Rugby League World Cup knockout stages continues on Saturday with the huge Quarter Final 2 England v PNG clash, which sees the home side in outstanding take on a PNG side in good form too and looking for revenge after a Quarter Final exit at the hands of England in 2017. England themselves are looking to win the Rugby League World Cup on home soil.
Our England v PNG Match Centre has a preview, stats, team lists before the game and a summary of the match afterwards with thoughts and stats. More than you could ever need or want.
If you want more information on all the results from the Group Stages and beyond – follow this link here.
England v PNG Match Summary
England have progressed into the quarter finals after thrashing the PNG Kumuls in an outstanding display on a wet Saturday in front of a full house in Wigan.
It was a physical start to the game as you’d expect, and England were winning the battle too, and it took just five minutes to turn that into points. After a knock on from Justin Olam from a grubber kick gave England a full set 10 metres out, they needed just a few tackles to score. The try scorer was Tom Burgess who crashed over from close range under the posts, carrying 3-4 Kumuls over the line with him. Tommy Makinson made the easy conversion for a 6-0 lead.
England were in again with their next, with the help of a set restart, as England winger Tommy Makinson slid into score in the corner from the perfect grubber kick from Sam Tomkins. Makinson couldn’t convert his own try, but England had been simply magnificent so far, and the Kumuls looked shocked.
It wasn’t PNG’s night, as their first set with the ball for minutes ended with winger Rodrick Tai being dragged 10 metres over the sideline on the first play.
Not long after England went further ahead. Dom Young continued his try scoring form benefiting from second phase play after a short cross field kick from George Williams was batted back to John Bateman who spun the ball to Watkins then onto Young quickly. Makinson kept PNG in the game with another missed conversion, if PNG could get the ball.
One set later and England were in again. After making it the length of the field in the kick return set, George Williams put in the perfect kick to the corner and Tommy Makinson caught cleanly and fought his way over the line and scored despite the best effort of the PNG defence. Makinson converted for a 20-0 lead that no Kumuls fan could think PNG could come back from here.
Another set, another try for England who were in party mode. The initial break made on the half way line by John Bateman, then Sam Tomkins and Kallum Watkins were supporting before George Williams was the final recipient and he slid into score from a few metres out. Makinson made it 26-0, and this score could be anything. PNG had touched the ball for one tackle for a period of over 10 minutes.
And the points kept coming, this time Kallum Watkins got on the scoreboard after an initial break by Herbie Farnworth, and a brilliant, long cut out pass from Victor Radley. Tommy Makinson nailed the sideline conversion and it was 32-0 after 25 minutes.
Everything was going England’s way by this stage. In what originally looked like a clean take for an underwhelming kick from England, Alex Johnston dropped the ball, was pushed out of the way by an England chaser and Tommy Makinson was on hand to place the ball down and score. He converted his own try for a 38-0 lead.
Sadly for the Kumuls there were still 12 minutes left in the first half, and Rhyse Martin kicked over the sideline from the kick off. If you want a stat from the game that sums it all up, at the 30 minute mark, PNG had made just 49 metres. But they finally had the ball after it was England exclusive use for the last 20 minutes.
PNG’s first decent attacking set ended in a forced dropout for England, which shows that PNG were capable when they finally got the ball. It eventually ended in an error but at least the ball was down the other end. For now.
It was simply a magnificent display from England in the first half, with very few sides, if any, would have been able to cope.
HALF TIME – ENGLAND 38 PNG KUMULS 0
The second half began much brighter for PNG, actually having the ball helps, but they were at least competitive for the first part. A few errors from both sides slowed the scoring and quality, but the one side scoreline didn’t take out much intensity though as both sides were still taking the ball up with purpose, and the tackles were still hard.
Eventually ball and territory wore the Kumuls down, but not before they had held England scoreless for 18 minutes and over half an hour if you include the first half. England’s first try of the second half was the fourth for Tommy Makinson as they simply went through hands to the left and PNG ran out of defenders. The conversion was missed, so with a quarter of the game remaining England led 42-0.
England had their chances to extend the lead for the next ten minutes and more, but PNG were holding their own in defence, but it was also a case of England making a few errors that certainly didn’t come in the first half.
Finally in the 70th minute there was some joy for the Kumuls as they scored their first try of the match. Jimmy Ngutlik slid into score in the corner after chasing the perfect gruber from Alex Johnston in a rare venture for PNG in England’s 20 metre zone.
