Aotearoa Kiwis started their Rugby League World Cup campaign with a niggly beautiful 34-12 win over Lebanon. The performance and scoreline suggests plenty of improvement on offer for Aotearoa, although this tournament has already delivered a warning about expectations.

Lebanon offer a tricky challenge and could grow into a funky RLWC team. Aotearoa has experience with weird halves combos, now we're losing Jahrome Hughes to injury for a starting combo of Kieran Foran and Dylan Brown. The second tier of rugby league nations are defined by their halves and this is evident in Jordan Meads playing for Greece, plus Mitchell Moses and Adam Doueihi for Lebanon.

Aotearoa loaded up on defence to keep Lebanon deep in their own half, then Moses bangs a kick down to the Aotearoa 10m line. Doueihi's kicking game is equally as funky as the bombs and grubbers of Moses, giving Lebanon an advantage over other second tier teams. Coach Michael Cheika embraces chaos and nothing about this win was easy for Aotearoa, well until Tokoroa's Joseph Manu put himself on the Iron Throne and Doueihi was sent off.

What a Monday morning. Manu now has multiple bangers for Aotearoa Kiwis and when a community leader from Waikato is flipping a RLWC game, stacking legendary performances on top of each other, gratitude overcomes the niggly performance.

Lebanon crept back into the game and as we've seen Aotearoa slip up in such fixtures before, ugh. The game was in the balance at 18-12 and the Waiheke Ram got busy. Manu ascended to the upper echelon of Aotearoa sport, but tap in with how Brandon Smith starts both plays.

This was the same vs Tonga earlier in the year. Smith played as a middle forward for most of this season with Storm as a sign of his power and general excellence. Smith wants to play hooker and that's why he will join Roosters next season. Smith bursts out of dummy half and often creeps across field, dragging defenders all over the park. Then if Smith is tackled, it's a quick play the ball and that's where Manu thrives.

No Kiwis forward played 80 minutes. Kenny Bromwich did hit 78mins but coach Michael Maguire spread the game time around, giving Briton Nikora 43mins off the bench. Isaiah Papali'i only played 42mins and dabbled in middle forward mahi. Jahrome Hughes and Moses Leota dropped out late, with Marshall-King (18mins) and Marata Niukore (28mins) plugging those holes on the bench.

The best backline seems sorted and others will get game time. Sussing out the different combinations in the forward pack will be tricky, although there is enough depth to balance workloads in the remaining group stage games.

Join the Niche Cache Patreon whanau to support our kiwi sports content straight up, get a karma boost and find extra podcasts.

Every Monday and Friday we fire off an email newsletter with bonus content. Sign up here!

Peace and love.