Defending champions New Zealand made a bright start to their defence of the Rugby League World Cup with a converted 11th minute try from Josh Hoffman, the score coming after a superb pass from Sonny Bill Williams in the build-up.
Skipper Simon Mannering crossed four minutes later and then 20-year-old winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck scored with a superb dive in the right corner.
Mannering grabbed a second from a Shaun Johnson inside pass and it was soon appeared to be a case of how many from the Kiwis. However, the scoring slowed down but not the action with hit-ups, big hits (especially from Mose Masoe) and a Ben Roberts 40/20 for Samoa.
Indeed it was Samoa who scored the final try of the first half with Ben Roberts going over.
