PNG Kumuls thrashed the USA 64-0 in the final game in Port Moresby of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, and as ever we’re covering the game with the Who, What, Where, When and How of the game that sees the Kumuls top Pool C and await their quarter final showdown with England.
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 USA game.
PNG KUMULS v USA MATCH REVIEW
RESULT – Who Won?
PNG KUMULS 64
Tries: L. Lam (9), J. Olam (12), J. Segeyaro (14), L. Lam (16), R. Griffin (25), S. Amean (39), D. Mead (42), W. Boas (60), N. MacDonald (63), J. Olam (66), J. Olam (74)
Goals: R. Martin 10 Conv
USA 0
How Did They Win?
The Kumuls were simply on fire and had way too much everything for the USA Tomahawks on Sunday.
PNG scored regularly throughout the game, and despite still making a few too many errors, never looked like heading towards anything other than a big win.
The first of their 11 tries on the day went Lachlam Lam in the 9th minute, and just seven minutes later found themselves 22-0 up after Lam’s second and arguably best try, in between Justin Olam and James Segeyaro crossed. Rod Griffin chimed in on the 25 minute mark to ensure the point a minute continued after a fine offload from Watson Boas. The super first half was signed off nicely with Stargroth Amean crossing for a try after the USA’s best attacking phase was handled by the Kumuls.
David Mead showed all his skills and pace straight after the break as the fullack scooped up a USA grubber at full pace and scooted 70 metres to score. Stargroth Amean covered almost the same amount of ground and found Watson Boas to finish up another long range move 15 or so minutes later. Rhyse Martin found Nene McDonald, and when Justin Olam crossed soon after it was three tries in six minutes.
USA were denied a try by a super try saving tackle from David Mead, and of course moments later were punished in full when Justin Olam picked up an intercept to run the length of the field to seal the game for PNG.
What did we learn?
PNG Kumuls are Line Break kings. They have notched up an enormous 36 line breaks in the three games at the National Football Stadium, and whilst there is an argument that the Kumuls have played reasonably weak opposition, it is still a healthy statistic no matter the opposition.
Another fact that may be lost in the Kumuls group stages is their defensive record. The Kumuls have conceded just the 12 points in their three games, two points behind Australia with the best record. PNG have let in just the two tries, equal with Australia, and will be dirty with themselves that one of those came against Wales after the siren in game 1. It bodes well for the challenge of facing England in the next knockout stage.
Lachlan Lam is one to watch for the future, in the NRL and for PNG. Unfortunatelt for Lam, a Roosters youth product, he is stuck behind Cooper Cronk in addition to Pearce/Keary from 2017.
What was the Moment of the Match?
Probably Lachlam Lam’s second try. Not only showcasing the young five eighth’s skills and potential for Kumuls gold in the future, the home side were 22-0 and scoring at more than a point a minute. No way the USA were coming back from there.
Any other bits and pieces?
- A shame to say goodbye to the National Football Stadium. What an atmosphere through the broadcast. If only we could have attended. We’ll have to settle for being at the Intrust Super Cup Grand Final. Memo to Channel 9, QRL and whoever else, a lot of ISC fans would like to see a game or two televised from Port Moresby. Excuses over, do it.
- Garry Lo came off injured, hopefully the verdict is not bad. Even though the rest of the team continued to do well in his absence, he is a game breaking players whose impact will be needed if they do want to get past theie Quarter Final opponent.
- Sideline Steve was awesome throughout.
- Some stats actually go aganst the 64-0 score line. The possession was actually shared 50-50. And the Kumuls ended up making more tackles than the USA.
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 – LACHLAN LAM – Had a wonderful debut and showed he is quite capable of mixng it at International levei too. Scored two tries, set up another and looked the goods. Given 5 points as likely to not play again as he will have to usurp Watson Boas next weekend with Ase Boas to return.
4 POINTS – RHYSE MARTIN – He did everything, hit-ups, tackles, 10 goals, try assist. Surely on the verge of an NRL go.
3 POINTS – MOSES MENINGA – The big man with the famous surname did very well on debut, and pushed his claims for inclusion next weekend.
