NICKNAME
The Kumuls
Coach
Adrian Lam
Captain
Stanley Gene
WORLD CUP RESULTS
Quarter-finals
2000
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The Papua New Guinea Kumuls are yet to win a match in this year’s Rugby League World Cup but they’ve certainly won fans’ hearts and respect, coach Adrian Lam said tonight.
Lam said two losses from two starts did not represent just how successful Papua New Guinea’s RLWC campaign had been.
“The World Cup has been great for us because it’s given us some exposure,” Lam said tonight.
“Whilst the pool has been hard we certainly have got a lot of positives out of it – especially against England.
“I think we’ve won a lot of fans’ hearts.
“One of our major goals at the start was to give ourselves a chance to win. We did that in the first game, and obviously it didn’t happen tonight, but I think the world knows that Rugby League in Papua New Guinea is getting better.
Lam used tonight’s post-match press conference as an opportunity to reinforce his desire to hold a long tenure coaching the Kumuls, who went down 48-6 to New Zealand at Skilled Park tonight.
The Kumuls struggled to recover from a red hot start from the Kiwis, entering the halftime break 22-nil down.
But it didn’t stop the Rugby League World Cup’s most exciting team from displaying the flair and passion the team has been renowned for so far in the tournament.
Lam said there were bright times ahead for the only nation in the world to have Rugby League as its national sport.
“You may not see that in [recent] results but the development of the country has been incredible over the past 12 months particularly, and the players will say that,” Lam said.
“We’re heading in the right direction, that’s for sure, and the infrastructures back in Papua New Guinea are getting better.
“We’ve got probably the largest growing schoolboys in the world – so we’ve got the junior base there.
“[And] I’ll grow old [coaching the Kumuls]… it’s something I promised to the players last year.”
Lam said the Kumuls’ biggest challenge heading into tonight’s match – backing up from the emotional performance against England - would be there again this week as they prepare for a showdown with tournament heavyweights Australia.
“It’s been an emotional week – a rollercoaster up and down from last week obviously,” Lam said.
“We’ve got to try to build it back up now, and there’s a great bond between the boys.
“They’ve been professional through this whole tournament, that can’t be questioned. They’ve been unbelievable, to be honest.
“I just want them to go out there and play for each other [against Australia].”
Source: Doug MacDougall
Kumuls side to play New Zealand:
1. John Wilshere ©
2. George Kepa
3. Jesse Joe Parker
4. Tu’u Maori
5.David Moore
6. Stanley Gene
7. Keith Peters
8. Makali Aizue
9. Paul Aiton
10. Trevor Exton
11. Neville Costigan
12. James Nightingale
13. Rod Griffin
INTERCHANGE
Rodney Pora
George Moni
Jason Chan
Charlie Wabo
Jay Aston
Nicko Slain
Anton Kui
(Three to be omitted)
PAPUA NEW GUINEA WORLD CUP SQUAD
Click on a name below to see the player's profile:
Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League
PO BOX 2099
Lae
Morobe Province 411
Papua New Guinea |
Telephone: +675 472 2011
Fax: +675 472 0232
Email: haru@pngnrl.com
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Foundation Year: 1949
Affiliated Since: 1974
RLIF Status: Test Nation |
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