England didn’t take long to reply, and it was Tommy Makinson’s fifth try of the match. Makinson this time was simply on the end of some crisp passing to the left, with Sam Tomkins and George Williams involved in the lead up. Makinson missed the conversion and the score remained 46-6.
A scuffle broke out in the next set to show both sides were still giving it their all. It allowed PNG to sign off with one last try as they were in the England 20 metre zone with a Set Restart. They didn’t score, but did secure the most pointless Captain’s Challenge of the World Cup.
England were great against PNG, giving them absolutely nothing. It was another performance like the one against Samoa in game one where the other big nations – Australia and New Zealand – should take notice. England can win this competition.
PNG were disappointing, but the first half was one way traffic as the Kumuls barely touched the ball from the 5th minute to the 30th. The Kumuls were much better in the second half, but still not great. Despite the massive disappointment, the game is another moment in their growth as an international team. PNG just need to learn how to get up for these big games, that will happen with more international football.
England v PNG Final Score
ENGLAND 46
Tries: Tom Burgess 5′ Tommy Makinson 8′ Dom Young 14′ Tommy Makinson 17′ George Williams 20′ Kallum Watkins 23′ Tommy Makinson 27′ Tommy Makinson 57′ Tommy Makinson 75′
Goals: Tommy Makinson 5/9
PNG KUMULS 6
Tries: Jimmy Ngutlik 69′
Goals: Rhyse Martin 1/1
England v PNG Player of the Match
3 Pts – Tom Burgess
2 Pts – Tommy Makinson
1 Pt – George Williams
England v PNG Points of Interest
- If you thought this game wasn’t big, it had the Princess of Wales there for the meet and greet before the game. You just know Meghan Markle wouldn’t get into rugby league. We would like to have seen one of those ceremonial kick offs.
- PNG found the English kicking game of low grubbers and good cross field kicks very hard to defend against, with tries scored, errors made, or pressure applied with each one. England were so good, but something to work on. The Kumuls actual goal line defense is great, but they find the kicks hard to deal with. They certainly missed the height of Xavier Coates on one side of the field.
- Dare we say it, but some of the most disappointing players for the Kumuls in the first half were their most experienced. Justin Olam’s mistake led to the first try and England dominating for the next 20 minutes. Alex Johnston’s drop in goal was out of character for him in the NRL.
- No team, Australia or New Zealand could have lived with England in that first half, and those teams better watch out come the final if England do make it.
England v PNG Match Stats
England v PNG Teams
ENGLAND
1 Sam Tomkins
2 Tommy Makinson
3 Kallum Watkins
4 Herbie Farnworth
14 Dominic Young
6 Jack Welsby
7 George Williams
8 Thomas Burgess
9 Michael McIlorum
18 Chris Hill
11 Elliott Whitehead
12 John Bateman
13 Victor Radley
15 Morgan Knowles
16 Matty Lees
17 Mike Cooper
20 Mike McMeekan
PNG KUMULS
1 Alex Johnston
19 Jimmy Ngutlik
3 Nene Macdonald
4 Justin Olam
20 Rodrick Tai
6 Kyle Laybutt
7 Lachlan Lam
8 Wellington Albert
9 Edwin Ipape
10 Sylvester Namo
11 Nixon Putt
12 Rhyse Martin
13 Jacob Alick
15 Dan Russell
16 MacKenzie Yei
22 Jeremiah Simbiken
23 Watson Boas
England v PNG Preview
Saturday’s first quarter final sees the home side England take on the Group D runner’s up PNG Kumuls, and without trying to let the PNG bias completely take over, we think this game could be an upset.
Hard to think anyone would stop England given how dominant they have looked thus far. Their 60-6 smashing of Samoa in the first match shook the tournament. Their 94-4 thrashing of Greece was no more than a training run, but France did push them for a while in their 42-18 victory, and we think the Kumuls have more to offer than France.
England are top for run metres, post contact metres, and the top five for just about every other attacking stat. But they have rarely been tested at this World Cup so far, the big surprise being how poor Samoa were in game one.
The home side have size and speed that will trouble PNG, and loads of top NRL and Super League talent, but the Kumuls have been quite good defensively this World Cup, being one of only two teams to keep a side to zero points in the group stage. And the Kumuls 40 total points conceded so far is not far behind England’s 28. You may scoff at the nil v Wales, but they did throw plenty at them at times.
