not finish the match, a concern for the final. Captain James Fisher-Harris was placed on report for lifting his knee in a hit-up. Xavier Willison passed a head injury assessment in the second half.

Tonga centre Robert Toia was ruled out of the semi-final with a knee injury and was missed in defence on Tonga's left edge, where Casey McLean scored a try and made two big breaks. Phoenix Crossland also returned for New Zealand, playing his first game since a four-match ban, as a bench option.

New Zealand will face Australia or Samoa, who play the second semi-final in Sydney on Sunday, in the final in Brisbane on Sunday 15 November.