NZ Kiwis have rounded out Group play at the Rugby League World Cup with a 48-10 win over Ireland at Leeds' Headingley Stadium on Saturday (NZ time).
The victory cements New Zealand's first-place finish in Group C, with a likely quarter-final looming against Fiji at Huddersfield next Saturday.
Despite the predictably lopsided scoreline, the performance lacked the kind of precision and accuracy seen from fellow heavyweights Australia and England, leaving coach Michael Maguire plenty of food for thought before the business end of the competition begins.
The NZ attack often looked flustered in the face of Ireland's rush defence, which forced a host of unforced errors.
But ultimately New Zealand leaned on their mercurial half Jahrome Hughes to steer them clear. The Melbourne Storm sparkplug was at the heart of everything positive on the offensive end, scoring two tries himself and laying on a slew of others for his teammates via both hand and boot on his way to a man of the match outing in his tournament debut.
Among the Kiwis' 10 tries, Jordan Rapana, and Peta Hiku also nabbed a brace on a night of struggles off the kicking tee, with New Zealand missing six of their conversions. The brave Wolfhounds crossed twice, one courtesy of an intercept from and the other from a lost ball on a kick clean-up by the New Zealanders on their own tryline.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona, James Fisher-Harris and Joseph Tapine laid the foundation for the Kiwis throughout, ensuring they owned the all-important middle third of the park, while a sturdy all-round defensive effort denied Ireland any genuine try-scoring chances from set play.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves also impressed hin his first game of the competition, but may face at least a week on the sidelines after an ugly high shot in the first half. The Roosters veteran may have counted himself lucky to escape with just a sinbinning for the offence, although a suspension appears inevitable.
After Ireland took the first lead courtesy of a penalty, the Kiwis were the first to cross the line in the 15th minute.
A trademark pinballing run by Brandon Smith, set the table for Hughes, who produced two lethal right-foot steps to cross next to the posts.
New Zealand were in again minutes later, after Hughes laid on a point crossfield kick for Rapana to dot down untouched.
The half was instrumental again in the Kiwis' third try, laying on a precision grubber behind a rushing defensive line for Hiku to hit in stride.
But the Irish responded immediately, as Louis Senior took advantage of a poor pass from Briton Nikora to snare an intercept and run 40m for their first try.
New Zealand's response was also swift and was yet again sparked by Hughs, with the Storm half craving open the Irish defence before finding Hiku for his second try of the day.
Moments after Waerea-Hargeaves was sent to the bin for a high tackle, a loose pass fell for Hughes to link with Brown, who found a streaking Mulitalo for a try in the corner, sending the Kiwis into halftime with a 24-6 lead.
The Kiwis opened the scoring in the second half, with quick hands creating some space for Rapan, who held off his defender with a fend and was able to place the ball amid an awkward slide before going into touch.
Prop James Fisher-Harris charged through the line to score from close range in the 55th minute, and Hughes nabbed another soon after, darting off his right foot to go in under the black dot, before clocking off for the day.
The Irish fans finally had a reason to roar in the 67th minute, when Mulitalo lost the ball while cleaning up a kick on his own line, allowing Senior to grab his second try of the day.
Star fullback Joey Manu fired one final parting shot for the Kiwis in the dying seconds, prising the Irish defence open in the final act of the game.
On Sunday morning, Fiji face Scotland, where a win - in tandem with Australia's imminent victory over minnows Italy - will lock up second place in Group B and their quarter-final date against New Zealand.
New Zealand 48 (Hughes 2, Hiku 2, Rapana 2, Mulitalo, Fisher-Harris, Bromwich, Manu tries; Rapana 2 goals, Brown 2 goals) Ireland 10 (Senior 2 tries; Chamberlain 3 goals)
