Fiji beat Cook Islands 40-12 in their men's Rugby League World Cup opener

Fiji beat the Cook Islands 40-12 in Pool A of the men’s Rugby League World Cup at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, on Sunday 18 October, according to the International Rugby League’s official results.

Fiji scored seven tries. Centre Solomone Saukuru scored two, and Waqa Blake, Jacob Saifiti, Taane Milne, Caleb Navale and Kitione Kautoga one each, Sky Sports and LeagueUnlimited’s match records show. Brandon Wakeham kicked six conversions from seven attempts. Fiji led 28-0 at half-time.

Five-eighth Maui Winitana-Patelesio and Davvy Moale scored the Cook Islands’ tries in the second half, and Winitana-Patelesio converted both. The crowd was 10,604, according to LeagueUnlimited and the Rugby League Project.

NRL.com reported that Wakeham had three try assists and that Fiji had 62 per cent of possession in the first half.

Mick Potter took over as Fiji coach from Wise Kativerata during the build-up to the tournament, BBC Sport reported. Speaking about Fiji’s next match, against Australia, Potter said, according to BBC Sport: “It is a two-horse race [for the championships] as far as I am concerned, so it is a chance to upset them.”

After the first round, Fiji (+28) and Australia (+2) have two points each in Pool A, and New Zealand and the Cook Islands have none.

Next (GMT, official schedule): Fiji play Australia at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, on Sunday 25 October at 9:05am. The Cook Islands play New Zealand at One NZ Stadium, Christchurch, the same day at 5:05am.