League: Kiwis know biggest challenge still to come

Kiwis halfback Thomas Leuluai. Photo / Supplied

After getting past England and Papua New Guinea, the Kiwis know the biggest challenge in the preliminary phase of rugby league's Four Nations awaits them next weekend.

The New Zealanders followed up a scratchy 24-10 win over the English with a record 76-12 drubbing of the Kumuls in Rotorua last night.

It was the highest number of points the Kiwis have put on PNG in 17 tests between the two countries.

Among the home side's 14 tries were hat-tricks to outside backs Sam Perrett and Junior Sa'u, and a brace to lock Jeremy Smith.

Hooker Thomas Leuluai today said defending champions Australia would be a definite step up when the transtasman rivals clash in the second match of a double-header final round in Auckland next Saturday.

"It will be the hardest match of the tournament so far," Leuluai said.

"We just have to make sure we're on our game."

The win over the Kumuls kept the Kiwis on course for the final in Brisbane on November 13.

However, the one-sided nature of the contest made it difficult to know exactly how much they got out of it in terms of preparing to face the Kangaroos at Eden Park.

Leuluai said the Kiwis' improved defence, better completion rate and solid kicking game were all positive points they could take out of the performance.

"There was some good structure, good tries and good kicks," he said.

"Towards the back end of the game, we probably didn't complete as much as we wanted, so that's a little improvement for us."

He admitted it was hard for a team to maintain intensity when the score kept ticking over in their favour.

"We got pretty loose towards the end and everyone was seeing things you normally don't see every week," he said.

"But we've got to be happy."

The 25-year-old Wigan Warrior, who was playing in his 25 test, produced some strong runs, including one that set up the second of Smith's tries.

But rather than what he did himself, he was more happy with "a good team performance".

Coach Stephen Kearney had asked his players to improve on their effort against England and the Kiwis were quick out of the blocks.

They hogged the football in the opening minutes, and were up 12-0 before the Kumuls finally got their first set.

They continued to dominate possession and territory over the course of the first half to be ahead 46-0 at the interval.

With the score continue to build early in the second spell, Kearney decided to pull off skipper Benji Marshall and give his key playmaker a rest.

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.

Centre Emmanuel Yere and five-eighth Glen Nami scored two quick tries, both converted, to give their fans plenty to cheer about.

But while the Kumuls continued to try to make a game of it over the remainder of the second spell, 62-12 was as close as they got, the Kiwis closing out the match with three further tries.

- NZPA