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Gelling calls Kiwis rugby league's Avengers before Tonga semi-final

On NZ Herald's Ryan Bridge TODAY, the former international praises New Zealand's forward depth and defends World Cup places for developing nations.

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Why this story? One of nzherald.co.nz's most watched videos since yesterday, with 8,923 views.

'The best Kiwi's team ever assembled' Kiwi's v Tonga in RLWC semi-final| Ryan Bridge TODAY

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0:46Gelling sees Kiwis-Tonga as potentially a final arriving early, then highlights New Zealand's forward-pack depth.
2:00The women's preview centres on the Kiwi Ferns facing Samoa after what Gelling describes as Samoa's historic England upset.
2:46Asked about blowout scores, Gelling defends developing nations' inclusion for the experience and exposure their players gain.
3:57Gelling picks the Kiwis and Samoa in the men's semi-finals, and the Kiwi Ferns in the women's match.

Anthony Gelling reaches for a superhero comparison when assessing the New Zealand Kiwis before their Rugby League World Cup semi-final against Tonga: "It's like The Avengers. The Avengers of rugby league come together."

Speaking with Ryan Bridge on NZ Herald's breakfast programme, the former international highlights the depth of New Zealand's forward pack. He describes the Tonga meeting as potentially a final arriving a week early, while relaying the suggestion that this could be the best Kiwis team assembled.

The interview drew roughly 9,000 views since yesterday, the largest audience over that period among the channel's new uploads.

Gelling also turns to the women's semi-final between the Kiwi Ferns and Samoa. He says Samoa's victory over England was their first, presenting it as an important breakthrough rather than simply a result on the way to another match.

Bridge raises a less celebratory feature of the tournament: heavily lopsided scorelines. Gelling argues that developing nations still belong in the competition because their young players gain experience and exposure by facing the world's best. For him, the value of participation extends beyond the immediate scoreboard.

His selections are clear: New Zealand to beat Tonga, Samoa to defeat Australia in the other men's semi-final, and the Kiwi Ferns to overcome Samoa.