Kiwis Rout Fiji 78-0 to Reach World Cup Semi-Finals Despite Double Send-Off

New Zealand booked their place in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals with a ruthless 78-0 demolition of Fiji on the Gold Coast, scoring 13 tries in a performance that was as dominant as it was ill-tempered. The Kiwis led 48-0 at half-time after Jahrome Hughes crossed in the second minute, with Keano Kini, Casey McLean and Dane Gagai all scoring inside the first 12 minutes to make it 24-0 before the game was a quarter old. McLean finished with four tries, Kini added two, and Jamayne Isaako converted all 13 attempts in a perfect night with the boot. The match turned ugly in the 52nd minute when winger Ronaldo Mulitalo was sent off for a high shot on Fiji's Ronald Philitoga, and Fiji halfback Brandon Wakeham was also dismissed after throwing a punch in the ensuing exchange, leaving both sides with 12 men. Mulitalo now faces a nervous wait over a possible ban that could rule him out of the semi-final, with disciplinary charges to be confirmed on Sunday. Fiji, who were already outplayed long before the send-offs, are eliminated, while New Zealand will face the winner of Sunday's Samoa-Tonga clash in next weekend's semi-final.