The Jillaroos have stormed into a fourth consecutive World Cup Final with a dominant 82-0 win over the PNG Orchids in York on Tuesday morning (AEDT).
With Isabelle Kelly and Emma Tonegato grabbing hat-tricks, Australia got the job done in style to move into the Old Trafford decider where they will face either England or New Zealand.
The defending champions made a sluggish start with five-eighth Taliah Fuimaono kicking out on the full in the third minute and skipper Tallisha Harden making a mistake in the play-the-ball.
A barnstorming run by Elsie Albert gave PNG a shot at first points after seven minutes but Sera Koroi’s grubber kick was far too heavy and Australia came back with a seven-tackle set.
Jillaroos hooker Keeley Davis steadied the ship in the 10th minute when she got over from dummy half and Lauren Brown converted for 6-0.
Some sharp lead-up work by Brown in the 15th minute gave Kelly the chance to power into the back field and she powered over the top of Shae Yvonne De La Cruz to score Australia’s second try.
Kelly had a double soon after when Tonegato joined the line and delivered the final pass for the Roosters centre to cross wide out.
A great moment for back-rower Shaylee Bent when she grabbed her first Test try in the 22nd minute courtesy of another classy assist from Brown, before Evania Pelite crossed for Australia’s fifth try three minutes later.
Tonegato’s speed continued to pose problems for the Orchids and she had another try assist in the 28th minute when she found space on the right edge and sent winger Shenae Ciesiolka over for her third try of the tournament.
Tries to Olivia Kernick and a third to Kelly took Australia to a 40-0 lead at the break and Brown got the ball rolling in the second half when she bamboozled the defence and found Kelly who delivered the final pass for Jess Sergis to score.
Ciesiolka had a double in the 46th minute before Albert produced a trysaver to deny Keilee Joseph but it was only a temporaray reprieve, Harden surging over in the 49th minute as the score hit 58-0.
Tonegato grabbed a quick fire double in the space of five minutes before Jaime Chapman became Australia’s 10th different tryscorer when she ran the length of the field to make it 76-0 with 15 minutes to play.
Slick ball movement to the left side handed Tonegato her third for the match as the former Olympian continued to dazzle in her audition for the fullback role in the final.
The Orchids looked set to grab a late try when De La Cruz found space on the left but Chapman came across in cover with a bone rattler to shut the play down and ensure the Jillaroos kept a clean sheet.
Source: NRL.Com