Click the match link for full match details including teams, scoring details, articles and more
Sat October 25 2008, 7:00PM AEST GMT+10Sat Oct 25: England 32 d. Papua New Guinea 22 at
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Kirwan, Townsville (QLD)Crowd: 10,780
Sun October 26 2008, 8:00PM AEDT GMT+11Sun Oct 26: Australia Kangaroos 30 d. New Zealand Kiwis 6 at
Sydney Football Stadium, Driver Ave, Moore Park, Sydney (NSW)Crowd: 34,157
Sat November 1 2008, 7:00PM AEST GMT+10Sat Nov 1: New Zealand Kiwis 48 d. Papua New Guinea 6 at
Skilled Park, Robina, Gold Coast (QLD)Crowd: 11,278
Sun November 2 2008, 8:00PM AEDT GMT+11Sun Nov 2: Australia Kangaroos 52 d. England 4 at
Telstra Dome, Docklands, Melbourne (VIC)Crowd: 36,297
Sat November 8 2008, 8:00PM AEDT GMT+11Sat Nov 8: England 24 l. New Zealand Kiwis 36 at
Energy Australia Stadium, New Lambton, Newcastle (NSW)Crowd: 15,145
Sun November 9 2008, 7:00PM AEST GMT+10Sun Nov 9: Australia Kangaroos 46 d. Papua New Guinea 6 at
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Kirwan, Townsville (QLD)Crowd: 16,239
Sun November 9, 2008
Source: PNG Media Manager
Papua New Guinea bowed out of the Rugby League World Cup tonight but ushered in a new era of Kumuls players passionate about taking the league-mad nation to new heights.
Coach Adrian Lam said the emergence of young stars such as David Moore, Jessie Joe Parker and Rod Griffin, together with renewed support from the PNG and Australian Governments had PNG primed for success at both domestic and international levels.
PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare presented the Kumuls their jerseys prior to tonight's match and used the opportunity to announce a multimillion dollar injection into strengthening PNG Rugby League, whilst also saying he had received support from Australian Prime Minister Mr Kevin Rudd.
Lam reiterated tonight how proud he was of his side's efforts despite coming up against considerably stronger opposition throughout the tournament.
"Our guys have played their hearts out and that gave it their best and that's all I can ask for," Lam said tonight.
"All tournament, I could not have asked more of them in regards to how professional they have been ? they've been a credit to themselves and Papua New Guinea.
"I don't think our last two matches of the tournament reflected how far we have come.
"If a few calls had gone our way in the England game things may have been a lot different and that performance showed the potential these guys have.
"We need to play more Test matches to help them realise that potential and that's where we need the help of the [Rugby League] international federation.
"The Prime Minister's announcement today is a great thing for Rugby League in PNG and if we continue to work hard at developing our infrastructures and juniors the results will come."
The Kumuls tonight went down 46-6 to Australia at Dairy Farmers Stadium in front of 16,239 fans.
It was a typically courageous performance characterised by stinging defence and daring attacking plays but the Kangaroos' class showed as they leapt to a 22-nil.
Lam said his favourite moment of the entire tournament was seeing his team's elation at scoring their first try of the campaign against England.
"That just showed how close the guys have become in a short space of time ? they're all great mates and there is a lot of passion there for the Kumuls jersey," Lam said.
"When you have guys like Neville Costigan tearing up almost an hour after a loss you can see how much it means to them to play for PNG, and as their coach it was great to see.
Lam tonight said he was in for the long haul to help build up Papua New Guinean Rugby League.
"The goal is there to become strong enough to field a side in the Queensland Cup for example and then go from there," Lam said.
"This tournament was a lot about earning us back some respect in the international arena and I think we've done that.
"I am excited about where we can go from here and so are the players."
Tonight's match signaled the end of a glittering international career for Kumuls cult hero Stanley Gene, a veteran of three world cups.
The affable five-eighth, one of many characters that have ignited the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, was overcome with emotion after the match.
"Wearing the Kumuls jumper changed my life," Gene said.
"I'm still in a dream world even today.
"And what a nice way to finish my last World Cup, playing the best team in the world.
"I want to thank everyone back home and everyone who has played a part in my career? especially all our supporters back in PNG."
Wed November 5, 2008
Kumuls coach Adrian Lam has today announced a 20-man squad to take on Australia this Sunday at Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville.
PNG KumulsFullback John Wilshere (c) (Salford City Reds)
Winger David Moore (Gold Coast Titans)
Centre Tu'u Maori (Sydney Roosters)
Centre Anton Kui (Bingtangor Lahanis)
Winger George Kepa (Brisbane Norths)
Five Eighth Stanley Gene (Hull KR)
Half Back Keith Peters (Penrith Panthers)
Prop Jason Chan (Windsor Wolves)
Hooker Paul Aiton (Penrith Panthers)
Prop Trevor Exton (Ipswich)
Second Row Neville Costigan (Canberra Raiders)
Second Row James Nightingale (Windsor Wolves)
Lock Rod Griffin (Northern Pride)
Interchange Kevin Prior (Wentworthville)
Interchange Nicko Slain (Goroka Lahanis)
Interchange Jesse Joe Parker (Masta Mark Rangers)
Interchange Charlie Wabo (M & J Muruks)
Interchange Jay Aston (Melbourne Storm)
Interchange Menzie Yere (Agmark Gurias)
Interchange George Moni (M & J Muruks)
Pool A
Australia Kangaroos 46 d. Papua New Guinea 6
rleague UK Edition
rleague RSS Feed