Full Time
80:00
8:30pm Fri November 17, 2017
Quarter Finals - TIO Stadium, Darwin / Larrakia - Crowd: 13473
80

FULL TIME - The Kangaroos storm through to the Semi Finals with a commanding 46-0 win over Samoa! Stay tuned for the full wrap. Thanks for joining us!

Australia 46-0

79

Some late flashy play from Samoa sees them march up into the Kangaroos' half and they are 5 out on the final play... but the grubber is hit dead by Gagai!

Australia 46-0

78

Holmes is the first player in history to score FIVE tries in a World Cup game! Just 2 minutes to go now...

Australia 46-0

75

UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION AUSTRALIA: Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith unsuccessful.

HE MISSED!

Australia 46-0

73

TRY AUSTRALIA: Scored by Valentine Holmes. Kick to come.

KLEMMER THE PLAY MAKER! He takes the hit-up off the drop out and surprises everyone by throwing a quick pass to Holmes who bursts through for FIVE tries!

Australia 46-0

72

Cronk forces the drop out now and Australia continue to build pressure.

Australia 42-0

70

An unorthodox last tackle on the last ends with Frizell kicking and Young Tonumaipea comes up with the error trying to clean it up! Australia get a scrum 10 out.

Australia 42-0

68

Samoa look improved in attack but Leilua again comes up with the error on the sweeping play and Australia regain possession.

Australia 42-0

67

A poor penalty on the last is conceded by McGuire and Samoa are 30 out. Can they finally break the duck?

Australia 42-0

66

A rare shocker from Slater. He has space and there is an overlap on the left but he grubbers for himself and Samoa take it.

Australia 42-0

64

GREAT defence from Samoa! But they will need to defend again after Jazz Tevaga comes up with an error on his own 40 metre line.

Australia 42-0

63

Joseph Paulo slows things down and is penalised. Australia are 10 out.

Australia 42-0

61

Yet Samoa come up with another mistake... their completion rate now stands at 11/25.

Australia 42-0

60

A great kick after points from Smith is almost collected by a sprinting Cronk yet Lafai takes it and charges through defenders to make 30 metres. McGuire is now penalised and Samoa are on halfway.

Australia 42-0

59

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION AUSTRALIA: Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.

Smith sends it through and has 7 from 7.

Australia 42-0

57

TRY AUSTRALIA: Scored by Valentine Holmes. Kick to come.

HE HAS FOUR! Michael Morgan finds space in the middle and passes for Cronk who then links with Holmes!

Australia 40-0

53

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION AUSTRALIA: Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.

No surprises! Smith sends it through from the side line with ease.

Australia 36-0

51

TRY AUSTRALIA: Scored by Valentine Holmes. Kick to come.

PERFECT! Slater with a quick pass finds Holmes out wide and the Cronulla winger has a hat-trick!

Australia 34-0

51

Samoa do well to hold him up. Kangaroos 10 out still with 2 tackles to go.

Australia 30-0

51

BUNKER - A determined run from Frizell! Went up NO TRY!

Australia 30-0

49

Another penalty sees Samoa go 10 out from the Australian line. On the last, however, the pass from Pritchard is put down by Leilua and the Samoans fail to build any pressure or momentum. Now Herman Ese'ese compounds that error by conceding a penalty and the Australians begin their set over halfway.

Australia 30-0

46

WHAT A KICK AND CHASE! Smith sends the ball soaring towards Samoa's line from Australia's own 30 metre line and the Kangaroos chase brilliantly to trap the Samoans 10 out. Yet a relieving penalty undoes all their hard work.

Australia 30-0

45

It looked promising! Leilua flicks a deft offload to put Wright in space down the side line but Australia muscle up in defence and Dugan takes Wright out.

Australia 30-0

44

A big hit there from Matagi and McLean comes up with an error! Samoa are 20 out and have a chance to make an early statement.

Australia 30-0

42

Slater finds space out wide after a sweeping play and looked like he could sprint around the defence to score but he attempts to offload and it goes to Lafai. Samoa survive!

Australia 30-0

40

A terrible start to the second half from Samoa with Fa'amanu Brown kicking it out on the full. Australia are now already on halfway and a strip is ruled against Samoa on Dugan.

Australia 30-0

40

We are back underway and Samoa receive the ball.

Australia 30-0

40

HALF TIME - Australia were expected to win this one by around 30. Yet they already lead by that much at the break. The Kangaroos have been making metres with ease and have scored five tries as a result to go into the sheds up 30-0. Stay tuned for the second half!

Australia 30-0

39

Cameron Smith is human after all. He drops the ball trying to pick it up out of the scrum. What a shock!

Australia 30-0

39

Australia may have one final chance to score after a forward pass is ruled against Samoa 30 out from their own line.

Australia 30-0

36

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION AUSTRALIA: Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.

Smith takes his personal tally to 10 points for the night.

Australia 30-0

35

TRY AUSTRALIA: Scored by Michael Morgan. Kick to come.

A quite intriguing try! Smith puts a grubber through towards the posts and Cronk chases but appears to have been taken out by a Samoan defender. Yet Morgan gets there anywhere and has back-to-back tries!

Australia 28-0

34

This could get really ugly before the break. Matagi has dropped the ball attempting to play it on his own 40 metre line.

Australia 24-0

33

Again Australia charge up the field with ease before Smith puts in an early kick on the 3rd to tire out and trap the Samoan defenders.

Australia 24-0

32

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION AUSTRALIA: Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.

