Cook Islands coach Rusty Matua has let rip at the Women's Rugby League World Cup officials after Australia and New Zealand were put in the same group.
The Jillaroos obliterated the Cook Islands 74-0 in the opening game in York as fullback and co-captain Sam Bremner scored four tries.
Centre Evania Pelite scored a hat-trick, five-eighth Tarryn Aiken and winger Julia Robinson grabbed try scoring braces and Caitlan Johnston, Taliah Fuimaono and Shenae Ciesiolka crossed once in front of 3,091 fans.
While Matua wasn't too concerned with his loss to Australia, the coach did have issues with England's favourable draw before the tournament.
Matua claimed that the host's had been placed in an easy group, which should see them progress in front of their own fans.
However, he said tournament organisers who placed No.1 and No.2 seeds Australia and New Zealand together made it very hard for other teams to progress.
"I think Australia and New Zealand should've been split, that's a no-brainer," Matua said.
"They've played every grand final, so I can't imagine how they ended up in the same pool.
"I don't see any system that allows the two top seeds to be in the same pool.
"It's pretty tough being in the pool of death ... England's in the spa pool along with Brazil and Canada (and Papua New Guinea), that's a little bit unfair."
