The Papua New Guinea Kumuls will be representing a nation that is absolutely mad about rugby league.
It is the national sport of Papua New Guinea and has in some ways become a replacement for tribal warfare.
The Adrian Lam-coached Kumuls will be aiming to produce their best ever effort at the 2013 World Cup.
Papua New Guinea Kumuls
RLIF World Ranking: 6
Best Result: Quarter Finalists (2000)
2008 Finish: sixth
2013 RLWC Odds: $251
Rugby league began its journey in Papua New Guinea in the 1930s when it was brought across by Australian miners and servicemen.
In 1949 the governing body was developed and the sport quickly became part of the national psyche.
The Kumuls joined the RLIF in the 1970s and the 1988 World Cup was the first that they participated in.
Due to poor infrastructure within the country and regular violence at games, rugby league has been hampered in Papua New Guinea at international level with very few games scheduled against the larger nations.
An annual fixture against the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII is the biggest game of the year for the locals and is played in front of a sell-out crowd each time.
The Australian State of Origin matches are the most watched sporting events in Papua New Guinea every year and the players that take part are well known throughout the country.
The most idolised players in Papua New Guinea this year however will no doubt be the 17 men that take the field for the Kumuls at the 2013 World Cup.
The Kumuls best performance in a RLWC was in 2000. The Papua New Guinea side went through their pool undefeated before going down to Wales 22-8 in the knockout stages.
That Quarter Final match against the Welsh was watched by an estimated two million Papua New Guineans in the early hours of the morning local time.
Although they were defeated, the Kumuls returned home to a jam packed Port Moresby airport which had thousands of fans waiting not only inside but also outside the precinct.
In the 2008 World Cup, Papua New Guinea were never a chance of progressing far in the tournament having been drawn in the pool of death with Australia, England and New Zealand.
The 2013 squad will be looking to make amends and re-create the scenes of 2000 by doing their league-loving nation proud.
Team Line Up (likely)
1. David Mead
2. Josiah Abavu
3. Menzie Yere
4. Jessie Joe Nandye
5. Bosam McDonald
6. Israel Eliab
7. Ray Thompson
8. Jason Chan
9. Charlie Wabo
10. Enoch Maki
11. Neville Costigan (c)
12. Larson Marabe
13. Paul Aiton
14. Richard Kambo
15. Sebastian Pandia
16. Mark Mexico
17. Dion Aiye
Squad Members: Wellington Albert, Ase Boas, Roger Laka, Francis Paniu, Jason Tali, Joe Bruno
The Kumuls will be led by NRL veteran Neville Costigan who has the honour of leading the national side for the first time.
Papua New Guinea has a number of other NRL experienced players in their ranks with David Mead, Ray Thompson and Paul Aiton also selected.
The team will no doubt put their bodies on the line during the series and none more so than the popular Sheffield Eagles centre – Menzie Yere.
One to Watch
He is known as ‘The Jukebox’ for putting on the hits and has become a crowd favourite for Sheffield in the Kingstone Press Championship.
Menzie uses every muscle in his body with or without the Steeden in hand.
Yere is almost impossible to stop close to the line being such a devastating runner with the ball however opposition centres will be more worried when in possession, just in case the Jukebox is around.
Group B Fixtures and Opponents
Vs France @ Craven Park, Hull Kick Off – Mon 28th Oct 3am AEDT
Vs Samoa @ Craven Park, Hull Kick Off – Tues fifth Nov 7am AEDT
Vs New Zealand @ Headingley Stadium, Leeds Kick Off – Sat ninth Nov 7am AEDT
Key Match
The Papua New Guinea supporters that travel to the UK for the 2013 RLWC will be setting up camp in Hull and striving to make Craven Park a home away from home.
With the Kumuls scheduled to play their first two games at the venue, a win against either France or Samoa may be enough to propel the side into the Quarter Finals of the tournament.
The side have a good record against the Samoan side however they will be facing much stronger opposition in 2013.
RLWC 2013 Prospects
Luckily Papua New Guinea is not facing the same prospect as they did in 2008 where they would have required a miracle just to win a game.
Adrian Lam will fancy his team’s chances of making it through to the knock out stages of this tournament however the late withdrawal of their best player James Segeyaro will hurt the Kumuls chances of progressing.
Regardless of whether the Papua New Guinea side can equal or better their previous best performance at a World Cup, they will still be adored by their passionate fans back home who will continue to cheer on the Kumuls no matter the result.
casper
Guest
OK WE LOST AGAIN,.....sadly so. ............. & Now to some entertaining free running, basketball pass, touch footy rugby league,.......hopefully the coach can allow for some free rein on this as our beloved Kumuls run out for the last time to give us some fond memories of this 2013 world cup games yumi pilai nau ol boi...!!!...
