Stacey Waaka has cemented her status as one of the world’s most formidable athletes, producing a sensational hat-trick to lead the New Zealand Kiwi Ferns to a seventh consecutive Women’s Rugby League World Cup final.
In a dominant display at Hunter Stadium, the Kiwi Ferns overcame a nervy, error-strewn start to dismantle a resilient Fetu Samoa side, 34-0. While Samoa entered their maiden semifinal with high hopes, the relentless class of New Zealand’s backline ultimately proved too much for the first-time semi-finalists to handle.
The victory extends New Zealand’s remarkable record; the Kiwi Ferns have now featured in the decider of every single edition of the women’s world championship held to date.
Waaka, who previously achieved legendary status with two Olympic gold medals in rugby 7s and two Rugby Union World Cup titles, has taken to rugby league with seamless ease. Her three-try haul in Newcastle brings her tournament tally to an incredible nine tries in just a handful of matches.
“A really close first half, but the team who was going to win was the one who played right to the end,” Waaka said during her post-match interview with the 7 Network. “I love playing games with these young guns. It’s fun learning off them too… I’m just enjoying the whole experience.”
The opening exchanges were defined by tension. Samoa’s historical milestone was dampened early when hooker Mary-Jane Taito threw a forward pass in the opening set, handing the Kiwis an immediate opportunity. New Zealand winger Mackenzie Wiki pounced within two minutes, crossing in the corner to settle the nerves.
For much of the first half, both sides struggled with handling in a high-pressure environment, combining for 16 errors. Samoa’s best opportunity to shift momentum arrived midway through the half, but despite four consecutive sets on the Kiwi goal-line, the debutants failed to breach the New Zealand defense.
As the weather turned and the wind picked up, Waaka signaled her intent. She charged onto a tactical kick that the Samoan defense foolishly allowed to bounce, securing an 8-0 lead heading into the sheds.
The floodgates opened after the break. Waaka struck again in the 44th minute, swooping on another perfectly weighted kick to extend the lead to 14 points. That score effectively broke the Samoan spirit, allowing the Kiwis to go on a clinical scoring spree.
A six-minute burst saw Mele Hufanga, Kaiyah Atai, and Waaka each cross the white stripe, effectively icing the match. Captain Raecene McGregor added the final flourish with a try three minutes from time.
New Zealand now waits to see who they will meet in next week’s grand final, with Australia and Fiji set to battle in the second semifinal in Sydney this Sunday. Regardless of the opponent, the Kiwi Ferns—and the irrepressible Waaka—appear ready for the ultimate test.
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