Papua New Guinea will take on Australia, New Zealand and England in next year’s Four Nations rugby league tournament after winning the Pacific Cup final in Port Moresby on Sunday.
The hosts scored eight tries to defeat a young Cook Islands outfit 42-14 in front of a full house of over 10,000 at Lloyd Robson Oval.
Kumuls captain John Wilshere said reaching the Four Nations will inspire the people of Papua New Guinea.
“It means so much to all our boys and everyone here in this country,” he said.
“Rugby league is our national sport, we love it.”
The Kumuls dominated from the outset, racing into a 10-0 lead within 15 minutes through tries from Richard Kambo and Gold Coast Titans youngster David Mead.
The Cook Islands, who reached the final after surprise wins over Samoa and Fiji, hit back with scores from scrum half Daniel Fepuleai and Newcastle Knights winger Lulia Lulia.
But the hosts who had the ascendancy going into the half-time interval.
First Anton Kui raced over in the corner and Mead grabbed his second try after re-gathering a clever chip kick from Penrith Panthers halfback Keith Peters to make it 2010 at the break.
In the second half, with Jay Aston and crowd favourite Charlie Wabo directing traffic from dummy half, the Kumuls found holes in the Cook Islands defence across the field.
UK-based centre Menzie Yere grabbed two tries, while Mead posted his hat trick with a superb 70-metre sprint to the line.
Wilshere converted five of the eight tries, including two tough kicks from the touchline.
The Cooks had the last word as winger Dominic Peyroux grabbed a late consolation try, but the Papua New Guinea party was already in full swing.
“I thought our defence was outstanding today, and it has been for the last two weeks,” said Kumuls coach Adrian Lam.
“There are a lot of young players in our side and we’ve certainly got a great balance between them and our older guys.
“I dont think it’s really sunk in yet that we’re in the Four Nations, but were excited about it, and well get our heads around it soon enough.”
Cook Islands coach David Fairleigh said he hoped his side’s Pacific Cup exploits would provide a boost to rugby league in the nation.
“No-one gave us a chance to do anything in this tournament, but what we’ve shown in the last two weeks hopefully gives the Cook Islands Rugby League something to build on,” he said.
The Four Nations tournament, which is currently taking place in Europe, will be hosted by Australia next year.
joshua
Guest
I could join PNG Kumuls some day when Im big enough.
PNGean in UK
Guest
I think for too long the rugby league board admininstrators have let the greatest game of all down. They have deminstrated a total lack of acumen, savy and skills to properly develop the code across the world. They were too selfish and biase towards Australia, NZ and England. I know because coming from PNG and now living/working fulltime in England - it amazes me to see that in this nation, RL is concentrated within the "M62 corridor", covering Yorkshire / Lancashire!! common this is the greatest sport in the world - how comes has RL not spread well accross the United Kingdom!!! that says alot about how the game was managed over the years!!!! shame! shame! shame! on those RL administrators - they have let the game down. Our sport was a professional sport before poxy rugby union. All of a sudden union seems to be a bigger sport than league. What has gone wrong? where have we gone wrong with RL? The RL world needs a more charismatic, upward thinking, intelligent Chairman on the chair to direct the promotion and growth of this beautifull game in the right areas!!!! This sport has a huge potential to grow all over the world. The idea of having a NRL team from PNG is a step in the right direction. It can only develop the sport more. We should look at developing the game in Africa, Central and South America!!!! That's my 2 pence! over to you guys.
jus de couchon
Guest
ANGRY!!!! No way . Frustrated by the incompetent out of touch idiots that run League. Why dont others ?
jus de couchon
Guest
P.N.G is an embaressment to the promoters of R.L. They consistantly prove themselves but have no place in the Brave New World of International R.L.unlike Serbia , Lebannon , Scotland. Look at League here , Barrow , Widness . Just not cool enough I suppose.
Rusty
Guest
What happens to France?
Jeff Baxter
Guest
Great stuff! Loving this new set up. Hopefully a five nations pretty soon so that the european and pacific cups are qualifiers every year.
PNGean in UK
Guest
Common PNG! ! We almost beat England in the world cupa last year. Go another step up in next years four nations in Oz.
PJ
Guest
Definitely one more superleague club in France will do wonders. France's problem is a lack of depth, and whilst they can be competitive with a full strenght team, they will never truly be in with a chance until the depth issue is addressed. I am off to Paris next week to watch the mighty roos, and whilst it could be a cricket score I have great optimism for the future of the game in France. I have no doubt there will eventually be 3 teams in superleague down the track. Perhaps Wales will be in the next 4 nations in Europe, they are developing at a rate of knots. As for PNG, GO YOU GOOD THING!
Crosscoder
Guest
i am extremely pleased for PNG and their players,the coach Lam and the fanatical supporters of their national game. In view of the social problems,violence,a growing AIDs problem and lack of employment opportunities,this will give the country a well earned lift. There is a huge untapped ,raw potential within that country.Now they are beginning to get a direct path to the intnl game and the NRL scene.Their inclusion IMO in the NRL,will not happen in the next expansion 13,but the following. France still needs more devlopment work and ESL experience.The inclusion of toulouse in the comp,will assist them and the developmet work going on with juniors. About time the game has a series of intnls in Europe and the pacific islands,to grow the game.
Tom Alexander.
Guest
Under Adrian Lam, they really are starting to build as a genuine force. Watching those highlights on the weekend, it was good to see the Kumuls which had a mix of Domestic, Super-League and NRL players, perform with so much intensity and enthusiasm. Now with Wales playing Scotland next week in the European Cup Final, anybody know what will happen with the winner of that competition? Apparently many Rugby League fans in Great Britian are just as confused.
The Link
Guest
Carn the Kummuls. Hopefully their games will be at Dairy Farmers next year where they would get good support, part. against the Kiwis and the Poms. How can the Frogs get back into the 4 nations?
Pippinu
Roar Guru
It's a very good set up League now has for its international calendar, an annual series where the 3 powers get to meet a borderline 4th power (that might change from year to year, depending on other qualifying games). One would expect France and PNG to wax if for a while - but the idea is that anyone can come through if they are good enough - countries have to start somewhere.
Matt S
Guest
Well done to the Cooks on a tremendous few weeks but definately happy PNG got in to next year's 4 nations. I would have prefered them or Fiji over the Cooks because I'm concerned about the Cook Islander's depth. With PNG, they have professionals in the NRL and a substanial semi-pro comp back home which would give them more depth over the other pacific nations. Should be interesting in 2010 them them and finally they can reach their potentional. It's good to see them get better international exposure because the Kumul brand deserves better. Just hope someone like Clive Palmer can put money into a good stadium.
oikee
Guest
We all have a soft-spot for PNG, yes hopefully they can use this mommetem for a NRL team. I really think we need them for a direct pathway for islanders, they all loved it in Port Morsbey.
Mick from Giralang
Guest
This is great news. The Kumuls are the entertainers of the international rugby league scene. Win lose or draw next year they will bring some extra magic to the tournament. I hope this provides impetus for a PNG side to rejoin the QLD Cup soon.