PNG Kumuls and Wales go head to head in the first match of the Pool B, and we’re covering the game with the Who, What, Where, When and How of the big game which.
The 2017 Rugby League World Cup is a big deal for us, being huge rugby league fans and love a minnow or two, and we’ll be covering all of the games throughout.
So visit our 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE
Now onto the PNG Kumuls v Wales game.
PNG v WALES MATCH REVIEW
RESULT – Who Won?
PNG 50 (D. Mead (5), D. Mead (10), N. MacDonald (23), K. Ottio (35), W. Albert (38), R. Martin (43), R. Martin (53), J. Olam (56), D. Mead (60), P. Aiton (71) Tries, R Martin 5 Goals)
WALES 6 (R. Grace (80) try, C Davies 1 Goal)
How Did They Win?
The Kumuls just had too much of everything against Wales, and the score line could have been even more comprehensive if not for some wayward goal kicking.
The additions of players like NRL regulars David Mead, James Segeyaro, Nene McDonald and Kurt Baptiste added some real quality. But there was also the contributions of NRL hopefuls Rhyse Martin, Kato Ottio, Justin Olam and UK based Paul Aiton and Garry Lo that added to the Hunters players high on confidence after their Intrust Super Cup premiership.
Garry Lo in particular was excellent again after shining in the Fiji and Australia trial matches. Originally he wasn’t allowed to be selected due to not playing in any of the approved leagues, thankfully he was selected and what a difference he has made to the backline.
David Mead was immense at the back, ending with three tries, and maybe it is his inclusion that allowed the Kumuls to play with a little more flair than seen with the Hunters in the latter part of 2017.
The Kumuls scored early and regularly with 10 tries in all. David Mead crossed after 5 minutes after a sweet run through the Welsh defence, and doubled up a few minutes later when Wartovo Puara decided to run from dummy half on the last and found Ase Boas who found the fullback. The two centres got into the try scoring action ln the 23rd and 35th minutes, McDonald via a powerful run which saw him juggle the ball on his way to scoring, and Kato Ottio was a recipient of a great David Mead run and Watson Boas grubber.
The two forwards Wellington Albert and Rhyse Martin got into the action a few minutes either side of half time with a try each. Rhyse Martin doubled up 10 minutes later and then provided a perfect grubber for Kato Ottio to score down the blind side three minutes later. David Mead got his third in the 60th minute, and from there the games got a bit scrappy, and Wales got their first decent chance with the ball. Wales scored after the full time siren after a neat cross field kick was put down by Garry Lo, not before the Kumuls has scored their 10th for the afternoon with Paul Aiton, a play after fan favourite and our favourite Willie Minoga almost scored.
PNG were simply too good for Wales, and Ireland and the USA should be worried, as there’s still improvement.
What did we learn?
PNG people really love their Rugby League and there was no surprise that the National Football Stadium was full and buzzing.
We also learnt that the Kumuls are going to be a formidable opponent in the heat and atmosphere of Port Moresby. They have all their Pool C matches in their country and on paper Wales looked the strongest of their opponents and they never let them in the game in the 50-6 win.
Based on the draw, and the first round performances, we are rubbing our hands at the potential Quarter Final against England. Kumuls shouldn’t be dismissed from winning that too on the form of the win against Wales.
What was the Moment of the Match?
The big moment of the match was probably the only negative point for the Kumuls when the game was stopped in the 27th minute to hear fo a biting charge against the Kumuls by Wales forward Ben Evans, the incident went on report without a name to begin with, but the reports since have laid the blame on Wellington Albert. What a shame as he was one of the Kumuls best, and if found guilty will missed some games. Ironically if he is ruled it would be full circle as he only made the team after Rod Griffin pulled out due to injury.
Any other bits and pieces?
- PNG Rugby League fans best in the world. Did you hear that atmosphere? Not at many NRL games, if any. Not many.
- Wellington Albert’s put down for the try was super cheeky but super cool.
- PNG picked four hookers for the game. Two started, and the other two came off the bench. Wartovo Puara possibly the least impressive. We say start with Baptiste and leave Aiton at lock and keep that impact of Segeyaro on the bench. Then you could bring in Moses Meninga or Thompson Teteh.
THE DOWLING-TAMATI #RLWC2017 PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT
We’ve decided that a tournament as big as the 2017 Rugby League World Cup needs a Player of the tournament, and who better than International relations specialists Kevin Tamati and Greg Dowling to name our award.
