New Zealand have kicked off their Rugby League World Cup campaign with a bang, blitzing Samoa in the second half to win 38-8 in Auckland.

Despite an ill-disciplined performance in which they made 17 errors and completed barely 60 per cent of their sets, the Kiwis were too good on Saturday for their Polynesian rivals. Riding out Toa Samoa's early crash-and-bash style and heading into halftime with a 10-4 advantage, the Kiwis piled on five tries to one in the second half.