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New Zealand is headed for the Pacific Nations rugby league championship final after firing an ominous warning to Australia with a crushing 50-0 win over Samoa.
Pacific Championships
Men
New Zealand Kiwis 50 Toa Samoa 0
Women
Kiwi Ferns 28 Mate Ma’a Tonga 10
The rampant Kiwis ran amok in an awesome display of skill and firepower to put Samoa to the sword in Auckland on Saturday.
Eden Park has long been the All Blacks’ burial ground for rival rugby sides but served as equally a graveyard for the depleted Samoans, who sadly and badly missed the likes of Joseph Suaalii, Brian To’o and Jarome Luai.
The trio helped their nation to last year’s World Cup final but, without them, the Samoans were no match for the star-studded Kiwis.
The match was all but over at half-time after New Zealand went to the break with a commanding 18-0 lead that could have been even bigger if not for two disallowed tries.
Six more second-half four-pointers completed the biggest-ever win over their Pacific Island rivals.
The one-sided victory, in Michael Maguire’s first Test in charge since agreeing to coach the NSW State of Origin side next year, set up a mouth-watering final in two weeks with the world champion Kangaroos at New Zealand’s Waikato Stadium.
But, in a treat for fans, the two finalists will also clash next Saturday in Melbourne in a spicy appetiser after Samoa’s fate was sealed with losses to both the Kangaroos and Kiwis.
With his side’s place in the final secured after last week’s 38-12 defeat of Samoa, Australia coach Mal Meninga will likely blood 2022 Dally M Medallist Nicho Hynes — and others — in next week’s “dead rubber”.
Maguire may not be so tempted to tinker with his line-up after Saturday’s thoroughly stylish performance.
The result was never really in doubt from the instant Dolphins dynamo Jamayne Isaako scored and converted his own try in the 14th minute.
New Zealand’s second try was literally a ripper, with reigning world player of the year Joey Manu having his jersey shredded such was his determination to keep a dazzling movement alive.
The Sydney Roosters centre was duly rewarded when Melbourne star Jahrome Hughes finished off the play before a shirtless Manu ventured off to find a new jumper.
He quickly returned in the number 20 jersey and continued to taunt the Samoans as the Kiwis piled on nine unanswered tries, while also keeping their own line intact.
Isaako finished with a double and seven conversions in a 22-point personal contribution, with Cronulla winger Ronaldo Mulitalo also bagging a brace.
Mulitalo’s Sharks clubmate Briton Nikora also crossed, as did Storm giant Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Wests Tigers forward Isaiah Papali’i and Penrith powerhouse James Fisher-Harris.
In the women’s Pacific Championships, the Kiwi Ferns had a comprehensive win over the Tonga Mate Ma’a team at Eden Park.
New Zealand centre Abigail Roache starred with three of her side’s six tries, as the Kiwi Ferns beat Tonga 28-10.
Skipper Tiana Penitani scored both tries for the Mate Ma’s team.
AAP/ABC
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