PNG Kumuls beat the Irish in the heat and high pressure atmosphere of Port Moresby, we’re covering the game with the Who, What, Where, When and How of the big game which should offer plenty for all rugby league fans.
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’re covering all of the games throughout.
So for more on all of the games thus far, visit our 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE
Now onto the PNG Kumuls v Ireland game.
PNG v IRELAND MATCH REVIEW
RESULT – Who Won?
PNG 14
Tries: G. Lo (16), N. MacDonald (26), W. Boas (79)
Goals: A. Boas 1 Conv
IRELAND 6
Tries: M. McIlorum (5)
Goals: Liam Finn 1 Conv
How Did They Win?
PNG won in the end with a late try to Watson Boas, ironically because of an Irish error where the Kumuls halfback kicked the loose ball forward through the irish pack and chased fast and best to seal the game for PNG. Why ironically? Because PNG had enough ball and quality territory to have won that game well before the 79th minute try but kept the irish in the game with drops and penalties at crucial times and areas. A better side may have punished them.
The Kumuls were behind early too, as they failed to field a bomb kick on the full, and a very grateful Michael McIlorum pounced on the ball after the worst possible bounce for PNG. That lead lasted until the 26th minute as PNG replied firstly through Garry Lo in the 16th, and Nene McDonald in the 26th. Both tries were unconverted.
Despite many PNG line breaks and Irish missed tackles the score remained 8-6 at half time.
After the break it became an arm wrestle, and an error fest. Both sides blew chances with dropped ball, the worst of which was in the 70th minute by the Irish described in our key moments below.
It was close and tense and in the end Watson Boas found himself scoring the match winner after an Irish error.
The Kumuls did what the Huners did, win the tough ones at home despite errors. If they can hold onto the ball they’ll be hard to stop anyway.
What did we learn?
Ireland are the 2017 Rugby League surprise packets. Beating Italy so convincingly was Round 1’s biggest surprise by far. You could argue that pushing the PNG Kumuls so close in Port Moresby could be Round 2’s biggest surprise too giving the Kumuls such a stern test. They were really up for the task, and matched PNG for toughness, but unfortunately matched them for errors too.
PNG are capable of making many errors, but equally capable of winning games despite this. The Hunters showed this as they somehow won the Intrust Super Cup earlier in the year despite so many errors. They did it again against Ireland, but you would think that a higher ranked team would have made them pay on more than one occasion. Their defence on their line is one of the best in rugby league. Thankfully for the Kumuls fan, the Irish made as many errors.
What was the Moment of the Match?
The big moment of the match was a late one and could have easily been the match winner for the Irish. Late in the game there was nothing much in it. The Kumuls led by just 8-6, and the Irish had plenty of ball in the Kumuls half.
The best chance for Ireland came in the 70th minute when a perfect grubber from Irish playmaker Liam Finn was met by forward Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and with no Kumuls in the near vicinity it was a matter of catch ball and fall down. Unfortunately for the Irish he couldn’t hold onto the ball, and their chance was missed. PNG scored a few minutes later to wrap up the intense fixture.
Any other bits and pieces?
- Once again, how good was the crowd? Surely the NRL are watching, as they should have been for Tonga v Samoa. There’s something different out there for rugby league and its in the Pacific. Tap into this enthusiasm or risk the game being played for the few thousand Sydney-ites who can be arsed supporting their teams.
- It may have been high on errors, but it was still high on tension and very entertaining as a contest.
- PNG’s defence on their line is excellent, and was also the backbone of a few low scoring Hunters wins during the season. Bodes well if they can hang onto the ball.
- Ase Boas showed his class and cool head by putting the ball into touch with three minutes to go, giving the Kumuls a chance to cool down and calm down. His brother Watson sealed the deal for PNG a few plays later when he kicked the ball forward from an Irish mistake and chased best.
- Minoga stops scuffles. A few scuffles threatened to break out during the game due to physicality of the affair, but it always seemed to dissipate when the Kumuls fearsome number 12 got involved.
- How good were some of the hits Ireland were putting on PNG.
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 – GARRY LO – Excitement machine, try scoring machine, best of field. All apply as the winger had a day out. It wasn’t his only try that was worth talking about, but the line breaks and kick returns were awesome. He has been a very welcome addition for the Kumuls.
4 POINTS – WILLIE MINOGA – Ran for the most metres by any forward, and almost rewarded with a try. OK, so we’re biased, but who would begrudge Willie Minoga an extra point or two? Played big minutes did the big man too. Too much Minoga is never enough.
