An empty stadium with green field under lights at night.(File image: Siarhei Nester / Pexels)
Newy 87.8 FM – New Zealand has beaten Tonga 34-10 in the men's Rugby League World Cup semi-final at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday night, reaching its first World Cup final since 2013.
Knights captain Kalyn Ponga started at fullback, 23 days after breaking his left arm on his Test debut against the Kangaroos in Sydney on October 15.
Ponga set up Briton Nikora for the opening try and stopped Demitric Vaimauga metres short of the line with a one-on-one tackle.
The official Rugby League World Cup site posted a video titled 'Kalyn Ponga named player of the match against Tonga'.
Tonga led 10-6 after 32 minutes through Jojo Fifita's second try, but the Kiwis went to half-time 12-10 up.
Playing the second half with wind gusts upwards of 60km/h behind them, New Zealand pulled away through tries to McLean, Hughes, Xavier Willison and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.
Knights centre Dane Gagai scored the Kiwis' second try after Lehi Hopoate failed to clean up a Hughes grubber under pressure from Ponga.
Knights hooker Phoenix Crossland was named on the interchange as he returns from a four-game suspension arising from the NRL preliminary final.
Prop Naufahu Whyte has an ankle issue after leaving the field early in the second half and not returning.
The crowd was 29,712, according to Zero Tackle and the Newcastle Herald.
New Zealand will face the winner of Sunday's match between Australia and Samoa in Sydney.
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