It was a sensational day for PNG rugby league on Saturday as the PNG Kumuls v Great Britain Lions International saw a stunning upset 28-10, and the PNG women’s side Orchids got a win over the GB women too.
This wasn’t some lucky win for a plucky underdog who had things go their way, it was a win of such dominance that you could easily have argued that the sides had looked like they had swapped tiers at half time.
After early pressure from the Kumuls, the GB Lions took over and at 10-0 up after 23 minutes it looked like the game would go as per International ranking. But a magnificent solo effort from Edwin Ipape on the last play for half time changed the momentum of the game completely.
The Kumuls blew the Lions away in the 20 minutes after break, and they never recovered, PNG going on to score once more as Great Britain couldn’t compete with the intensity of the Kumuls.
As per our previous summary of the Kumuls v Fiji clash, here are our thoughts from the PNG Kumuls v Great Britain Lions. For the full match review read our Full Match Review at Nothing But League.
KEY THOUGHTS – PNG KUMULS v GREAT BRITAIN LIONS
LUKE PAGE IS THE MAN
There’s barely been a forward in rugby league in 2019 who has taken it to the max with every hit up like Luke Page has this season.
The Burleigh premiership winning captain has simply been outstanding for the Kumuls in 2019, and he was on it from the first seconds of the game v Great Britain. From the games’ first kick off Luke Page attacked the Lions defence with such gusto that he accidentally knocked out key Lions forward James Graham. Rugby League’s most experienced current player took no further part of the game.
From there his hit ups with met with British defenders doing well to hang on, and with very large home support. And the defence was super too, with the punishment for the Lions not just limited to his hit ups.
EDWIN IPAPE – THE UNKNOWN KUMUL WHO HAS SHONE IN 2019
There has been hype around quite a few Kumuls players in 2019, Justin Olam for his exploits for the Melbourne Storm, and Edene Gebbie for his red hot form in the Intrust Super Cup. So heading into the first Test against Samoa this season, where the UK based players were unavailable, it is fair to say that very few knew much about Edwin Ipape. And when you are playing in the Wynnum reserves team it is a little hard to get noticed by two many.
But he was one of the Kumuls best in the mid season loss to Samoa, which led to him keeping his position in the squad despite the return of quite a few big names. He was certainly prominent in last weekend’s clash with Fiji, involved in plenty for the Kumuls, and also famed for his in goal reverse flick pass.
He had yet another big impact against the Lions in Saturday’s big win, providing plenty of speed out of dummy half, and measuring up in defence. But it was his solo effort from his own 30 metre line which was the huge turning point for the Kumuls and match. With the clock on the TV saying 39:57, Ipape scooped the ball from dummy half and cut the Lions defence in half, ran 70 metres to score under the posts to get the Kumuls going into the break on a real high. It was a real game changer.
One could argue, that along with Nixon Putt, and Eden Gebbie, he has been of the best best Kumuls in the three 2019 games. Surely at a minimum he can get himself a gig with the top grade of any of the Intrust Super Cup teams next season.
GARRY LO – HIGH VOLTAGE
2019 may not have been the greatest year off the field for Garry Lo, but he has certainly signed off 2019 on the field in some style with an outstanding performance.
Of all the changes to the Kumuls side coming into Saturday’s match against Great Britain, we were most excited about Garry Lo. And he didn’t disappoint.
Drafted into play in the middle of the field, the former Hunters leading try scorer in the ISC on the wing really did step up and was a real handful for Great Britain with every run, as expected.
Every run was like a Ferrari-built bulldozer charging up the middle of the park, and like most of his teammates, the defence was powerful and hurt the Lions.
Let’s hope for rugby league’s sake he finds a home in the ISC at a minimum for 2020, it would be a waste for rugby league if he wasn’t.
EDENE GEBBIE – THE MAN TO WATCH IN 2020
Much has been said about Edene Gebbie after his performance against Fiji last weekend, and he was on it again this weekend against the Lions.
Not only were his runs incisive and powerful again, but he has added some perfect chip kicks to his game, one good enough for the second try to Watson Boas, another earning a repeat set.
South Sydney have got themselves one brilliant talent for 2020.
ALEX JOHNSTON – WELCOME EXPERIENCE AT THE BACK
Talking of 2020 for South Sydney, Gebbie’s future teammate Alex Johnston was super impressive at the back for PNG Kumuls, in his much anticipated first series for the Kumuls.
