Australia’s Valentine Holmes yesterday kept up his record-breaking exploits with six tries as the Kangaroos blew away Fiji 54-6 to set up a Rugby League World Cup final against England or Tonga.
Winger Holmes set a World Cup record with five tries in last week’s quarter-final victory over Samoa in Darwin, but went one better at Lang Park as the defending champions cruised into the title decider.
The Kangaroos have been winners or runners-up in all but the first of the 15 Rugby League World Cups and on this showing will be overwhelming favorites to lift the trophy for the 11th time at the same stadium next Saturday.
Photo: Reuters
“Really pleased with the effort tonight,” Australia skipper Cameron Smith said. “We’ve just got to throw the ball to Valentine Holmes, he’s just scoring left, right and center — 11 in two matches — we’ve just got to get it to him again next week.”
Australia fullback Billy Slater grabbed his 15th and 16th World Cup tries to better the career record for the tournament he previously shared with Jarryd Hayne, the 12-cap Kangaroo who turned out at standoff for Fiji.
Winger Dane Gagai also grabbed a double as the ruthless cohosts ran in 10 tries to overpower Fiji, who stunned former champions New Zealand in the quarter-finals last weekend.
“It was a tough assignment against Australia,” Fiji captain Kevin Naiqama said. “We’ve finished in the top four in the world, which is a great achievement for us.”
England meet Tonga in the other semi-final in Auckland, New Zealand, today.
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