New Zealand and Tonga will clash for the first spot in the Rugby League World Cup final on Saturday evening in Newcastle.
New Zealand, who lost to Australia in the opening match of the group stage but hammered the Cook Islands and Fiji to finish second in Group A, will play a Tongan team fresh from the emotion of defeating Samoa last Sunday to claim top spot in the combined Group B and C.
Kick-off is set for 8:05pm (AEDT) at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday evening, and you can follow all the action live on Zero Tackle.
Scroll down for live commentary of the game. This blog will automatically refresh every two minutes.
For live stats and scores, you can check out our match centre.
26' - New Zealand 6 - Tonga 6
Momentum looks to be turning in patches here. This set ends with a bomb to the corner that is knocked back, but a follow up grubber goes dead. Seven-tackle set again here for the Kiwis.
25' - New Zealand 6 - Tonga 6
No good from New Zealand here. Onto the attack, but Naufahu Whyte turns it over with a very sloppy play the ball.
24' - New Zealand 6 - Tonga 6
Tonga give away a penalty on the first play for a strip.
Tonga challenge, but that won't be successful.
24' - New Zealand 6 - Tonga 6
Great set after points from Tonga, absolutely destroyed by a Katoa kick that goes long and allows Ponga to take it in goal. Seven-tackle set for New Zealand.
22' - New Zealand 6 - Tonga 6 - CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL, ISAIYA KATOA
Game on. New Zealand have certainly had the better of the contest, but Tonga all squared off.
21' - New Zealand 6 - Tonga 4 - TRY TONGA, JOJO FIFITA
New Zealand back over halfway on the last with Hughes kicking high this time. It's a good one that is allowed to bounce, but this is one of the great tries.
Fifita starts it off running through Nikora and Leota, then they sprad it wide to Koula who flings it back inside to Fifita and he streaks away to score.
Length of the field that changes the game.
19' - New Zealand 6 - Tonga 0
Tonga again clear to about halfway, then Katoa kicks long for Ponga who is absolutely crunched by Foketi in the kick chase. Incredible shot.
18' - New Zealand 6 - Tonga 0
Dear oh dear. How have New Zealand not managed to score there? Had plenty of opportunities during the set, but in the end, Tapine puts it down.
17' - New Zealand 6 - Tonga 0
Tonga with a solid set the other way, but they aren't getting the yardage to get on the front foot of this game.
16' - New Zealand 6 - Tonga 0
Brilliant play on the last of this set from Isaako, down the right-hand side and a kick goes through, but Hopoate is there to clean up.
15' - New Zealand 6 - Tonga 0
Now, Tonga, on the attack, get six again as well here. Taumalolo charges at the line, then they go right but can't find a way through. Katoa rocked as he runs back to the middle, and then it's Lolohead kicking for the corner. Ball plays pinball, and Tonga knock on in the air.
14' - New Zealand 6 - Tonga 0
Tonga back on the attack and a kick on the last wins a penalty for an escort from Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.
12' - New Zealand 6 - Tonga 0
Jahrome Hughes' kicking game hasn't been great thus far - bomb up at the end of this set that goes nowhere and New Zealand, despite their best efforts, can't make anything of it.
11' - New Zealand 6 - Tonga 0
Tongan fans getting in to full voice in Newcastle as they try to inspire their team. New Zealand a strong defensive set here but Katoa a great kick that goes in to the in goal, forcing Ponga to bring it back.
10' - New Zealand 6 - Tonga 0
Brilliant from Gagai. Short drop out and he beats the pack to grab the footy. Tremndous effort and that snuffs out any idea of momentum flipping.
9' - New Zealand 6 - Tonga 0
Tonga get a bit of momentum here. Great run from Koula, then Lolohea forces a repeat set.
6' - New Zealand 6 - Tonga 0
New Zealand with a strong set after points here. Back to halfway with a great run from Papali'i, then Hughes is allowed to run before kicking, but Tonga do wind up with the ball.
5' - New Zealand 6 - Tonga 0 - CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL, JAMAYNE ISAAKO
Worrying signs for Tonga.
4' - New Zealand 4 - Tonga 0 - TRY NEW ZEALAND, BRITON NIKORA
This certainly won't help Tonga - six-again for New Zealand as they come out of trouble.
Marshall-King goes over halfway on the second with a great run, then it opens up down the right but scramble stops Gagai. Ten out, half a set to go.
Leota centres, and numbers on the right. Ponga short ball to Nikora and he is over! Far too easy for the Kiwis.
3' - New Zealand 0 - Tonga 0
Game settling into an early end to end style rhythm, but New Zealand certainly having the better of the territory here.
1' - New Zealand 0 - Tonga 0
Away we go! Deep kick-off and it's Fonua-Blake with the first run in to rather physical contact.
Tonga going nowhere early with New Zealand all over them in defence. Better run on five from Hopoate and Katoa kicks brilliantly to find the grass.
Ponga runs it back with his first touch of the game.
0' - New Zealand 0 - Tonga 0
So, here we go.
New Zealand to kick-off.
8:05pm (AEDT)
That was awesome. No other words for it. Long death stare at the end.
7:52pm (AEDT)
Teams about to make their way on to the ground in Newcastle. We will have the national anthems, haka and sipi tau in the lead up to kick-off.
7:40pm (AEDT)
Magdalena Murdoch is on the ground for us tonight in Newcastle and has passed on that the crowd is growing, Tongan fans are dominating, and the rain that is falling at the moment is easing.
Good signs.
7:30pm (AEDT)
Fair to say the battle of the forward packs tonight is going to be something to watch. One of the better battles on paper in recent memory, most certainly.
7:25pm (AEDT)
Also worth noting at this point we will be live with coverage of Australia and Samoa tomorrow night.
40 minutes to kick-off.
7:15pm (AEDT)
Well, fresh off the emotion of last weekend, both Samoa and Tonga have chances to make the final this weekend - they'll have to take on the pre-tournament favourites to get there though.
New Zealand have built nicely in to their tournament after being what could only be described as unlucky against Australia in the opener, and with Kalyn Ponga cleared to play, are close to full strength this evening, with Phoenix Crossland also on the six-man bench.
Tonga will need to be better than what they dished up last week - although errors in that emotional contest can certainly be forgiven.
7pm (AEDT)
Final teams are in. Kalyn Ponga is starting for New Zealand with Keano Kini back to the bench, while Tonga are without Rob Toia. Paul Alamoti starts in his place.
6:35pm (AEDT)
It's currently about 20 degrees in Newcastle, overcast, and a small chance of rain at some point during the game.
6:30pm (AEDT)
Hello, good evening and welcome to Zero Tackle's live coverage of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup semi-finals, with New Zealand to play Tonga for the first spot in the final from Newcastle. Scott Pryde here to take you through all the action.
