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Game shows Kumuls worthy of NRL berth

Kumuls_Lions Papua New Guinea has emerged as a force in world rugby league after a scintillating display of champagne football in the World Cup against the English Lions in Townsville.

And the Kumul's powerful and skilled performance showed why PNG should be invited into the Australian rugby league competition, which they would adorn like the colours of their national flag grace their guernseys and their  play. This is a first rate team, with a fluidity and creativity in style that is very exciting to watch.  They would add 2,000 to the gate wherever they played in Australia.

Although England won 32-22, this was a match that – but for a couple of controversial refereeing decisions and a few unforced errors – the Kumuls could have taken.

Trailing the Kumuls 12-16 at half-time after leading early, England faced the possibility of an embarrassing defeat. But the Kumuls were unable to maintain the same intensity in the second half, and were not assisted by the run of the ball.

PNG coach Adrian Lam - and what magic he has worked on this team - criticised several decisions by referee Shayne Hayne, including a disallowed try for a forward pass: “That was devastating. It would have put us 10 points ahead if we had got the conversion. That was a real hurt but we hung in there. A couple more decisions going our way and it's game on.''

An emotional Lam is confident the Kumuls can cause an upset over the Kangaroos or Kiwis. “Tonight we showed we are a young, courageous and spirited side and I couldn't be prouder of the way the guys played,'' Lam said. “Tonight was a little bit about getting some respect back from the world of rugby league.”

An AAP reporter at the match commented: “World Cup contenders England were expected to make easy work of the underdog Kumuls, but they were made to fight all the way before securing the win. Despite the loss, PNG will be buoyed by their opening effort, having really threatened one of the top rated teams in the tournament.”

While the Kumuls head to the Gold Coast to face the Kiwis at Skilled Stadium next Saturday, Australian rugby league administrators should head to the board room to work out how the Kumuls can be injected into the national rugby league competition. Last night they showed they're ready - and we should be ready to invite them. It would do wonders for the game in Australia and in PNG, the only nation where rugby league is lauded as the national sport.

Time for the NRL to get as creative in the smoked filled rooms as the Kumuls showed they are on the field. A correspondent to this blog has called them warriors - they are indeed Warriors, with a capital W, and a great tribute to the sporting prowess of Papua New Guineans.

Comments

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Reginald Renagi

I agree with Joel Yuri that the PNG Kumuls is the team to watch in future years. The Kumuls will only get better over time and soon we will be the biggest "giant killers" of world rugby league one of these days.

To do this seveal things must be done to improve the level of playing standards for our Kumuls: good training facilities in PNG, good professional team and club management, strong corporate sponsorship support, discipline and commitment from the players and whole team, improved training regime and good balanced diet, a good pay pay packet for added incentive, and the community and country's support behind them at all times.

Reginald Renagi

I agree with Joel Yuri that the PNG Kumuls is the team to watch in future years. The Kumuls will only get better over time and soon we will be the biggest "giant killers" of world rugby league one of these days.

To do this seveal things must be done to improve the level of playing standards for our Kumuls: good training facilities in PNG, good professional team and club management, strong corporate sponsorship support, discipline and commitment from the players and whole team, improved training regime and good balanced diet, a good pay pay packet for added incentive, and the community and country's support behind them at all times.

Bren Evennett

The English may have won the game but the Kumuls have won the respect of rugby playing nations.

Joel Yuri

PNG Kumuls is the team to watch in the years to come. Aussies and Kiwis, be reminded that we are warriors and we will take the war into your territories. We almost slaughtered the lions but the referee saved the Lion from being belted by the Kumuls.

One obvious error was that the ref allowed a forward pass try from the corner. The English player believed it was a forward pass and as soon as he got up he placed his arms around his head. Yet the ref awarded the try.
The ref should have refered that try to video ref for decision.

Message to the ref is that the world has concluded that you do not have what it takes to ref at such level. Simply quit your next schedule.

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