AAP | 01/11/08 | 1
The sight of star playmaker Benji Marshall recovering on the sidelines couldn't wipe the smile off New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney's face as the Kiwis broke their World Cup duck with a 48-6 win over PNG.
After setting up two tries on the Gold Coast, Marshall didn't take the field in the second half - something New Zealand fans have unfortunately gotten used to over the years.
But a relaxed Kiwi camp claimed the livewire pivot was rested as a precaution after he complained of hamstring tightness at halftime.
It was not the only reason Kearney looked like a relieved man.
The Kiwis have all but guaranteed a semi-final berth from Pool 1 by notching their nine tries to one thumping.
Kearney cut a more anxious figure when the Kiwis arrived at Skilled Park looking to bounce back from their mauling at the hands of Australia against an unpredictable PNG that gave England a first round fright.
But PNG were as tight as Marshall's hamstring in the first half as the Kiwis romped to a 22-0 lead by the main break thanks to a Simon Mannering double.
The pro-Kumuls, 11,278-strong crowd finally had something to cheer about in the 48th minute when Gold Coast-based winger David Moore crashed over after strong lead-up work by Neville Costigan and Jessie Joe.
The "PNG" chant resonated around the stadium as the crowd sniffed a comeback.
But within eight minutes the venue sounded more like a library as the Kiwis silenced the PNG uprising with the first of five unanswered tries.
Utility Issac (Issac) Luke delivered a trademark run from dummy half to scamper 35m untouched and score near the posts in the 56th minute.
The floodgates opened as David Fa'alogo (60th) and Adam Blair (68th) cut through flimsy defence, Sam Perrett (71st) bagged his second off a Luke kick and Greg Eastwood (75th) did it all himself with a barnstorming run.
Perrett could have had a hat-trick but knocked on with the line wide open right on fulltime.
PNG team manager Bob Bennett cut a very different figure in the coach's box to his brother, NZ assistant and Broncos legend Wayne as the massacre unfolded.
Indeed Wayne Bennett would have been tempted to crack a rare smile by halftime when the writing was on the wall.
Second game syndrome appeared to have struck down the Kumuls who failed to back up from their stirring 10-point loss to England in their Cup opener.
The alarm bells began ringing for PNG coach Adrian Lam when Marshall exposed a huge overlap and set up Jerome Ropati in just the ninth minute.
Mannering then fed off under fire Kiwi halfback Thomas Leuluai to stroll over for two tries in eight minutes.
A Marshall cut-out pass allowed winger Sam Perrett to stroll over in the 34th minute.
PNG began with plenty of intent with Perrett left lying prone on the ground in the opening minute following a tackle that looked suspiciously like a grapple from hulking prop Makali Aizue.
Marshall said he wanted to go back on in the second half but was told by staff to rest.
"I was spewing," Marshall said.
The win blew New Zealand's overall record against PNG to a staggering 15-1 - but they had not played each other since way back in 1996.
Lam said the Kumuls only had themselves to blame after suffering a hangover following their high against England.
"Everything has to line up perfectly for us to compete at this tournament and we were our own worst enemies," Lam said.
"It's been an emotional rollercoaster all week and I knew it would be tough to get them up tonight."
PNG must win their next game to be any hope of moving into the semi-finals - a game against no less than Australia on Sunday week at Townsville.
"It's only going to get harder for us. But we've got a great bond, you can't question that," Lam said.
"(Against Australia) I just want the boys to compete, to play at their best, that's all I can ask."
Lam said he was "very disappointed" with Steve Ganson's 10 metres and Kiwi mentor Kearney was obviously scratching his head over some of the English referee's interpretations.
Meanwhile, Kearney believed his side had taken a "step forward".
"What really pleased me tonight was the defensive performance of the lads. I watched PNG play last week and I thought they really troubled the English - it was going to take a good performance to keep them out tonight," he said.
Marshall said he would be "sweet" for New Zealand's next match against England at Newcastle next Saturday night.
Everything has to line up perfectly for us to compete at this tournament and we were our own worst enemies
Adrian Lam, PNG coach
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