LOCAL boy Jamayne Isaako smashed the New Zealand record for points in a Test – but first there was a glimpse at Christchurch’s packed NZ$650 million stadium of what World Cups are about.
That is, the plucky underdog taking it to the star-studded favourites and their fans in the stands daring to dream.
It didn’t happen in the women’s game: New Zealand 90 France 0.
But we certainly felt it during the first half of the men’s game, which finished in a 64-16 win by New Zealand over the Cook Islands, after they led 36-16 at halftime. Local boy Jamayne Issako finished with a hat-trick and a personal total of 32 points.
Tesesa Lavea scored 32, also against Cook Islands, in 2000.
On a weekend of mismatches, this looked like being just another one of them after six minutes.
Isaako glided over on the right, then Ronaldo Mulitalo did the same on the left and it seemed a question of how far for the men in black and white.
But then came what might go down as the best 10 minutes in Cook Islands rugby league history.
Esom Ioka, who plays for the second-tier Brisbane Tigers, first took an intercept and raced 90 metres to score.
Then he fielded Brad Takairangi’s kick to the corner to score another.
And with another intercept in the 18th minute, Cook Islands were miraculously in front, 16-12 with Valentine Holmes’ conversion.
Perhaps inevitably, the Kiwis regained their equilibrium and managed four more tries before halftime, with Dolphin Isaako grabbing the first of them.
Kiwis debutant Tanner Stowers-Smith had only been on the field five minutes when he crossed for his touchdown in the 32nd minute.
It was all New Zealand in the second half, Isaako completing his hat-trick, Stowers-Smith, McLean and Mulitalo each getting their second try.
NEW ZEALAND 82 (Isaako 3 Mulitalo Stowers-Smith 2 Mulitalo 2 McLean 2 Sorensen Kini Nikorima Martin Nicoll-Klokstad tries Isaako 13 goals) beat COOK ISLANDS 16 (Ioka 3 tries Holmes 2 goals) at One NZ Stadium
Teams:
NEW ZEALAND: Keano Kini (Gold Coast); Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), Casey McLean (Penrith), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Cronulla); Kodi Nikorima (Dolphins), Jahrome Hughes (Melbourne); James Fisher-Harris (capt, Warriors), Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins), Joseph Tapine (Canberra), Xavier Willison (Brisbane), Scott Sorensen (Penrith), Erin Clark (Warriors).
Reserves: Te Maire Martin (Warriors), Leo Thompson (Canterbury), Tanner Stowers-Smith (Warriors), Jacob Laban (Warriors), Isaiah Papali’i (Penrith), Briton Nikora (Cronulla).
COOK ISLANDS: Valentine Holmes (St George Illawarra); Esom Ioka (Brisbane Tigers), KL Iro (capt, Cronulla), Reubenn Rennie (Toulouse), Cameron Brown (Brisbane Tigers); Maui Winitana-Patelesio (Warriors), Brad Takairangi (Glebe); Davvy Moale (Melbourne), Rua Ngatikaura (North Sydney), Rhys Dakin (Sydney Roosters), Amare Milford (Melbourne), Delahia Wigmore (Penrith), Mason Teague (Wakefield).
Reserves: Esan Marsters (Bradford), K-CI Newton-Whare (Melbourne), David Tuariki (Melbourne), Makahesi Makatoa (Sydney Roosters), Chaev Kolone (Canberra), Glassie Glassie (Wests Tigers).
Referee: Ashley Klein.
