GOLD COAST, Australia (AFP) — New Zealand thundered back from their dismal opening loss to Australia to thrash Papua New Guinea 48-6 in their rugby league World Cup Pool One match here on Saturday.
The Kiwis, who went down 30-6 to the Kangaroos without a yelp, put their tournament back on track with a nine tries to one demolition to all but end the Kumuls' unlikely challenge for a semi-final place.
While New Zealand will test themselves against England in Newcastle next Saturday, PNG face the awesome challenge of having to upset tournament favourites Australia in Townsville next Sunday to avoid being dumped from the World Cup as the fourth finisher in the top group.
The contest was never in doubt with the Kiwis racing to a 22-0 lead by halftime as New Zealand Warriors backrower Simon Mannering grabbed a brace of tries.
It took the Kumuls until the 48th minute to score their only points when Gold Coast Titans winger David Moore crashed over after strong lead-up work by Neville Costigan and Jessie Joe.
But the Kiwis flattened the Kumuls with five unanswered tries to win in a canter.
South Sydney utility Issac Luke scampered 35 metres from dummy half to score near the posts in the 56th minute to open the floodgates.
Rabbitohs teammate David Fa'alogo (60th) and Melbourne Storm's Adam Blair (68th) cut through threadbare defence, Roosters' winger Sam Perrett (71st) claimed his second try off a Luke kick and Brisbane Bronco Greg Eastwood (75th) did it all himself with a barnstorming run.
Second game syndrome appeared to badly affect the Kumuls, who failed to back up from their spirited 32-22 loss to England in their Cup opener.
The alarm bells began ringing for PNG coach Adrian Lam when skilful playmaker Benji Marshall exposed a huge overlap and set up Jerome Ropati in just the ninth minute.
Marshall didn't take the field in the second half with the Kiwis saying he was rested as a precaution after he complained of hamstring tightness at halftime.
It was PNG's second World Cup loss to New Zealand after going down 22-6 in their previous encounter during the 1995 tournament in St Helens.