Jamayne Isaako Makes Rugby League World Cup History With 38-Point Masterclass

New Zealand winger Jamayne Isaako has climbed to second on the all-time list of individual points scored in a men's Rugby League World Cup match after producing a record-breaking performance against the Cook Islands.

Isaako scored 38 points in New Zealand's 82–16 victory over the Cook Islands in Christchurc, crossing for three tries and kicking 13 goals.

The performance surpassed the previous record for the most points scored by a New Zealand player in a single World Cup match, held by Tasesa Lavea, who scored 32 points against the Cook Islands in 2000.

Only former Australian international Ryan Girdler has scored more points in a single men's World Cup match, recording 46 against Russia in 2000.

The following rankings are based on the highest individual points totals recorded in men's Rugby League World Cup matches.

1. Ryan Girdler — 46 points

Team: Australia

Opponent: Russia

Date: November 4, 2000

Final score: Australia 110–4 Russia

Girdler holds the all-time record after scoring 46 points in Australia's enormous victory over Russia. His haul included three tries and 17 goals, making it the benchmark for individual scoring at a men's World Cup.

2. Jamayne Isaako — 38 points

Team: New Zealand

Opponent: Cook Islands

Date: October 25, 2026

Final score: New Zealand 82–16 Cook Islands

Isaako's three tries and 13 goals produced a record-breaking 38-point performance in Christchurch. He moved into second place on the all-time list and established a new New Zealand individual scoring record.

3. Mat Rogers — 34 points

Team: Australia

Opponent: Fiji

Date: November 1, 2000

Final score: Australia 66–8 Fiji

Rogers scored 34 points during Australia's 2000 World Cup campaign, becoming one of the tournament's most prolific individual scorers in a single match. His performance remains the third-highest recorded total.

4=. Tasesa Lavea — 32 points

Team: New Zealand

Opponent: Cook Islands

Date: November 2, 2000

Final score: New Zealand 84–10 Cook Islands

Lavea held New Zealand's single-match World Cup scoring record for 26 years before Isaako surpassed it. His 32-point performance against the same opposition makes the comparison particularly notable.

4=. Isaiya Katoa — 32 points

Team: Tonga

Opponent: Cook Islands

Date: October 30, 2022

Final score: Tonga 92–10 Cook Islands

Katoa matched Lavea's 32-point total during Tonga's emphatic victory at the 2021 World Cup, played in 2022. His performance helped underline Tonga's attacking strength on the international stage.

6=. Michael O'Connor — 30 points

Team: Australia

Opponent: Papua New Guinea

Date: July 20, 1988

Final score: Australia 70–8 Papua New Guinea

O'Connor recorded 30 points during Australia's World Cup campaign in the late 1980s, placing him among the highest individual scorers in tournament history.

6=. Andrew Johns — 30 points

Team: Australia

Opponent: South Africa

Date: October 10, 1995

Final score: Australia 86–6 South Africa

Johns produced a 30-point performance in Australia's 1995 World Cup victory over South Africa. The display remains one of the standout individual scoring efforts from that tournament.

6=. Marc Sneyd — 30 points

Team: England

Opponent: Greece

Date: October 29, 2022

Final score: England 94–4 Greece

Sneyd scored 30 points as England recorded a dominant victory over Greece at the 2021 World Cup, played in 2022. The performance came during a tournament in which several players produced substantial individual totals.

6=. Thomas Makinson — 30 points

Team: England

Opponent: Papua New Guinea

Date: November 5, 2022

Final score: England 46–6 Papua New Guinea

Makinson also reached 30 points during England's 2022 campaign, securing his place among the tournament's leading individual match scorers.

10=. Nathan Cleary — 28 points

Team: Australia

Opponent: Scotland

Date: October 21, 2022

Final score: Australia 84–0 Scotland

Cleary scored 28 points as Australia kept Scotland scoreless in a commanding World Cup performance. His haul places him just outside the 30-point group.