Kiwis 74
Papua New Guinea 12
New Zealand made easy work of underdogs Papua New Guinea to score a record 74-12 victory in a Four Nations Rugby League test in Rotorua.
The Saturday night win at Rotorua's International Stadium, which featured hat-tricks for centre Junior Sa'u and winger Sam Perrett, marked the most points the Kiwis had scored against the Kumuls, eclipsing the 66-14 and 66-10 results in Auckland in 1988 and 1992, both in Auckland.
It also equalled their biggest margin over PNG, matching the 64-0 victory in Palmerston North in 1996.
The win also means the Kiwis will confirm their place in the final in Brisbane on November 13 if England fail to beat defending champions Australia in Melbourne tomorrow night.
Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney had asked his players for a lift in performance from their 24-10 win over England last weekend and they came sprinting out of the blocks.
They were already 12-0 up after just seven minutes, forcing PNG to make 37 tackles, before the Kumuls managed to get use of the football for the first time.
They continued to dominate possession and territory over the course of the first half to be up 46-0 at the interval.
With the score at 56-0 early in the second spell, Kearney decided to pull off skipper and key playmaker Benji Marshall, no doubt with next weekend's final pool match against Australia in Auckland in mind.
Marshall's departure coincided with a comeback by PNG, who had the consolation of getting their first points of the competition after having been whitewashed by the Kangaroos 42-0 last weekend.
Perrett, in for the injured Manu Vatuvei, got the Kiwis going with the first of his team's 13 tries.
Second rower Simon Mannering forced his way over for the second, before lock Jeremy got the first of his brace with an effort made easy by a dummy half dab by winger Jason Nightingale.
Smith got his second shortly after, following a strong run by hooker Thomas Leuluai.
A crossfield grubber by halfback Nathan Fien was pounced on by centre Junior Sa'u, before it was fullback Lance Hohaia's turn to dot down after being put through a big hole by Fien.
Next it was replacement forward Greg Eastwood who strolled over thanks to an offload by hometown boy Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, before back-up dummy halfback Issac Luke showed great persistence to get over just before the halftime hooter.
The Kiwis wasted little time to inflict more pain on the Kumuls when play restarted.
An accurate backline move was finished off by Sa'u, before the Newcastle midfielder completed his hat-trick with a strong run down the left-hand channel.
It was soon 62-0 when Perrett crossed for his second.
But with Marshall off, the Kiwis lost some of their shape and PNG took advantage to stun them with two quick tries.
Centre Emmanuel Yere got the first after the Kumuls got a rare repeat set, before five-eighth Glen Nami scored after a long-range attack that feature a slick chip and regather by hooker Charlie Wabo.
Perrett pulled in a Fien bomb to complete his hat-trick and steady the ship, but PNG continued to come more into the game.
However, Nightingale pushed the Kiwis in record territory when he went over, before second rower Sika Manu added the final try.
NEW ZEALAND 76 (S Perrett 3 J Sau 3 J Smith 2 G Eastwood L Hohaia I Luke S Mannering S Manu J Nightingale tries B Marshall 8 I Luke 2 goals) bt PAPUA NEW GUINEA 12 (G Nami M Yere tries R Tongia 2 goals) at Rotorua International Stadium. Referee: Ben Cummins.
Kiwis romp home against Kumuls
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