NEW Zealand could have been forgiven for feeling déjà vu as they confirmed a Rugby League World Cup quarter-final spot.

Just like in their opening Group B game against Samoa at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium, the supporters got behind their gallant opponents Papua New Guinea at Leeds Rhinos’ Headingley Stadium tonight.

Chants of ‘Oh, Papua New Guinea’ rang out of an 18,000 crowd to the same tune as ‘Oh, oh, oh Samoa’ on October 26.

PNG, 40-0 down to a relentless Kiwis outfit in the opening half, could not rally quite in the same way as Samoa did but restored some pride as they kept it to 16-10 in the second half, scoring with the first and last sets of the period before finally succumbing 56-10.

The Kumuls’ Wellington Albert crossed for the try of the game with the final play.

Former All Blacks world cup winner Sonny Bill Williams was the man of the match with a hat-trick of tries and a series of offloads that saw the powerhouse back rower gain a win almost every time he had the ball.

The holders will return to Headingley next Friday, when they will face Group C winners Scotland or Italy in the last eight.

They will be hoping that Manu Vatuvai, Thomas Leuluai and Ryan Hoffman can recover from injuries sustained tonight.