3 POINTS – NENE MCDONALD – Scored a try, and should have scored another when he caught a bomb and looked for support instead of going himself. Feisty in attack and defence all afternoon.
2 POINTS – JAMES SEGEYARO – Adds some real spark and another play making and back row option. Lifted Kumuls when he was on.
1 POINT – LIAM FINN – Irish halfback marshalled Ireland well, and proved his toughness as was targeted by the Kumuls.
MATCH PREVIEW
Who: PNG KUMULS v IRELAND
Where and When: LIVE Sunday 5th Novemeber – Port Moresby
When is it on TV? Channel 7Mate @ 3:30pm
What’s the Story?
The PNG Kumuls kicked off their 2017 Rugby League World Cup campaign is fine style with a 10 try to 1 victory over Wales. The conceded try coming after the siren. PNG were super impressive and dominated the match throughout. They simply blew Wales away who had no reply.
Something that did have a reply was the unbelievable atmosphere coming through the broadcast. There have been very few NRL games with that kind of noise greeting anything positive for the Kumuls.
The crowd, and a lot of PNG fans around the world, including us, will be thinking victory over Ireland is a must. Especially after Ireland’s shock win over Italy. If the Irish knock off PNG Kumuls here, then they will then have the upper hand for making the knock out stages.
Somehow, we can’t see the home side letting down their fans.
Ireland’s confidence will be high though, and this looks a real cracker of a game, between two sides who impressed greatly last weekend.
Who Will Win and Why?
Despite Ireland’s win over Italy causing the only week 1 upset for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, that was against a side that had a few very good NRL stars alongside others, and the Kumuls in front of their home support will be a daunting prospect.
PNG looked very good last weekend, with the combination of the Hunters mixing in great with the outside talent. Their ball running was excellent, and they added a little more flair which some have been crying out for.
We’re picking them to do it again and beat the Irish, and set themselves up for a tilt at the knockout stages.
PNG by 14
Who to watch for?
First of all, Willie Minoga, always. Now promoted to the starting side, we rub our hands at the prospect of extra Minoga.
Away from our usual Minoga-love there are many players to keep an eye on.
The bench for the Kumuls has a lot to keep an eye on, starting with the number 14 James Segeyaro. The Sharks hooker had a reasonable impact on the Kumuls side last weekend, providing a lot of spark off the bench. With the PNG Kumuls reducing their hookers from four to three this week (the victim being Wartovo Puara) Segeyaro should get more game time.
Wellington Albert was super impressive last weekend, and appears to have got past the biting allegation which threatened to take the sheen off their big win. Stargroth Amean is the new addition on the bench, and his form as Hunters fullback would normally have him first selected at fullback, if it weren’t for a certain high quality individual in David Mead. How coach Michael Marum uses him will be interesting.
And of course there is the best from last weekend – David Mead, Garry Lo and Rhyse Martin for the Kumuls.
For the Irish, the main last weekend was halfback and captain Liam Finn. If he can repeat the form and get his Ireland team moving as well across the field, then the big and loud home support may been quietened from time to time.
TEAMS
Who’s in the Teams?
PNG KUMULS
1 David Mead (C) 2 Justin Olam 3 Kato Ottio 4 Nene Macdonald 5 Garry Lo 6 Ase Boas 7 Watson Boas 8 Stanton Albert 9 Kurt Baptiste 10 Luke Page 11 Rhyse Martin 12 Willie Minoga 13 Paul Aiton 14 James Segeyaro 15 Wellington Albert 16 Stargroth Amean 17 Enock Maki 18 Moses Meninga 19 Lachlan Lam 20 Nixon Putt 21 Wartovo Puara
IRELAND
1 Scott Grix 2 Shannon Mcdonnell 3 Ed Chamberlain 4 Michael Morgan 5 Liam Kay 6 Api Pewhairangi 7 Liam Finn (C) 8 Brad Singleton 9 Michael Mcillorum 10 Kyle Amor 11 Louie Mccarthy-Scarsbrook 12 Oliver Roberts 13 George King 14 Tyrone Mccarthy 15 James Hasson 16 Joe Philbin 17 Anthony Mullaly 18 Will Hope 19 Joe Keyes 20 Matty Hadden 21 Jack Higginson
MATCH REVIEW
Coming soon.
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
Points coming after the match.
