KEY POINTS:
GOLD COAST - Defence definitely wasn't a highlight of Papua New Guinea's 6-48 rugby league World Cup loss to New Zealand, but Kumuls coach Adrian Lam didn't miss when he delivered a late hit on the rebounding Kiwis.
Surprise packets PNG's fighting 10-point loss to England to open the tournament was followed by a disappointing display, allowing the Kiwis to run in nine tries to one at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast on Saturday night.
New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney described it as a "step forward" for a team still nursing mental scars from their 24-point mauling by Australia last weekend.
But Lam rated England a better team than New Zealand despite his side suffering a much heavier loss.
Lam clearly thought the blowout had more to do with PNG's bubbling emotions than New Zealand firepower.
Asked who he thought would win the New Zealand-England pool match at Newcastle on Saturday, Lam at first said: "I've got my own opinion on who will win their match next week, but....I won't say anything just yet."
But as Lam left the press conference he slyly added: "England next week by the way."
Lam said New Zealand simply took advantage of a largely amateur PNG side not able to get their head around their stirring Cup opener against the Poms.
"Everything has got to line up perfectly for us to compete at this level," Lam said.
"Our boys came here to play but it has been an emotional rollercoaster all week, up and down.
"I knew it was going to be tough to get them up for this game. Everyone had to be on their game to get a result that favoured us (against NZ)."
Kearney could only find positives despite losing playmaker Benji Marshall with a hamstring strain for the second half last night.
"That was certainly the step we needed to take. It was a step forward," he said of the win.
West Tigers premiership-winning pivot Marshall sat out the last 40 minutes as a precaution after complaining of hamstring tightness.
"I was just spewing I couldn't go back on. If I had my way I would have stayed on," Marshall said.
"I wanted to get involved early and try and be dominant. I thought I did it in patches but there is still a lot to work on."
PNG can still make the semifinals - if they complete rugby league's answer to Mission Impossible.
They must topple Australia on Sunday at Townsville to remain a mathematical chance.
- AAP
