Australia Advances to Rugby League World Cup Semifinals; New Zealand Recovers

Australia secured their place in the Rugby League World Cup semifinals after defeating Fiji 36-22 in a competitive match. Fiji, who had lost their previous five encounters against Australia by a combined score of 246-16, held a surprise 16-12 lead after halftime.

However, a pivotal 60-second period shifted the momentum. Following a disallowed try for Fiji, Australia quickly responded with a try from Tom Trbojevic, leveling the score. Trbojevic went on to score two more tries, and Jacob Preston added another for Australia, while Semi Valemei completed a hat-trick for Fiji.

Despite the win, Australian player Tom Trbojevic acknowledged areas for improvement. "We weren't at our best but we came away with two points. We need to improve. We've got to enjoy a win but we've got to be our harshest critics too," he told Premier Sports.

Australia's pack struggled at times, and concerns remain about their defensive performance. The team heads into the semifinals having shown unconvincing displays in their recent victories against New Zealand and Fiji.

In another match, New Zealand rebounded from an earlier defeat to secure a decisive 82-16 victory over the Cook Islands. The win puts New Zealand on track for a crucial final pool game against Fiji.

Jamayne Isaako was a standout performer for New Zealand, scoring a record 38 points, including 13 conversions. This performance surpassed the previous record of 32 points set by Tasesa Lavea in 2000.

The match did not start as planned for New Zealand, as the Cook Islands recovered from a 12-0 deficit to take a 16-12 lead. However, New Zealand responded strongly, leading 36-16 by halftime. Isaako scored three tries in total, while Tanner Stowers-Smith, Ronaldo Mulitalo, and Casey McLean each scored two tries. Other try-scorers for New Zealand included Scott Sorensen, Kodi Nikorima, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, and Keano Kini, who replaced the injured Kalyn Ponga.