Cooks outmuscled by Kiwis

The Cook Islands rugby league team were demolished 50-0 by defending rugby league champions the Kiwis in the two team’s only warm-up game before the Rugby League World Cup.

New Zealand hit the ground running in Doncaster, leading 24-0 at halftime with tries to Jason Nightingale, Elijah Taylor, Manu Vatuvei and Bryson Goodwin.

Nightingale and Goodwin completed doubles in the second half as the Kiwis ran in nine tries in total. Hooker Issac Luke was awarded man of the match and Tinirau Arona was named player of the match for the Cooks team.

The physically bigger NRL players in the Kiwi side were given little trouble by the Cooks who despite the heavy loss, had moments of brilliance of their own, but only to be cut short of crossing the line and putting points on the board.

The Cooks were on the back foot right throughout the game as the Kiwi’s steadily increased thier pace and intensity through the game as they went through all their game plans in the final preparation run before the official start of the league world cup.

While core of the Cooks team have been together since 2009 – it was obvious their game time together as a unit had been limited.

Creativity was also lacking in the Cooks side who at times seemed star struck to be playing against their idols.

It was always going to be a David and Goliath battle.

"The guys are certainly better for a run," said the Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney.

"There were parts of our game that were a bit rusty out there, but it was a good start for us.”

Before the match, the Cooks team ripped into a haka before the Kiwis delivered a new haka, led by Issac Luke.

Called Te Iwi Kiwi, the haka was created by members of the Kiwi team along with a cultural advisor.

The Kiwis open their tournament against Samoa next Monday morning and the Cook Islands will prepare to take on Wales on October 30.