New Zealand back on track in their World Cup campaign with win over Papua New Guinea

New Zealand recorded a morale-boosting triumph over Papua New Guinea in their World Cup encounter at the Gold Coast's Skilled Park this morning.

After losing 30-6 to Australia in their tournament opener, the Kiwis rebounded in fine fashion, crossing four tries in the first half en route to a comprehensive nine-tries-to-one win.

The crushing victory may have come at some cost though, with Kiwis star Benji Marshall forced to watch the second half from the sidelines with a tight hamstring.

Marshall's omission, after he had had helped set up a 22-0 lead at half-time for New Zealand, initially triggered a change in momentum as PNG attempted to get on the scoreboard.

Gold Coast Titans youngster David Moore was the man to strike for the Kumuls as he stepped his way over for a converted try in the 48th minute.

Any thoughts PNG may have been harbouring of a miraculous comeback were soon dashed, however, as the recalled Isaac Luke made the most of some poor defending and scurried 35 metres to the line.

Minutes later the floodgates opened as substitute David Fa'alogo crashed over.

The match started to fizzle out, although the Kiwis continued to look dangerous and, after Manu Vatuvei had a try disallowed due to a forward pass, Adam Blair touched down in the 68th minute.

Kiwi winger Sam Perrett then crossed for his second of the match after a fumble from the Kumuls cost them possession.

New Zealand were not quite finished though, as Brisbane Broncos lock Greg Eastwood added another for good measure in the 76th minute.

The Kumuls may have won plenty of fans when they tested England in the competition opener, but it was a different story today as they rarely threatened the try line.

The result means their World Cup campaign is as good as over. They now need to cause the greatest shock of all time to defeat tournament favourites Australia to have a hope of reaching the semi-finals.

New Zealand enjoyed the majority of possession and set up victory in a free-flowing first half as Simon Mannering crossed twice and Perrett once after Jerome Ropati ran in the opener.

After a physical start to the match, it was not long before the Kiwis scored as a string of passes ended in Marshall setting up Ropati in the ninth minute.

Mannering then crossed effortlessly for a double and Krisnan Inu, after earlier missing his first shot of the night, had no trouble converting both of Mannering's tries.

PNG were not willing to go down easily, though, and were almost boosted on the half-hour mark when a defensive error from Vatuvei nearly handed them their first score.

George Kepa then looked to have the Kumuls on the board when he was found in space by a good pass from Stanley Gene, but the Kiwi defence held out.

After a brief period of resistance from PNG, New Zealand then grabbed back the momentum when Perrett was found in space with a great long pass from a side-stepping Marshall in the 34th minute.