We award points on a 5-4-3-2-1 scale every match, and the results for this game is below. For the running total from all of the games visit our 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE
5 POINTS – DAVID MEAD – The captain scored three times and was tremendous throughout, offering excitement almost every set.
4 POINTS – RHYSE MARTIN – Martin was great in attack and defence, scoringtwo, setting up others and goal kicking on top of that. Was in NSW Cup side of the year for Bulldogs, and surely must get a crack at the NRL soon on this form.
3 POINTS – WELLINGTON ALBERT – the number 15 was a handful throughout and scored himself a deserving try. Biting allegation is a concern.
2 POINTS – GARRY LO – the Kumuls winger offered plenty from the back, and proved a real handful for Wales.
1 POINT – JAMES SEGEYARO – provided impact and quality off the bench, adding a playmaking option for the Kumuls.
MATCH PREVIEW
Who: PNG v WALES
Where and When: Saturday 28th Oct, Port Moresby
When is it on TV? LIVE Channel 7Mate @ 3pm
What’s the Story?
Saturday will be a big day for rugby league in Papua New Guinea as the 2017 Rugby League World Cup arrives for the first of three fixtures in Port Moresby. It will be some kind of atmosphere at the National Football Stadium, which is a sellout and should hold 15,000 or so. Following PNG social media, the excitement is very high, almost fever pitch.
As pointed out here in many, many articles it has been a great year for PNG Rugby League on the field in 2017, with the PNG Hunters sealing the Intrust Super Cup Premiership in sensational style. They may have fell short in the NRL State Championship, after being well beaten by Penrith, but the momentum of their achievement will flow onto the Kumuls with so many of the Hunters selected.
The Kumuls looked good in the recent Tri Series warm up in Fiji, beating the home side 10-0, and staying with Australia at 10-4 for a lot of their clash before Australia kicked on with two late tries. The errors remained, but the attack seemed to have opened up a bit, and that’s a good thing.
Wales are a bit of an unknown for Australian based rugby league fans, with very few names you know. Wynnum Seagulls’ Matt Seamark will turn out for Wales, and will know a bit about PNG from their ISC clashes. It will be interesting to see how they go, an upset win over the Kumuls will throw Pool C open, and make a few million PNG rugby league fans unhappy.
Who Will Win and Why?
The combinations of the Hunters makes them very hard to tip against, and any player from outside the Queensland Cup based side add quality to the side. If they can reduce the drop ball, and show the extra spark in attack shown in Fiji, then they should start their 2017 Rugby League World Cup campaign in style in front of their expecting fans.
PNG by 14
Who to watch for?
Regular readers will say, surely Willie Minoga, and they’d be right. We love the man they call the Freight Train, 2015 Gurgler Person of the Year, and 2017 ISC Grand Final hero. He is named on the bench for maximum impact, and is due a big game for the Kumuls having been suspended for this year’s
Try scoring machine Garry Lo is also worth a shout to keep an eye on. Has scored loads of tries in the ISC for the Hunters, and in the second tier of English Rugby League for Sheffield. Enough to get a go with Castleford for next year’s Super League. He caught the eye in the Fiji trials, and has earned himself a starting spot on the wing for the game against Wales.
Lachlan Lam, son of Adrian Lam, if he makes the 17 man matchday team.
TEAMS
Who’s in the Teams?
PNG
- David Mead 2. Justin Olam 3. Kato Ottio 4. Nene Macdonald 5. Garry Lo 6. Ase Boas 7. Watson Boas 8. Stanton Albert 9. Wartovo Puara 10. Luke Page 11. Rhyse Martin 12. Rod Griffin 13. Paul Aiton 14. Kurt Baptiste 15. Willie Minoga 16. James Segeyaro 17. Enock Maki 18. Lachlan Lam 19. Stargroth Amean 20. Wellington Albert 21. Moses Meninga
WALES
- Elliot Kear 2. Rhys Williams 3. Michael Channing 4. Andrew Gay 5. Regan Grace 6. Courtney Davies 7. Matt Seamark 8. Craig Kopczak (c) 9. Steve Parry 10. Philip Joseph 11. Rhodri Lloyd 12. Ben Morris 13. Morgan Knowles 14. Matty Fozard 15. Sam Hopkins 16. Ben Evans 17. Chester Butler 18. Josh Ralph 19. Dalton Grant 20. Christiaan Roets 21. Matthew Barron
