Overcoming a scare in the opening quarter, New Zealand accounted for Cook Islands in emphatic fashion at a packed One New Zealand Stadium in Ōtautahi Christchurch, piling on 14 tries in an 82-16 win.
The Kiwis shot out to a two-try lead with wingers Jamayne Isaako and Ronaldo Mulitalo crossing early. The small but vocal Cook Islands contingent of the crowd went into delirium, however, as winger Esom Ioka scored a blazing eight-minute hat-trick — two tries coming from intercepted Keano Kini passes — to give the rank underdogs a 16-12 lead.
New Zealand recalibrated to run in four unanswered tries for a 36-16 halftime scoreline.
It was one-way traffic in the second stanza, the Kiwis posting eight tries to none with hometown debutant Tanner Stowers-Smith grabbing a dream double, and fellow Canterbury product Isaako completing a hat-trick and finishing with a New Zealand Test record 38 points.
It was far from clean and clinical with the Kiwis making 12 errors and completing at only 71 percent — but comprehensive and physically dominant nonetheless. The hosts more than doubled the Kukis’ run metres tally and finished with 11 line-breaks to one and 52 tackle-breaks to 15.
Before shifting focus to what is effectively a semifinal playoff against Fiji on the Gold Coast on Saturday, check out the King Container Crew Kiwis player ratings from a comprehensive victory.
1 KEANO KINI: Brilliant touches in the Kiwis’ first two tries, which were soon negated with a pair of intercept passes that gifted tries to Esom Ioka, while he also shelled a bomb. Showed how dangerous he can be with an explosive solo try from close range to open the second-half scoring…then coughed up the ball in the Kiwis’ next set. Ran for 176 metres and made two line-breaks and seven tackle-breaks, but six errors is a glaring stat. 6
2 JAMAYNE ISAAKO: Slipped in for two of New Zealand’s first three tries and completed his hat-trick in the latter stages, while his 13 goals from 14 attempts gave him a new Kiwis Test record of 38 points — a memorable hometown outing for the Aranui junior. Also set up CNK superbly for the last try of the match. Ten runs for 169 metres and four line-breaks. 8
3 CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD: Threw the last pass for all three of Isaako’s tries and had the favour returned as he streaked away for an excellent four-pointer to complete the rout. Nine runs for 99 metres and 17 tackles opposite Kukis dangerman KL Iro, who gave him a bath in his last match at centre (for the Warriors at Cronulla earlier this year). Solid performance. 7
4 CASEY MCLEAN: Set up Mulitalo’s try and scorched in for his own late in the first half and added another tackle-busting four-pointer midway through the second. Made nine runs for 155 metres with five tackle-breaks and generally looks a class above whenever he takes the field these days. 7.5
5 RONALDO MULITALO: Ran in an early try but was outjumped by Ioka for a Cook Islands four-pointer soon afterwards. Completed his double midway through the second half, climbed to take a bomb and set up Martin’s try, and finished with a team-high 206 metres on 18 carries and seven tackle-breaks in a typically energetic display. 7.5
6 KODI NIKORIMA: Deft pass to send Scott Sorensen over the first half, had a key hand in several others and snaffled a bomb to score in the second half before setting up McLean’s second. Classy. 8
7 JAHROME HUGHES: Two try assists — one with a pass, another with a kick — along with 13 runs for 98 metres and a sound all-round kicking game. Got an early mark with 14 minutes to go. 7
8 JAMES FISHER-HARRIS: A characteristically tradesmanlike showing from the skipper, racking up nine runs for 85 metres and 15 tackles in 45 minutes. 6.5
9 JEREMY MARSHALL-KING: Nice pass from dummy-half to lay on TSS’s try, a couple of testing runs and a team-high 26 tackles before heading to the bench 11 minutes into the second half. 6.5
10 JOSEPH TAPINE: It’s been a rousing start to the tournament for the veteran and he led the Kiwis forwards on Sunday with 15 runs for 180 metres, along with three offloads and 20 tackles. A vital cog in this title-contending machine. 8
11 XAVIER WILLISON: The Cook Islands rep looks very much at home in the black-and-white jersey and was a huge handful for his former team, racking up 16 runs for 167 metres (including a game-high 108 post-contact) and 23 tackles without a miss after playing the full 80 minutes. 8
12 SCOTT SORENSEN: Ran a nice line to score his maiden Test try and coupled 11 runs for 78 metres with 20 tackles. Also made two errors and gave away a six-again. 6
13 ERIN CLARK: Had the Kukis defence backpedalling with 148 metres on 15 runs, and produced three offloads and a line-break assist, as well as a bit of ball-playing. 7.5
14 TE MAIRE MARTIN: Marked his return to dummy-half for the first time since last year with a nifty kick and regather to set up Ronaldo Mulitalo’s second try. Grabbed his first Test try since a 2017 World Cup hat-trick in Christchurch (despite almost having his head taken off) and had a brilliant hand in CNK’s closer. Could be the key to adding some bench spark to the Kiwis’ arsenal for the rest of the tournament. 7.5
15 LEO THOMPSON: Another middle forward to make a strong statement, the Bulldogs front-rower kicked off his tournament with 13 runs for 134 metres and 18 tackles in 55 minutes of gametime. 7.5
16 TANNER STOWERS-SMITH: Yet to bag an NRL try but needed only five minutes of Test footy to power over for a dream debut four-pointer in his home city. Ploughed over for a second early in the second half after a defence-scattering charge for good measure. Finished with 19 runs for 174 metres (72 post-contact) and seven tackle-breaks to confirm he will not let the jersey down if he can force his way into the 17 for the Kiwis’ remaining games. 8.5
17 JACOB LABAN: A solid 32-minute Test debut for the Warriors back-rower, making seven runs for 63 metres and delivering a try assist for Martin. 6