Rugby League World Cup: NZ Kiwis overrun Leeds Rhinos in tournament build-up

NZ Kiwis have eased to a 74-0 whitewash of Super League side Leeds Rhinos in their build-up to the Rugby League World Cup, starting later this month.

Making his first appearance in the national side, Canberra Raiders centre Sebastian Kris notched a first-half hattrick of tries, as New Zealand reached the break with a 34-0 lead.

Former Raiders teammate Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, heading to NZ Warriors next season, grabbed a try double, as did Cronulla Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo, as the Kiwis ran in 14 tries.

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad scores for the Kiwis against Leeds
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad scores for the Kiwis against Leeds. Photo credit: Photosport

Leeds were just two weeks removed from defeat to St Helens in the English grand final, but had probably already begun their off-season holiday, as they took the field against the world's No.1 international side, hungry to regain the World Cup crown they last captured in 2008.

Coach Michael Maguire rested the six players who played in last week's NRL Grand Final - James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota and Scott Sorenson for Penrith, and Dylan Brown, Isaiah Papali'i and Marata Niukore for Parramatta.

Veteran prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves sat the fixture out as part of a three-match NRL suspension, while injured Sydney Roosters clubmate Joseph Manu also rested on the sidelines.

The match served as a final appearance for veteran Kiwis half Thomas Leuluai, who took the field as a guest captain and showed he would not be out of place as part of the NZ World Cup squad, even as retirement loomed.

With the contest well decided, Leuluai, 37, was given the honour of attempting two conversions to tries by Brandon Smith and Mulitalo in the dying moments, but missed both.

Kris and Jeremy Marshall-King - brother of Kiwis legend Benji Marshall - made their first appearances for the national side.

New Zealand open their World Cup account against Lebanon on October 17 (NZ time), with further pool matches against Jamaica and Ireland.

NZ Kiwis 74 (Kris 3, Nicoll-Klokstad 2, Mulitalo 2, K Bromwich, Whare, Marshall-King, Nikora, Hughes, J Bromwich, Smith tries; Rapana 9 conversions) Leeds Rhinos 0

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