Papua New Guinea have taken the next step towards a quarter-finals berth with an eight-point win over Ireland in the second week of the Rugby League World Cup.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Papua New Guinea 14
Ireland 6
The Papua New Guinea Kumuls play host to Ireland in a crucial second-round encounter in Port Moresby. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5pm (AEDT).
After the heroics of the Irish last week against the highly preferred Italians, they come to Port Moresby with much hope and a real chance of moving through to the quarter-final stage with a win against the home side.
That home ground advantage cannot be understated in this clash with a jam-packed PNG National Football Stadium playing host to the contest.
It will be noisy, frantic and passionate, and both teams will need composure to secure a victory that essentially puts either side through to the quarter-finals.
Liam Finn will be the key once again for the Irish and his performance against Italy really showed his class.
The big forwards worked tirelessly in the heat of Cairns and the Irish will be hoping for something a little milder in terms of weather after the oppression of the sub-tropics. If Finn is able to steer the ship as he did in Cairns the visitors might be able to shock the home side.
For Papua New Guinea, they are not short on talent and racked up the half-century against the Welsh in their opening match.
NRL star and captain David Mead showed his class with a hat-trick yet they will also look towards Nene Macdonald and James Segeyaro to provide the steadying influence required against a well-disciplined Irish team.
Prediction
It is hard to see the Irish winning this one. With local support and some real class across the backline, they could struggle to contain the Kumuls who are a dangerous team when they find their rhythm. After a tight opening twenty, the home side will kick away score heavily in the second half.
Papua New Guinea 36, Ireland 14
Catch all the action on The Roar with live coverage from 5pm (AEDT).
Stuart Thomas
Expert
My apologies, Connor Bennett is looking after the game in Townsville. Should be a good game and Fiji could rack up a score.
Peter
Guest
First the Hunters gave me heart palpitations, today if was the Kumuls. What were they thinking, if anything? Still, at least they got the win. One-out bashing it up may be fun, but it doesn't win games. PNG will have to be a great deal better than the Irish let them be.
Sean
Guest
'dissapointing spectacle all around' I disagree. Yes the ball control was terrible. But it reminded me of local club footy. No special plays, no similar setups. Just individuals having a crack. Amazing Ireland lasted that well in that humidity.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
What a bizarre game. Awful to watch at times, yet compelling all the same.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Don't forget to jump over to Scott Pryde's coverage of the Fiji vs Wales clash to end the weekend. The Roar's number one caller will be looking for a better standard of ball control and keeping a close eye on the human headline, Jarryd Hayne.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
I am not really sure what to say about the game we have just witnessed in the 2107 Rugby League World Cup. The home crowd in Port Moresby turned up to cheer on their heroes, expecting a comfortable victory that would see their team through to the quarter-finals. What they ended up seeing was a mistake ridden match with little composure shown by either team and a disappointing spectacle all-round. Ireland were impressive early, grabbing the first try and the conversion with a strong wind at their back. Scott Grix was again the inspiration and the early cracks in the Kumul’s composure were evident. Looking fragile due to countless errors and unstructured attack, Papua New Guinea found the line twice and managed to head to the break with a slender lead despite not being able to convert either try. The second half was a continuation of the error ridden first with neither team seemingly able to take control, grind out sets and put their stamp on the game. Looking like scoreless second period, it was somewhat fitting that a dropped ball at the death led to a Watson Boas toeing through and a try in the 79th minute. Whilst an exciting contest. PNG would have been hoping for a little more quality in their performance. With almost forty errors from both teams and twenty from the Kumuls, there is much to work on as they march toward a quarter-final against a much stronger opponent than the Irish. Final score PNG 14 IRELAND 6
Nat
Roar Guru
Bloody hell! Without making excuses, that wind must have been atrocious. You could see the ball moving in the air when passed causing some issues in control. Was waiting for PNG coach Marum to scream at the Boas Bros to settle it down. Ireland kept coming with big hits until the end.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
What a bizarre game of football. Match report to follow in ten minutes.
Sean
Guest
Exactly. Two sides just running hard and tackling hard. no backline moves or anything just 100% committment. I loved that game haha. If Ireland had a 2 decent halves they could actually do well in the future.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
FINAL SCORE PNG 14 Ireland 6
Stuart Thomas
Expert
'80 No more time for the Irish to steal a win and the game is done and dusted.
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
I still can’t fathom why the RLIF would make the decision to let PNG host all 3 pool matches in their own country, in a World Cup hosted by Australia and New Zealand. Error count disgraceful by both sides but you’ve got to wonder if PNG would have performed as well as they have at a neutral venue.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
The conversion is successful.
Tits mcscratchin
Guest
Dont have de game here in de alko emerald isle ..whats de end result?
Stuart Thomas
Expert
How poetic.....Ireland drop the ball for the last time and Watson Boas toes it through before planting the ball near the posts. TRY PNG.
Renegade
Roar Guru
The ball control has been poor from both sides but that’s because they are chancing their arms and playing rugby league.... plus the defence has been hard hitting and desperate the whole game from both. Great game!!
Stuart Thomas
Expert
78' PNG kick into touch to grind the game down.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Will somebody please complete a set, score a try and kill this thing, the error count is approaching forty.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Ireland knock on......I give up!
Stuart Thomas
Expert
The long kick from PNG goes dead and the Irish get a penalty to help them work away from their line.