Pool A
New Zealand Kiwis 48 d. Papua New Guinea 6

2008 World Cup Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats]

Location: International > Nations > First Grade Competition: World Cup

Kiwis dominate PNG to put World Cup campaign back on track
Sun November 2, 2008
Source: NZRL

New Zealand's 2008 Rugby League World Cup campaign is back in business after a crushing 42-point winning margin over Papua New Guinea at Skilled Park in Robina tonight (Saturday).

It was the first time the two countries had met since the Kiwis had a 64-0 win in Palmerston North in 1996.

Coming off a disappointing performance in last Sunday's 6-30 loss to Australia, Pirtek Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney was pleased with the improvements shown, especially on defence where the Kiwis conceded just one try to a side that had repeatedly exposed England a week earlier.

"We certainly showed a lot of improvement in a lot of areas, which we demanded from the players after our defeat by Australia," he said.

"What was really pleasing was our defensive performance. I watched Papua New Guinea last week and I thought they really troubled the English. It was going to take a good performance to keep them out tonight and, for the greater part of the match, the lads produced what was needed."

Kearney was impressed with the efforts of several players, not least 22-year-old Melbourne prop Adam Blair who had an outstanding game which saw him named the official man of the match.

Blair had the distinction of scoring his first NRL try this season in a career that now spans 51 matches since 2006; and tonight, playing his eighth test, he also scored his first try at international level.

"Adam has really taken to the role we've handed him as a starting prop. Much of his career has been as a bench player but he has been impressive for us since being given a spot in the starting line-up," said Kearney.

With Blair and captain Nathan Cayless taking the Pirtek Kiwis forward from the outset tonight, the Pirtek Kiwis had four tries and a 22-0 lead at halftime against a Papua New Guinea side that lost just 22-32 to England in Townsville a week ago. The Kumuls fancied their chances of an upset this time but it proved to be only talk.

After Vodafone Warriors centre Jerome Ropati had opened the scoring with a ninth-minute try - giving him seven in seven tests - his club-mate Simon Mannering picked up a double before winger Sam Perrett collected a lovely wide pass from Benji Marshall for the first of his two tries.

Marshall, though, was used for only 40 minutes. When he mentioned he had some tightness in a hamstring muscle close to halftime, Kearney decided against risking him in the second half.

"He said the hamstring felt tight and, in those circumstances, there was no point risking him by leaving him out there for the second half," he said.

"As a precaution, we replaced Benji at halftime but it was only a precaution."

While Papua New Guinea countered with a fine try to left winger David Moore in the 48th minute, the Pirtek Kiwis were in search and destroy mood after that.

In all they scored five tries in the space of 21 minutes. One of them was to Blair while interchange forwards Issac Luke, David Fa'alogo and Greg Eastwood all joined him in scoring their maiden test tries. The tries by Luke and Eastwood were stunning individual efforts.

The other four pointer was Perrett's second while left winger Manu Vatuvei was denied a try on a contentious forward pass call.

Pleased as he was with the effort and the result, Kearney said he knew England would provide a stern examination in Newcastle next Saturday night.

"This is a step in the right direction but there is plenty we need to improve on," he said.

Match details:

At Skilled Park, Robina
Pirtek Kiwis 48 (Simon Mannering 2, Sam Perrett 2, Jerome Ropati, Issac Luke, David Fa'alogo, Adam Blair, Greg Eastwood tries; Krisnan Inu 6 conversions).
Papua New Guinea 6 (David Moore try; John Wilshere conversion).
Halftime: 22-0 Pirtek Kiwis.
Referee: Steve Ganson (England).
Crowd: 11,278.


PNG win fans hearts and respect
Sun November 2, 2008
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]."

WORLD CUP LINKS
Home Page: http://worldcup.rleague.com
Wallpaper: http://wallpaper.rleague.com
Live Scores & Stats: http://live.rleague.com
Match Forums: http://forums.rleague.com/forumdisplay.php?f=71
Forum: http://forums.rleague.com/forumdisplay.php?f=77
Ticket Information: http://www.rlwc08.com/schedule
TV Schedule: http://www.rlwc08.com/Broadcast

NEXT MATCH
Sun 2 Nov: Australia v England at Telstra Dome, Melbourne, 7:55pm (Local Time)
Venue | Tickets | Stats | Reports | Forum

RESULTS THUS FAR
England 32 d Papua New Guinea 22 - Stats | Reports | Forum
France 36 d Scotland 18 - Stats | Reports | Forum
Australia 30 d New Zealand 6 - Stats | Reports | Forum
Tonga 22 d Ireland 20 - Stats | Reports | Forum
Samoa 20 d Tonga 12 - Stats | Reports | Forum
Fiji 42 d France 6 - Stats | Reports | Forum
New Zealand 48 d Papua New Guinea 6 - Stats | Reports | Forum

Sun November 2, 2008
• Kiwis storm back into form
  
Fri October 31, 2008
• Kumuls inspired by legend Marcus Bai
  
Fri October 31, 2008
• Scene set for World Cup encounter on the Gold Coast
  
Wed October 29, 2008
• Kumuls team to play New Zealand
  
Tue October 28, 2008
• Inu, Luke and Fa'alogo back for Kiwis World Cup clash vs PNG
  
Tue October 28, 2008
• Down but not out: Lam
  

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