Kiwi Ferns finish late to beat Fiji in Rugby League World Cup opener

The Kiwi Ferns have been given a huge fright in their Rugby League World Cup opener, before beating Fiji 18-12 in Newcastle.

The courageous Fiji Bulikula, playing in their maiden World Cup, refused to be overawed.

With the score 10-12 at the break, Fiji held their lead until 18 minutes in the second half when the Ferns drew level with a penalty from former Jillaroo Zahara Temara.

She booted over another to give them a 14-12 lead with five minutes remaining.

Leianne Tufuga scored the try that sealed Fiji's fate, scoring in the corner after a superb chip kick from Raecene McGregor with two minutes to go.

Stacey Waaka scored both New Zealand's tries in the first half, benefiting firstly from a long pass from Apii Nicholls for the first effort and then a beautiful delayed pass from centre Mele Hufanga for the second.

In between those efforts Losana Lutu scored for Fiji, followed by Sienna Laing, who kicked ahead and scored after a grubber from Lutu.

The Kiwi Ferns did most of the attacking in the second half but it took them an age before they finally broke the Fijian resistance.

See how the game unfolded below:

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Brooke Anderson (St George Illawarra Dragons), Kaiyah Atai (Warriors), Annessa Biddle (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Brianna Clark (Brisbane Broncos), Georgia Hale (Gold Coast Titans), Mele Hufanga (Warriors), Chantay Kiria-Ratu (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Ivana Lauitiiti (Warriors), Shannon Mato (Brisbane Broncos), Raecene McGregor (Wests Tigers), Shaniece Monschau (Wests Tigers), Apii Nicholls (Warriors), Shanice Parker (Newcastle Knights), Otesa Pule (Sydney Roosters), Ashleigh Quinlan (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Abigail Roache (North Queensland Cowboys), Alexis Tauaneai (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Trinity Tauaneai (St George Illawarra Dragons), Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Zahara Temara (Canberra Raiders), Leianne Tufuga (Canberra Raiders), Stacey Waaka (Warriors), Tenika Willison (Newcastle Knights).