New Zealand’s Jahrome Hughes is congratulated on a superb try against Ireland. Photo / Photosport
New Zealand’s Jahrome Hughes is congratulated on a superb try against Ireland. Photo / Photosport
If the Kiwis wanted a statement performance at the Rugby League World Cup, this wasn’t quite it.
They played well at times – against a committed Ireland team – but couldn’t find the polish required, in another stop-start display, though halfback Jahrome Hughes underlined his importance with a superb performance.
The 48-10 victory was comprehensive enough, but Kiwis coach Michael Maguire knows his team will have to lift considerably for the knockout stages, starting with the quarter final (most likely against Fiji) next weekend.
There will also be a nervous wait for prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, after the 33-year-old was sin-binned late in the first half for a high swinging arm. Given the patterns we have seen this season, the Roosters enforcer will be fortunate to avoid a suspension.
The other obvious issue – as signalled by the Herald pre-tournament – is the goal kicking.
The Kiwis scored 10 tries but Jordan Rapana and Dylan Brown only managed four conversions between them and the lack of a specialist could be costly as the matches get tighter.
The attack was much better with Hughes – who scored two tries and laid on four others – but not quite sweet enough, as the lack of cohesion was evident again.
The unfancied Irish asked some questions and provided a tougher than expected test, which in the long run could be good for the Kiwis.
James Fisher-Harris again led the way up front, with Brandon Smith and Isaac Liu prominent, while Hughes dazzled in the spine, with Brown also impressive.
Maguire tried Nelson Asofa-Solomona in the back row, though he reverted to the middle in the second half while Briton Nikora worked hard but will need more work as a test-level centre.
The Kiwis made an untidy start, with a couple of errors and were fortunate that a promising Irish break was called back for a marginal forward pass. New Zealand also conceded consecutive penalties, the second of which allowed Ireland to take a surprise 2-0 lead after 11 minutes.
Smith helped turn the momentum – with an intercept and bullocking run – before Hughes beat four defenders to score, with a trademark scything run from close range.
New Zealand’s Jahrome Hughes is congratulated on a superb try against Ireland. Photo / Photosport
A precise Hughes chip then laid on a try for Jordan Rapana, after strong carries from Fisher-Harris and Joseph Tapine, which helped to settle the Kiwis.
There was more profit from Hughes a few minutes later, as Peta Hiku swooped on his pinpoint grubber, threaded between three defenders.
But just as the Kiwis looked to get going, they gave up an intercept try, with Louis Senior gambling on a Nikora pass. There was a hint of offside from the Irish winger but he did well to anticipate the ball from the Sharks’ converted backrower.
New Zealand responded quickly, with Hughes – who else? – eluding a trio of rushing defenders, before sending Hiku away.
The flashpoint of the half came just before the interval, with the careless high tackle from Waerea-Hargreaves on Dan Norman. Waerea-Hargreaves had made an impact in his return from suspension but it was a reckless moment – with a swinging arm that caught Norman – and he will be fortunate to avoid a suspension.
Rapana squeezed across in the 47th minute – doing well to ground the ball before sliding over the sideline, before Fisher-Harris powered over near the posts. But Brown, who had taken over from Rapana with the goal kicking, pulled his conversion horribly wide.
Hughes put the stamp on a classy performance with another solo try, before leaving the field in the 62nd minute, to be saved for next week.
But Ireland never stopped trying and their commitment was rewarded with Senior’s second try, an opportunistic effort after he trapped Mulitalo in goal then forced the ball free, before late tries to Kenny Bromwich and Joseph Manu rounded out the Kiwis effort.
Kiwis 48 (Jahrome Hughes 2, Jordan Rapana 2, Peta Hiku 2, Ronaldo Mulitalo, James Fisher-Harris, Kenny Bromwich, Joseph Manu tries; Jordan Rapana 2, Dylan Brown 2 goals)
Ireland 10 (Louis Senior 2 tries; Ed Chamberlain pen)
Halftime: 24-6
As it happened in the Kiwis’ final group game of the Rugby League World Cup against Ireland:
