NZ vs Fiji clash ends in two red cards and injury

A violent on-field incident during New Zealand's Rugby League World Cup match against Fiji led to two players being sent off in the second half. The clash erupted after a dangerous tackle by New Zealand's Ronaldo Mulitalo, which made direct contact with Fiji's Ronald Philitoga.

Fiji's players reacted angrily to the tackle, with half-back Brandon Wakeham swinging a punch at Mulitalo's face. The referee, Grant Atkins, immediately sent Wakeham off the field, leaving both teams to play with 12 men for the remainder of the match.

Philitoga was unable to continue after the incident and was later ruled out following a head injury assessment. The incident could result in a ban for Mulitalo, who is likely to miss New Zealand's semi-final match.

Further unrest occurred late in the game when Fiji prop Jordan Miller was sent to the sin bin after another high tackle, sparking another player confrontation. Despite the disruptions, New Zealand maintained control of the match, ultimately securing a 78-0 victory with 13 tries.

Casey McLean and Keano Kini led New Zealand's scoring efforts, with McLean crossing for four tries and Kini for two. Fiji's campaign ended with the loss, as they had already suffered injuries to captain Api Koroisau, who was taken to hospital with a suspected facial fracture.

The result marks the end of Fiji's World Cup campaign, while New Zealand advances to the knockout stages in pursuit of their first World Cup title since 2008.