2 POINTS – DAVID MEAD – Scores a couple of points alone for his super try and his try saving tackle.
1 POINT – STARGROTH AMEAN – The Hunters fullback has been great this year, and whilst he was never going to unseat the great David Mead, he showed he has plenty to offer as a utility.
PNG KUMULS v USA MATCH PREVIEW
Who: PNG KUMULS v USA
Where and When: LIVE Saturday 12th Nov – Port Moresby
When is it on TV? Channel 7Mate @ 2pm
What’s the Story?
The Kumuls grafted out a hard fought win over the plucky Irish team last Sunday, and that win gives them the advantage in Pool C with two wins from two heading into the final week of the first round. As seen with the Hunters on many occasions in 2017, their defensive display got them across the line, their line being very hard to break through at times. They probably wouldn’t have had to make as many tackles if they didn’t give the ball away so many times, a completion rate of under 60% hurting any chances in attack.
Would Ireland have got so close without the handling errors? Probably not, but Ireland made plenty themselves, and had it not been for Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook near miss for Ireland with ten minutes it could be a much different story for the Kumuls heading into their third and final Pool game in Port Moresby.
But throw in a little Garry Lo and Watson Boas magic got and they got over the line. It is the potential of any of a number of PNG stars to produce these moments of magic that will make them hard to beat against the USA.
The USA are 0/2 in their two games, and they were beaten 46-0 in their last start against Italy. They haven’t played too bad so far in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, they just lack a few of the top class players at their disposal that other teams do. Given they tried to get as any North American based players as possible for this World Cup it might be a good starting point for them. As would a US based team in the English Rugby League system if it happened. Just in time for the US to host their World Cup in 2015.
Who Will Win and Why?
As mentioned above, the PNG Kumuls got home on their resolute defence, but the amount of drop was very frustrating. And I believe Ireland have been underrated in this competition so far, and a hard fought 14-6 win over them will look good on paper looking back. The USA meanwhile have yet to show the same qualities as the Irish.
The Kumuls still won with a completion rate of less than 60%, as they did in the Intrust Super Cup Grand Final, so you would think that it would be Michael Marum’s number 1 priority, and surely the completion rate will improve. With a potential quarter final against England if they win Pool C, they will need that attack to continue being strong without the errors.
That completion rate improvement will mean that their stars in the backline will get more ball, including David Mead, Kato Ottio and man of the moment Garry Lo. That means more points like the game against Wales. And wins. We hope.
PNG by 40
Who to watch for?
Ase Boas has been given a well deserved rest for the game against the USA Tomahawks, and in his place comes Lachlan Lam, son of PNG and Queensland legend Adrian Lam. Lachlan Lam showed some good signs in the recent Tri-Series trials in Fiji, and it is exciting to see some depth in the halves behind the Boas brothers.
Another name you know is the Meninga surname, although Moses is no relation to the Australian coach. After missing out thus far in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, he gets his big chance also by starting at prop of the Kumuls. Also coming into the side is Thompson Teteh, a former PNG Hunters centre from the Redcliffe Dolphins who will be used as an interchange forward, which should be a very interesting sight.
Looks like Michael Marum is using the game to give everyone else a go, and competition for spots is always goo.
TEAMS
Who’s in the Teams?
PNG
1 David Mead (c) 2 Justin Olam 3 Kato Ottio 4 Nene Macdonald 5 Garry Lo 6 Lachlan Lam 7 Watson Boas 8 Moses Meninga 9 James Segeyaro 10 Luke Page 11 Rhyse Martin 12 Willie Minoga 13 Paul Aiton 14 Kurt Baptiste 15 Stargroth Amean 16 Nixon Putt 17 Thompson Teteh 18 Rod Griffin 19 Wartovo Puara 20 Enock Maki 21 Ase Boas
USA
1 Corey Makelim 2 Ryan Burroughs 3 Junior Vaivai 4 Jonathan Alley 5 Bureta Faraimo 6 Kristian Freed 7 Tui Samoa 8 Eddy Pettybourne 9 David Marando 10 Mark Offerdahl (c) 11 Danny Howard 12 Joe Eichner 13 Nicholas Newlin 14 Sam Tochterman-Talbott 15 Fotukava Malu 16 Martwain Johnston 17 Gabriel Farley 18 Steve Howard 19 Andrew Kneisly 20 David Ulch 21 Joshua Rice
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.
