By Melissa Davies
The Kiwis have limped out of rugby league's Four Nations after being thrashed 28-6 by England in Hull.
Benji Marshall’s side hardly fired a shot. Outplayed in front of a passionate British crowd in what was their worst performance of the tournament.
The reigning champs looked like they meant business early but a disallowed try by Kieran Foran was as close as the Kiwis would get to scoring in the first forty.
Their scrambling goal line defence appeared up for the challenge but there was no holding back wing Tom Briscoe when the referee's failed to spot a forward pass.
A frustrated Isaac Luke took matters into his own hands, and joined Jeremy Smith on report for twisting New Zealand-born Rangi Chase's knee.
Up eight nil at the break, and England went further ahead when Ryan Hall squeezed in for a try before Jason Nightingale finally got New Zealand into the game.
And just when the Kiwis would have backed themselves to mount a comeback, it was England putting the test beyond doubt as they romped into the final with a 28-6 victory.
England coach Steve McNamara the only one who found a compliment for the visitor's performance.
“I think they held us up on the try line four times and it was a tremendous effort for them to do that, but a real step in the right direction for ourselves to be able to deal with that and cope with that and we managed to keep the pressure on the opposition so it was pretty good.”
“We just couldn't get ourselves into that arm wrestle which we were banking on to try and drag them into a bit of a dog fight,” says Kiwi coach Stephen Kearney. “We let them out of backfield too easy with penalties and consequently took its toll.”
The Kiwis have beaten England just once in the past 12 tests on English soil. Here in Hull they call it the ‘Hull hoodoo’ and yet again it spooked the Kiwis.
Marshall, who failed to bring his NRL form to the tournament, lamented the poor performance.
“We really had the belief in our side that we could take this tournament out and that's what's really disappointing.
“The worst thing is we didn't play to anywhere near our potential and that's the hardest thing to swallow.”
And while the Kiwis did not get the rub of the green with several decisions going against them, poor discipline and their inability to put points on the board ultimately cost them any chance of defending their Four Nations crown.
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