The Rugby League World Cup semifinal weekend has officially kicked off in Newcastle, bringing high-stakes action to Hunter Stadium as teams battle for a spot in next Sunday's tournament final.
Meanwhile, the men's tournament features a blockbuster semifinal clash between New Zealand and Tonga. The Kiwis received a major boost ahead of the match with the return of star fullback Kalyn Ponga, who made a rapid recovery to start just 23 days after fracturing his arm in the tournament opener against Australia.