The Kumuls experience of a much tougher group stage may bode well for the Quarter Final, as there have been no easy games for PNG so far. They should have at least drawn with Tonga in the first game, with the winning Tongan try avoidable, and a No Try ruling still hard to fathom. Their win over the Cook Islands was not without a challenge, they only conceded one try with a player down and Cook Islands constantly on their line. And the match v Wales was played in pouring rain, probably the worst seen at the World Cup. So it hasn’t been easy, which is good preparation for playing one of the form teams of the Rugby League World Cup.
PNG’s style has also adapted a little this World Cup, with a little more risk being added to their play. While this led to 17 errors in the last game in the pouring rain, they are well ahead of England for offloads, and they will need to continue as they won’t beat England with just hit up after hit up. The Kumuls have enough firepower out wide with Justin Olam, Nene McDonald, both have been good, and Alex Johnston is due for a big performance.
So can the Kumuls beat England? Only the most optimistic PNG fan would say yes, but we saw enough against Tonga, and in their Group D games to say they could go close, and then all they need is a little luck, which they haven’t had up to this point.
But then again, England have the rare chance to win a World Cup on home soil, and are in the arguably easier side of the draw, avoiding Australia and New Zealand until the final.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Dom Young has been one of the stars in a very good English side at this Rugby league World Cup, and his size and speed are no doubt going to cause the smaller Kumuls some trouble. Young has averaged over 200 running metres per game in the group stages and easily leads the try scoring chart with eight in three games.
Elliott Whitehead returns from missing the Greek slaughter and is one of England’s most dangerous players for PNG to contain.
Edwin Ipape has been PNG’s best player at this World Cup overall, if ot the best hooker of any team so far, and the livewire hooker and UK Championship player of the season continues his sizzling form. His speed out of dummy half may catch a few of the English forwards out, and his service to the halves has been outstanding. And, let’s not forget he doesn’t mind playing British teams, as his break out moment of his career came against Great Britain in 2019 when he announced himself to the rugby league world.
We haven’t seen the best of Alex Johnston for the PNG Kumuls yet, but last time he played the Great Britain team he was excellent for the Kumuls. Johnston hasn’t quite been able to get the most out of his attacking game, because he has been doing an outstanding defensive job at fullback for PNG, but we are betting on him doing something special for the biggest game for the Kumuls in years.
PREDICTION
England 22 PNG 24
England v PNG Teams
ENGLAND
1 Sam Tomkins
2 Tommy Makinson
3 Kallum Watkins
24 Kai Pearce-Paul
14 Dominic Young
6 Jack Welsby
7 George Williams
8 Thomas Burgess
9 Michael McIlorum
18 Chris Hill
11 Elliott Whitehead
12 John Bateman
13 Victor Radley
4 Herbie Farnworth
15 Morgan Knowles
16 Matty Lees
17 Mike Cooper
PNG KUMULS
1 Alex Johnston
19 Jimmy Ngutlik
3 Nene Macdonald
4 Justin Olam
20 Rodrick Tai
6 Kyle Laybutt
7 Lachlan Lam
8 Wellington Albert
9 Edwin Ipape
10 Sylvester Namo
11 Nixon Putt
12 Rhyse Martin
13 Jacob Alick
15 Dan Russell
16 MacKenzie Yei
22 Jeremiah Simbiken
23 Watson Boas
England have named a side that more closely resembles the team that thrashed Samoa in the opening fixture of the Rugby League World Cup, so the Kumuls beware. Sam Tomkins at fullback with Jack Welsby at five eighth where he caused so much trouble. Kai Pearce-Paul pushes Herbie Farnworth to the bench as a change from that first game. That’s an interesting bench selection.
For the Kumuls, all of the inclusions are good ones. Watson Boas provides excellent hooker and halves backup. McKenzie Yei provides impact (watch his second half kick off return from game two). Sylvester Namo has caught the eye since the PM XIII clash in Australia and is a real workhorse. Jeremiah Simbiken made an excellent debut for PNG against Wales and thoroughly deserves to keep his place in the team.
Essentially, this is the best team PNG can put out for this World Cup of those who aren’t injured. And we wish them the very best of luck.
England v PNG RLWC2021 Stats So Far
England v PNG Match Summary
Coming soon after the match
