League: 'Rusty' Kiwis fly in 50-0 warm-up win over Cooks

Kiwis wing Jason Nightingale scores one of his two tries in Doncaster. Photo / Getty Images

The Kiwis have demolished the Cook Islands 50-0 in their 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.

"The guys are certainly better for a run," Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney said. "There were parts of our game that were a bit rusty out there, but it was a good start for us.

"The improvement areas are in both defence and attack, to be fair, and given that some of the guys haven't played in six weeks it was a good performance, but our focus for this week is to improve both areas."

Kieran Foran, the Kiwis vice-captain, was brought into the team as a late replacement for Thomas Leuluai, who rested a groin strain. Foran was due to sit this match out, along with other Kiwi players who were involved in the NRL grand final, but instead combined in the halves with Shaun Johnson for just the second time, following April's test against the Kangaroos in Canberra.

The Kiwis open their tournament against Samoa next Monday morning.

Kiwis 50 (Bryson Goodwin 2, Jason Nightingale 2, Shaun Johnson, Elijah Taylor, Manu Vatuvei, Kevin Locke tries; Penalty try; Johnson 4 con, Goodwin 2 con, Locke 1 con).
Cook Islands 0

Anzac bid for 2017 Cup

A plan for Australia and New Zealand to jointly host the 2017 Rugby League World Cup has progressed after the sport's governing body accepted the countries' expression of interest.
The Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) announced yesterday that it had approved the transtasman proposal, as well as an expression of interest from South Africa, and formal bids were now expected from both.
Bids are due to be submitted next month, and a decision is expected in January.

RLIF deputy chairman Nigel Wood, who will chair the sub-committee hearing the bids, said it was an important milestone in firmly establishing a four-year cycle for the tournament.
"The Rugby League World Cup is the pinnacle of the sport and is essential to the development of the game at every level," Wood said in a statement.
"It is fantastic to see three nations all with an active interest in hosing the next tournament that clearly demonstrates a growing, global interest in rugby league."
(Source: AAP)