Wesley
Guest
Yet again, our Kumuls have gone down again, this time, a much bigger margin, 34 points, to the Samoans. Alot more improvement is needed badlly right now... The Kumuls must prepare extra harderm to save face against the Kiwis.. Go Kumuls...Please improve...
Bearfax
Guest
Whatever the results now, the fact is that PNG. Tonga, Samoa and Fiji have done themselves proud by not capitulating and showing they are getting closer to the top nations. If anything it demonstrates that these nations international careers are progressing well and should soon be playing serious international competition against the three top teams. Aus, NZ and Eng. I believe they have the measure of the other sides in the competition and should be all in the top seven Rugby League nations playing the game in the near future. Hopefully the money will be allocated to those teams to assist them in their further development.
Wesley
Guest
C'mon Kumuls... This is Do or Die...WE Must Beat the Samoans...NO Ifs and Buts this time .... Go the Mighty Kumuls...
casper
Guest
KUMULS....ol boi stret....!!! Enjoy, have fun, and learn, remind the crowd there & the rugby league playing nations, we are who we are ,,,the "Ultimate Entertainers" of this game leading or trailing, how about a little bit of "razzle dazzle" backyard footy (png style) in the dying 5minutes of the game? wantaim yupla casper
casper
Guest
Take it easy boys, ........lets relax ... ........& then give it our all in that next game againts our Samoan brothers Remember the KUMULS are reknown in the Rugby League circles as the "Ultimate Entertainers" of the game Warm regards from sweet home(png) casper
Solwara Tu.
Guest
Very Dissapointing to see David Mead miss this Golden Opportunity Penalty Goal, right infront of the Sticks. An alternative Kicker must be used in future games of the Kumuls.... The thing that fustrates me as a Kumul Fan is, if D Mead has missed these other two consecutive goal attempts, why let him continue kicking???? great dissapointment indeed..
Jacob Wembri
Guest
Play to the best of your abilities KUMULS and do us proud
Solwara Tu.
Guest
Ready to sleep early, to wake up at 2.30am Monday Morning, to watch our Kumuls go against the Frenchmen. Can't wait to see our Boys perform on the big stage.. PNG is with you all Kumuls....Let's give the World, the unexpected...
12.4
Guest
Can't wait to see Wellington Albert of the PNG Kumuls get in the field! Go PNG Kumuls!!! Stap wantaim yupla!!!
Alex Ao
Guest
Go the mighty PNG Kumuls,,we salute and support you!!!
Solwara Tu.
Guest
Wantoks of PNG. The Stage is now set, as the Kumuls Coach has just named a Strong Kumul Line Up, to take on the Frenchmen. I know our Boys will put all efforts into shutting down the French Ball runners. Once the French Onslaught is contained fully, Our Boys will no doubt unleash their Fire Power. Go the Mighty Kumuls, show the World that we can do it too.
Joe Kandan
Guest
Thanks Renegade for the compliment. We are a league crazy nation and our boys know just that. I am sure they will not let us down. Go Kumuls no matter what.
Joseph Pokera
Guest
So James Segeyaro missed out :( Anyway I love to see the Little General play on their next match.My Apo Brother
Mangi Ramu
Guest
Go the kumuls, pasin barata istap. Stap wantem yupla long spirit. We are all proud of you!
Bearfax
Guest
Excellent news Martin. Hopefully this will only be the first step.
Martin Liri
Guest
PNG will be fielding a team in next year's Intrust Super Cup (Qld Cup). The announcement was made today in Port Moresby. Martin
dickson
Guest
Saving trys is the same as scoring trys to win.....I must say defence will win the game. I think both Lam and Mal will get the boys to give 100% effort in defence to win the game against France Roosters. We just need a win to go into quarter finals...and this should come from the France game or the game between Samoa.
Martin Liri
Guest
James was dropped from the squad. Couldn't recover in time from an injury he sustained in Kokopo during the Prime Ministers XIII game when the Australians steamrolled them 50-10. Yes, it's a pity the young man is not in the side but there's enough talent in the side to slot in at hooker. Paul Aiton, Charlie Wabo, who we are told had a blinder. Even young Roger Laka who is normally a halfback was used there against Scotland when he came off the bench and set up a try so opened up Lam's hooker options wiith even Cowboys Ray Thompson who started at five-eighth. Both Lam and Meninga know size wise they are smaller to their other opponents but versatility is something that they can use to their advantage. It seems that's the plan they have built their team around, plenty of players who can play more than one position and less specialists who are restricted to just one position. But as I mentioned earlier the attacking ability is there and players who are going to be chosen ahead of the others will be those who are much better in comparison with their defence. Twenty points scored against them is not something Lam and Meninga would encourage in this competition and some serious effort would be concentrated on these deficiencies in next few days. Scotland scored first and wrestled the lead at times during the match so any coach would be worried about that even if they ended up winning.
Renegade
Roar Guru
AP, Segeyaro had to withdraw due to an injury.