No qualms from Smith. He nails it!

Australia 24-0

30

TRY AUSTRALIA: Scored by Michael Morgan. Kick to come.

Samoa fail to wrap the ball up and Slater offloads to find Smith who quickly throws it wide. Michael Morgan takes the ball and dances through the Samoan defence!

Australia 22-0

29

Australia continue to threaten, finding easy metres. They are 10 out on the last and Cronk's pass sees Dugan trapped - but the Cronulla recruit manages to still grubber through and force a drop out! Big set coming up. If Samoa concede another try the game is over.

Australia 18-0

28

Luai dances through the line on the last for Samoa and finds Leutele but puts him under enormous pressure and the centre drops the ball.

Australia 18-0

26

A strong set after points sees the Kangaroos march into Samoa's own half and Chambers' kick on the last finds touch 10 out. The scrum will set.

Australia 18-0

24

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION AUSTRALIA: Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.

No mistake from Smith. 18-0 now after 24.

Australia 18-0

23

TRY AUSTRALIA: Scored by Billy Slater. Kick to come.

Just beautiful! Cronk goes to Gillett who simply pops it back for Slater who slices through. It is clockwork and makes something difficult look easy. Kangaroos 16-0.

Australia 16-0

22

Another penalty to the Kangaroos. Samoa ruled to have hands around the ball. Australia are 10 out.

Australia 12-0

21

Jazz Tevaga is penalised for taking Cordner high and Australia march into Samoa's half.

Australia 12-0

20

A conservative kick from Luai now finds touch 20 out as the players enjoy a rare break in sweltering conditions.

Australia 12-0

18

A smart kick from Smith traps Samoa on their own ten metre line.

Australia 12-0

17

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION AUSTRALIA: Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.

Just perfect. He makes it look easy from the side line.

Australia 12-0

16

TRY AUSTRALIA: Scored by Valentine Holmes. Kick to come.

Holmes now bursts through two defenders and passes for Cronk. The halfback then finds Holmes back in support and the speedster sprints away to score in the corner and collect an early double!

Australia 10-0

14

Roberts kicks for the corner and it is a perfect one! Slater looks like he will be trapped in-goal but he forces his way out!

Australia 6-0

14

Great lead up work saw Slater burst through the middle after a short offload from former Storm teammate Cronk. Cronk himself went quickly to use the momentum, floating the ball to Gagai's wing, but the South Sydney recruit fumbled it before grounding.

Australia 6-0

14

BUNKER - Gagai barges over out wide after a long ball from Cronk - did he lose it?

Australia 6-0

12

A bit of sloppy play there after the offload for Cordner is not collected by the second-rower. Samoa get the ball back. As said earlier, Australia could win this easily if they get some fluency in attack. At the moment, however, they are just going through the motions. Samoa are not doing much better. The kick on the last goes dead with ease and Australia gain a seven tackle set.

Australia 6-0

12

Australia have earned a penalty 40 out after Slater was taken out.

Australia 6-0

10

A lack of communication on the last sees Cronk juggle the ball and take the tackle. Australia look like they will win this one easily if they get some fluency in attack.

Australia 6-0

9

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION AUSTRALIA: Conversion attempt by Cameron Smith successful.

Smith slots it over from the sideline.

Australia 6-0

8

TRY AUSTRALIA: Scored by Valentine Holmes. Kick to come.

A deft Cronk bomb is tapped on by Dugan and Holmes does well to take it and plant the ball down in the corner! 4-0 to Australia.

Australia 4-0

8

BUNKER - Holmes dives over in the corner off a brilliant tap on! And great hands from Holmes too!

0 all

6

Samoa get an early chance to strike! Roberts drills it towards the sideline and it hits Holmes in the legs! He tries to bat it back in before it goes out but he is ruled to have done so with his foot on the side line - the replays suggest otherwise. Nevertheless BJ Leilua drops it cold and Australia are now given a penalty and are 40 out from the Samoan line.

0 all

4

Cam Smith now goes for the 40/20 but it just pulls up 5 metres short of the 20 metre line. A quite conservative start by the Kangaroos tonight.

0 all

3

Roberts again takes the kick on the last and this time it is a good one, finding the side line 25 out from the Kangaroos' line to give his forwards a breather.

0 all

2

Australia are already 20 out on the third tackle. Cronk kicks early on the fourth and pins Samoa in the corner. Australia winning the territorial battle early.

0 all

2

A poor opening set from Samoa with Holmes taking Roberts' kick and sprinting towards halfway.

0 all

Slater takes the first hit-up of the game before Klemmer does likewise. Cordner gets the Australians past the 20 metre line before Smith completes the set on the last. Samoa start their set on their own 10 metre line.

Good evening and welcome to League Unlimited's Live Update of the Quarter Final between Australia and Samoa. Only one late change with Bunty Afoa starting for Samoa with Herman Ese'ese going back to the bench. Samoa are yet to win a game in this year's World Cup while Australia are favourites to take out the whole thing. After a slow start Australia should run away with this by at least 20.

Referees & scorers:

Referee: Phil Bentham

Touch Judges: Chris Sutton, Belinda Sleeman

Video Referee: Ashley Klein

AUSTRALIA (46)
Tries: Valentine Holmes (5), Billy Slater, Michael Morgan (2)
Field Goals:
Conversions: Cameron Smith (7/8)
Penalty Goals:

SAMOA (0)
Tries:
Field Goals:
Conversions:
Penalty Goals: