Rugby League World Cup continues with Pool C action featuring New Zealand v Jamaica which could one of the more lop sided matches of the group stages.
Our Group C New Zealand v Jamaica Match Centre has a preview, stats, team lists before the game and a summary of the match afterwards. More than you could ever need or want.
If you want more information on all the squads – follow this link here.
New Zealand 68 Jamaica 6 Match Summary
New Zealand have well and truly outclassed Jamaica in another lop sided Rugby League World Cup match for Week Two of the competition, but despite the bloated score line, Jamaica defied their minnow status to give New Zealand a game at times.
With all the talk of how big the win would be for New Zealand, Jamaica made an excellent start. They got the ball back from the short kick off, and then pressured the Kiwis into an early drop out from their first set. It didn’t end in points, but they certainly gave New Zealand something to think about, and delayed the Kiwis getting the ball by two and a half minutes.
In reality though, New Zealand scored with their first touch, a set restart also helping. Jpey Manu threw the last looping pass to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak who dived over in the corner avoiding players and sideline. Kieran Foran missed the sideline conversion and New Zealand were leading 4-0 after five minutes.
Jamaica stole the short kick off again, which delayed New Zealand from scoring again for a few minutes. Peter Hiku scoring the try in the same corner as the first try with the scorer of that try Dallin Watene-Zelezniak throwing the final pass in a neat positional switch with Hiku. Kieran Foran’s goal kicking keeping the score low for now, he missed again.
New Zealand scored again in the 15th minute and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak was involved again scoring this time. The Kiwi winger had a bit more work to do this time, with a weaving 30 metre run avoiding the Jamaican defence with ease. Foran slotted his first conversion for the night and New Zealand led 14-0.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak sealed a quick-fire hat trick a few minutes later, as his tries were getting progressively longer. This time he received the ball on his own 20 metre line before he did his standard job of avoiding the Jamaican defence with ease. The Kiwis were just behind the point-a-minute at 18-0.
Jamaica really tested the Kiwis after that try, first of all retrieving the ball from another short kick off, but then earning a penalty in the Kiwis 20 metre zone, then applying a full set of pressure on the Kiwis line. Whilst it didn’t end in a try, Jamaica were showing plenty of fight. They even forced a knock on and a subsequent penalty with their next defensive set, and pressured the Kiwi on their line again after that. New Zealand were going to win, there’s no doubt, but Jamaica were showing more fight than other small teams with more experience like Scotland and Italy.
The Kiwis did cross again in the 30th minute through Marata Niukore who easily broke through the Jamaican defence, but the lead up play was quite scrappy and showing none of the polish of the Australians from the night before. Foran converted for a 24-0 lead.
Three minutes before half time New Zealand crossed again through Sebastian Kris on the wing, the play coming first tackle from a midfield scrum and the final pass thrown by Joey Manu. Foran continued to keep the score tight with a missed conversion.
New Zealand still had time for one more score in the first half, and again Dallin Watene-Zelezniak was involved. The Kiwi winger stormed down the right wing again, and delivered a looping infield kick that was chased by 4-5 team mates and the winner of the race was Jeremy Marshall-King who did well to get the ball down in time. Foran converted for a 34-0 lead. It all honesty, the missed conversions made the score line look not as bad, but also Jamaica deserved that as they were giving New Zealand something ot think about – in attack.
HALF TIME – NEW ZEALAND 34 JAMAICA 0
It didn’t take New Zealand long to open up their second half scoring, as Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad crossed in the 44th minute, having thrown a dummy then backed himself to score from 10 metres out. The Kiwis had changed goal kicker in the break and it was Dallin Watene-Zelezniak who added the extra two.
It took early another ten minutes, but New Zealand scored again through Briton Nikora who simply finished off a ball movement to the left and the centre wasn’t even touched as he jinked infield to score. It took a lot less time for the next try as the Kiwis scored with the next set. A Nelson Asofa-Solomona offload led to a Dallin Watene-Zelezniak break and infield grubber, and Jeremy Marshall-King was on hand in support to score. The Kiwis had now cracked the half century in the 55th minute.
The Dallin Watene-Zelezniak show continued as he scored his fourth try of the night, diving over in the corner and even appearing to cramp as he was mid air. Kieran Foran returned to goal kicking duties and he nailed the conversion to extend the score to 56-0.
Brandon Smith scurried over from dummy half with 15 minutes to go to send the Kiwi score past 60. Smith helped himself to another in the 72nd minute, again scoring from a dummy half run 10 metres out, burrowing himself under Jamaican defence. With seven minutes to go, New Zealand led 68-0.
