JAMAICA’S RUGBY League World Cup campaign got off to a difficult start with a 48-2 defeat to Ireland at Headingley, the home of Leeds Rhinos.

The Reggae Warriors, who are making their World Cup debut, started brightly and nearly took the lead when Kieran Rush’s kick just evaded the on-rushing Jacob Ogden.

But from that point onwards, Ireland took control, with Super League stars Louis Senior and George King scoring tries that highlighted the differences in flair and physicality between the two teams.

Ireland’s lead was extended through efforts by Brendan O’Hagan and Ed Chamberlain, giving The Wolfhounds a comfortable lead heading into the break.

But before the first half ended, Jamaica made history, with Kieran Rush kicking the country’s first points in a Rugby League World Cup, a moment that was cheered by all supporters inside Headingley.

Unfortunately for The Reggae Warriors, Ireland were in no mood to give them more points, with Louis Senior and his twin brother Innes crossing either side of a Toby King try, with James McDonnell, James Bentley and Frankie Halton adding the icing on the cake towards the end.

While the score line doesn’t reflect well on Romeo Monteith’s side, they should take real encouragement from a lot of aspects of their performance.

For the most part, they matched Ireland’s physicality and, with a little bit of luck and composure, they could have added a few more points to their own tally.

But tries such as McDonnell’s and Bentley’s illustrate the fine margins of international rugby league and the need for Jamaica to be a bit smarter in their upcoming matches.

A disappointing result? Yes, but the magnitude of the occasion for rugby league in the Caribbean cannot be overstated.

Next up, the Reggae Warriors take on one of the tournament favourites, New Zealand.