The PNG Kumuls have had a dream start to their World Cup campaign, beating Wales 50-6 in front of their home fans at a packed National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Papua New Guinea 50
Wales 6
Playing in front of their passionate home fans, the Papua New Guinea Kumuls will be the heavy favourites when they take on Wales in their first round World Cup Pool C match. Join The Roar for all the action from 4pm (AEDT).
Despite being heavily backed to win this match, the Kumuls have actually lost to Wales in the only three Test matches ever played between the countries.
But this team is arguably the strongest PNG have ever fielded, with captain David Mead, James Segeyaro, Nene McDonald and Kurt Baptiste providing plenty of NRL experience.
Six players from the Queensland Cup premiership-winning Papua New Guinea Hunters are also in the 17, including the Boas brothers in the halves, while winger Garry Lo and lock Paul Aiton have been playing in the English Super League.
The Welsh have mainly Super League players donning the jersey and are captained by prop Craig Kopczak, who plays for Salford.
London Broncos winger Rhys Williams is one to keep an eye on – he has a great strike rate in internationals, with 18 tries from his 23 Tests for the Dragons.
Wales have reached the semi-finals of the World Cup on two occasions in the tournament’s history – 1995 and 2000 – while the Kumuls’ best effort was making the quarter-finals in 2000.
Prediction
A win in this opening match would be the confidence-boosting start that both teams need, but it will be the home side who get the chocolates.
Papua New Guinea by 14.
Allan Wawah
Guest
PNG Kumuls win made all Papua New Guineans proud. We love our countries, values and norms and rugby league is our national sport. GO PNG KUMULS!, keep striving for excellence in rugby league, the nation is behind you.
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Scotty, your day will come mate. I could try and tell you what the experience is like but the only way to understand it is to be on deck. Best of all I was able to take my 13 year old son - an education school can't provide. Next on my list is to see a match from the local Moresby comp or even in the Highlands.
Damo
Guest
People degenerating Wales need to remember though that Wales had 6 or so Super League players missing from their squad due to injury. The likes of Flower, Dudson etc would strengthen their starting 13 an awful lot. Also many of the Welsh players are home grown rather than just a squad of blow ins brought in for the World Cup.
Scott Pryde
Expert
You lucky so and so for getting up there. I'd give just about anything to be in that atmosphere.
Haz
Guest
Did I just watch what I just watched?
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
My first time to Moresby and first to a Kumuls match. Wow! If you're a league diehard you've gotta see the Kumuls at home. Passion of the fans is like nothing else, they ride each play like it's the last. Garry Lo, my new favourite wrecking ball!! Felt for Wales in the heat, but full credit they never dropped their bundle.
Fred
Guest
Queensland Cup is a stepping stone to the NRL for PNG. Hunters have dominated the Queensland Cup, and Hunters boys have earned NRL contracts as a result. PNG will have an NRL team before long.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining me on this afternoon’s coverage, hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to leave your comments on the game.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Match report PNG 50 Wales 6 The PNG Kumuls have had a dream start to their World Cup campaign, beating Wales 50-6 in front of their home fans at a packed National Football Stadium in Port Moresby. The Kumuls scored 10 tries to 1 over a shell-shocked Welsh side, who simply couldn’t match the physicality of the Kumuls in both attack and defence. Wales were overwhelmed in hot conditions that they wouldn’t be used to playing in, and the Kumuls showed how much they have developed in the past few years. PNG scored five unanswered first half tries, with captain David Mead scoring two in the first ten minutes after running off great balls both times from five-eighth Ase Boas. Centre Nene McDonald then used his size and strength to barge his way over for their third try in the 22nd minute. Five minutes before half-time, Mead sparked the Kumuls attack again with a break up the middle. On the following tackle, halfback Watson Boas put in a deft kick for centre Kato Ottio to score. PNG were in again three minutes later, with big interchange forward Wellington Albert scoring beside the posts. The only controversy of the first half was a biting allegation against Albert, who has been placed on report. It didn’t take long for the Kumuls to continue their try-scoring rampage in the second half, with backrower Rhyse Martin crossing twice in the first ten minutes. Martin had a strong game, and six minutes later he put a grubber through for big winger Justin Olam to score put wide. Mead then grabbed his third try of the game after grounding a James Segeyaro grubber. Segeyaro came off the interchange bench for this match, and had a field day when he came on. PNG lock Paul Aiton crossed beside the posts with ten minutes to go and Martin converted to bring up the Kumuls half-century. Wales got a consolation try right on full-time when winger Rhys Williams pounced on a cross-field kick that was spilt by Kumuls winger Garry Lo. The PNG fans were in raptures over their team’s performance, and no doubt will fill the stands again when they take on Ireland at the same venue in Port Moresby next week. Wales on the other hand have to face Fiji next week in Townsville, which won’t be any easier.
Mike
Guest
To me this just shows are far wales and other countries have regressed! PNG got this much better by having a team in the Queensland cup. That is not a professional competition they improved so much that from semi-pro comp they destroyed wales who are much better then Ireland, usa etc. How is that improving league around the world? all it shows that it is regressing in countries where it should of gotten stronger
ronsen
Guest
would it help even the field if the games were hosted at night?
Fred
Guest
Wales would be a stronger team than Ireland and the US - those two must be terrified to face PNG!
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Full-time Garry Lo fumbling a cross-field kick to allow Williams to get a consolation try for Wales. Conversion successful from the sideline. PNG 50 Wales 6
John Coomer
Roar Guru
79’ Try!! Wales (Rhys Williams) PNG 50 Wales 4 Kick to come
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Very creative for their attack.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
78’ Game now winding down, Wales still in the Kumuls 20. PNG 50 Wales 0
Fred
Guest
They sure have Sert. I think Wales has a stronger team than some other countries at the world cup. I expected PNG to win, but to to see them steamroll Wales like this is impressive.
Fred
Guest
4 PNG hookers on the field at once, wow!
Fred
Guest
Too right Sleiman. It's remarkable to see how far PNG has come since the 2008 world cup.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
75’ Wales now on the attack, looking to score a consolation try. PNG 50 Wales 0