The moment of the match came in the 76th minute as Jamaica scored their only try of the night, much to the roaring delight of the Hull crowd. Fullback Ben Jones-Bishop scored the try, and it was set up by yet another short chip kick, a tactic the Jamaicans had tried all night. The ball was spilled by the Kiwi cover, and Jones-Bishop was first on the scene, he needed to soccer the ball forward before scoring. The conversion brought a similar roar, and Jamaica had their moment of the World Cup.
New Zealand were good but not great, and their performance will not have changed the minds of their competitors either way. Although the form of Joey Manu would be a concern for any side playing the Kiwis in the weeks ahead. But is much better playing at fullback.
Jamaica, for all the hype of how many they were going to get flogged by were excellent. Sure their defence was crepe paper thin at times, but their short kick offs were spot on and entertaining, and they were quite competent in attack. A good base to work from.
SCORE SUMMARY
NEW ZEALAND 68
Tries: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3′ Peta Hiku 9′ Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 13′
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 18′ Marata Niukore 28′ Sebastian Kris 36′
Jeremy Marshall-King 39′ Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 43′ Briton Nikora 52′
Jeremy Marshall-King 54′ Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 58′ Brandon Smith 65′
Brandon Smith 71′
Goals: Kieran Foran 6 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 2
JAMAICA 6
Tries: Ben Jones-Bishop 76′
Goals: Kieran Rush 1/1
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
3 Pts Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
2 Pts Joey Manu
1 Pt Jamaican players
POINTS OF INTEREST
- The Kiwi players were quite patient when the NZ national anthem seemed to go rogue for 20 seconds.
- Jamaica were kings of the short kick off in the first half, nabbing 4/7. Then trying their luck with mixed success in the second half too. If was a reminder of the good old days with the Ipswich Jets, with even the sideline burner coming into play. Perhaps a good tactic for the David teams against Goliath rather than the standard kick off.
- Jamaica’s jersey looked good, and proved to be quite popular as there were many fans in the grandstand with a replica one on.
New Zealand v Jamaica Match Stats
New Zealand v Jamaica Teams
NEW ZEALAND
21 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
19 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3 Marata Niukore
4 Peta Hiku
24 Sebastian Kris
1 Joseph Manu
14 Kieran Foran
10 James Fisher-Harris
9 Brandon Smith
15 Moses Leota
12 Kenneath Bromwich
17 Briton Nikora
20 Isaac Liu
11 Isaiah Papali’i
16 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
22 Jeremy Marshall-King
23 Scott Sorensen
JAMAICA
1 Ben Jones-Bishop
2 Mo Agoro
4 Jacob Ogden
20 Greg Johnson
24 Andrew Simpson
6 James Woodburn-Hall
7 Kieran Rush
10 Michael Lawrence
13 Ashton Golding
16 Keenen Tomlinson
11 AJ Wallace
12 Joel Farrell
3 Joe Brown
15 Jordan Andrade
22 Chevaughn Bailey
17 Aaron Jones-Bishop
19 Bradley Ho
New Zealand v Jamaica Pre Match Stats
- New Zealand have won five of their last eight against non Tier One sides and their last two World Cup games against non Tier One sides.
- This will be New Zealand’s first game against American playing nations.
New Zealand v Jamaica Preview
The third and final game of a big triple header of Rugby League World Cup action on Saturday sees New Zealand take on Jamaica. And this could well be one of the most lop sided in World Cup history – a former Champion taking on a team in just their second ever World Cup match.
New Zealand will no doubt use the match to share the minutes around the squad, but whatever side they put out on the field will have too much class for Jamaica.
Especially if Joey Manu remains in the team at fullback. Which he is, which almost seems kind of unfair but speaks to New Zealand seeing this game through.
Jamaica tried hard were completely outplayed by Ireland and lost 48-2, so if the Kiwis play up to their potential it could be quite a big score. As in record World Cup score.
New Zealand got the job done against Lebanon, which was a good hitout for them, although we thought in our summary that the halves were actually outplayed by the Lebanon pair (when they were both on the field).
The frightening thing for Jamaica will be the mobile Kiwi forward pack, who will only be better for getting the first game under their belt.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Joey Manu was one of the players of the first round, and if he plays again will be a man to watch for many reasons, including what stat records he can break. We say 400 running metres perhaps. The Kiwi number one is always impressive when he gets the chance to play fullback, he knows international football is his only chance given he’s behind James Tedesco at club level.
Scott Sorenson makes it into the Kiwi 17, and he is a player that excites when given an opportunity off the bench for Penrith.
Perhaps this is the game where Dylan Brown steps up and drives the Kiwis to a big win.
PREDICTION
New Zealand 86 Jamaica 4
