FIJI bulldozed their way into a World Cup semi final meeting with heavy favourites Australia thanks to a hard-fought 22-4 victory over Samoa at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Battling against an aggressive Samoan line-up and a partisan crowd of 12,766, the Fijian’s more clinical attacking play gave them the edge in a match fought largely up the middle between two imposing packs.

The Fijian half back pairing of Catalan’s Daryl Millard and Asquith Magpies’ Aaron Groom – who was voted man-of-the-match – were able to make more of an impact than their counterparts, and when added to the athleticism of outstanding winger Ukulia Uate and the trusty boot of Waisale Ligani Naiqama, Fiji’s cutting edge was too sharp for the plucky Samoan’s to handle.

Not that Samoa were without their chances, particularly in the first half. Penalties mounted up in the opening 40 minutes, but try as they might Samoa could not breach Fiji, their kicks and passes just lacking the quality to provide the breakthrough.

In what was largely a tight opening half, Fiji struck the front early. Half back Aaron Groom was in support of Akuila Uate’s excellent break through the heart of the Samoan defence, and he beat the scrambling cover to drop over next to the posts. Waisale Ligani Naiqama added the extras to open a 6-0 lead after just four minutes. The Penrith Panthers’ centre, who finished with a personal haul of 14 points, then added a penalty goal on nine minutes to stretch their advantage.

Fiji’s three-time Dally M medal winner for best NRL winger, Uate, was showing his class both in defence and attack. He was key to setting up Fiji’s crucial second try less than 10 minutes before half time, catching Groom’s bomb near the Samoan line to hand his side a fresh set within striking distance. Dusting himself off from an off-the-ball hit, Groom sauntered into the Fijian line and launched a grubber that beat Antonio Winterstein with an awkward bounce and sat up nicely for Waisale Naiqama to score. The Panthers centre converted his own try to send his side into the break with a 14-0 lead.

The partisan crowd, their loyalty won during Samoa’s brave fight against New Zealand in the opening round, were forced to wait until the hour mark to celebrate Samoa’s opening try. They had enjoyed little success near the Fijian line, but in the end it was a simple passing move that created the chance. Samoa’s superb kick and chase up the left flank had forced a goal-line drop-out and it was from a subsequent penalty that they struck through Antonio Winterstein’s diving finish in the corner.

Unfortunately, if the crowd were hoping that would inspire a heroic revival similar to the one seen against the Kiwis a few weeks ago, they were to be disappointed. A second Naiqama penalty stretched Fiji’s lead back to 12 points and when Vitale Junior Roqica charged on to Apisai Koroisau’s offload on 78 minutes, the game was already out of Samoa’s grasp.

It not only brought an end to Samoa’s World Cup, but their brief relationship with an admiring Warrington public, while Fiji can look forward to a huge clash with the Kangaroos at Wembley in six day’s time.

Samoa: Anthony Milford (Canberra Raiders); Antonio Winterstein (North Queensland Cowboys), Tim Lafai (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Joseph Leilua (Newcastle Knights), Daniel Vidot (St George Illawarra Dragons); Penani Manumalealii (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Ben Roberts (Parramatta Eels); David Fa'alogo (Newcastle Knights), Michael Sio (New Zealand Warriors), Suaia Matagi (New Zealand Warriors), Iosia Soliola (St Helens), Tony Puletua (Salford City Reds), Sauaso Sue (West Tigers). Subs: Pita Godinet (New Zealand Warriors), Junior Moors (Melbourne Storm), Mark Taufua (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Mose Masoe (St Helens).

Fiji: Kevin Naiqama ( Newcastle Knights); Marika Koroibete (West Tigers), Sisa Ledua Waqa (Melbourne Storm), Waisale Ligani Naiqama (Penrith Panthers), Akuila Uate (Newcastle Knights); Daryl Millard (Catalan Dragons), Aaron Groom (Asquith Magpies); Ashton Sims (North Queensland Cowboys), James Storer (Collegians Illawarra), Petero Civoniceva (Redcliffe Dolphins), Tariq Sims (North Queensland Cowboys), Jayson Bukuya (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Eloni Vunakece. Subs: Apisai Koroisau (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Vitale Junior Roqica (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Kane Evans (Sydney Roosters), Semi Radradra Turagasoli Waqavatu (Parramatta Eels).