Johnston has been super solid at the back, always seeming to be in the perfect position for every kick, and his running against Great Britain caused them trouble increasingly throughout the evening.
His electric kick return down the left setup PNG for the their first try, and he was rewarded himself with a try in their second half spree.
Having his level of NRL experience in a key position has been a real bonus for the Kumuls, and with Gebbie and an outstanding Stargroth Amean at the back, the Kumuls have few worries with their back three.
15 MINUTES KEY TO KUMULS SUCCESS
In just about all of the Kumuls matches in the past few seasons, they seem to have a real purple patch in the 15-20 minutes after the break. Against Samoa in the season’s earlier test they were on top, same against Fiji, and they took that to another level on Saturday.
Great Britain simply had no answer. The Kumuls pressure led to tries, and it led to mistakes creeping into the Lions game.
For the future it means that if the Kumuls can stay within 10-12 points at half time, they do go on to take the upper hand just after half time.
Which made that Ipape try so important in the first half.
NO COINCIDENCE THAT MORE GAMES AND RELAXED CRITERIA MAKING PACIFIC NATIONS STRONGER
With Tonga, Fiji and now PNG getting great wins and creating winning cultures, it is no mystery to us that it is happening because it is a matter that these teams now play more games and have a bigger pool to select from.
The selfishness of Australian Rugby League of hoarding Internationals, prior to the changes to Tier Two selections held back Pacific Nations for years. Look at Tonga now things have been relaxed, the extra quality has seen them now be able to beat tier one nations. And more games has seen all Pacific nations close the gap to the bigger teams. And PNG is no exception. PNG may not have the big names like Tonga do, but there’s no doubt that the current climate of International rugby league is allowing them to grow and improve.
What it means is that more matches need to continue to be played, be it in a package with standalone State of Origin, or more end of season matches, if these Pacific nations can continue to thrive.
QUICK HITS – PNG KUMULS v GREAT BRITAIN LIONS
- Amazing to see Stargroth Amean carving it up for the Kumuls against Great Britain. It was halfway though the 2018 season when he quit the Hunters to work on his studies. A U-Turn to English rugby league and a decent season saw him recalled to the Kumuls side, and his performances more than justified the call up,
- Justin Olam may not have had the breakthrough season for the Kumuls in International like Edene Gebbie in attack, But his defensive efforts in both tests, especially against Great Britain has been notable.
- How good was David Mead. In attack, and defense. His return into the Centres, meant that all five of the Kumuls backline are fullbacks.
- Kyle Laybutt’s kicking once again proved decisive, more so in the second half when the Kumuls began to dominate. And he threw in the occasional booming drop out. PNG have surely found their halves combination for the future with the performances of Laybutt and Boas.
- Watson Boas’ defence was sensational for one of the smaller men on the field, and he always seemed to be in the right place at the wrong time. His chasing of the Gebbie grubber and subsequent 2nd Kumuls try typified the effort.
- Nixon Putt deserved a try, a just reward for a big season for PNG and himself. Let’s hope that he gets a go at Broncos preseason training and can stake a claim for NRL in 2020.
- Moses Meninga took his demotion to the bench well, by kicking arse when he made it onto the field.
QUICK STATS – PNG KUMULS v GREAT BRITAIN LIONS
MOST TACKLES
Wartovo Pura – 27, Nixon Putt 26, Daniel Russell 25
MOST RUNS
Edene Gebbie 15, Alex Johnston 15, Moses Meninga 12, David Mead 12, Stargroth Amean 12
MOST METRES
Alex Johnston 148, Moses Meninga 125, David Mead 114,
TRY ASSISTS
Kyle Laybutt 2, Edene Gebbie 1
RESULT – PNG KUMULS v GREAT BRITAIN LIONS
PNG KUMULS 28
Tries: E. Ipape 40, W. Boas 46, J. Olam 52, A. Johnston 57, N. Putt 66
Goals: R. MArtin 4/5 Conv
GREAT BRITAIN LIONS 10
Tries: B. Austin 14, J. Hodgson 22
Goals: G. Widdop 1/2 Conv
This is probably the BEST post-match synopsis of the PNG/Great Britain game so far. I am definitely following any subsequent League write-up’s here. Well done!