By Rich Cowley, Date: 25/10/17
Venue: Port Moresby National Football Stadium, Papua New Guinea
Kick-off time: 28th October 2017, 3pm (Local Time)
The PNG Kumuls are favourites going into the match with some bookies giving the Welsh Dragons a nineteen and a half head start going into this clash.
The PNG team are loaded with players who have had NRL and Super League experience like David Mead, Paul Aiton and James Segeyaro. With the PNG Hunters winning the Intra Super Cup competition the standard of the PNG national team has increased considerabley over the last few years.
The home ground advantage the Kumuls have cannot be understated. It is going to be a huge boost for PNG’s national team and very unconfortable for the visiting Welsh.
Wales have a team comprised of players from all levels of the UK leagues. The Welsh will put in a huge effort but that might not be enough for the visiting team.
The odds are stacked against the Dragons but with Craig Kopczak captaining the Welsh and leading up front the battle in the forwards will be one to see.
PNG 2017 RLWC Team:
1 David MEAD (c)
2 Justin OLAM
3 Kato OTTIO
4 Nene MACDONALD
5 Garry LO
6 Ase BOAS
7 Watson BOAS
8 Stanton ALBERT
9 Wartovo PUARA
10 Luke PAGE
11 Rhyse MARTIN
12 Rod Griffin
13 Paul AITON
14 Kurt BAPTISTE
15 Willie MINOGA
16 James SEGEYARO
17 Enock MAKI
18 Lachlan LAM
19 Stargroth AMEAN
20 Wellington ALBERT
21 Moses MENINGA
Wales 2017 RLWC Team:
1 Elliot KEAR
2 Rhys WILLIAMS
3 Michael CHANNING
4 Andrew GAY
5 Regan GRACE
6 Courtney DAVIES
7 Matt SEAMARK
8 Craig KOPCZAK (c)
9 Steve PARRY
10 Philip JOSEPH
11 Rhodri LLOYD
12 Ben MORRIS
13 Morgan KNOWLES
14 Matty FOZARD
15 Sam HOPKINS
16 Ben EVANS
17 Chester BUTLER
18 Josh RALPH
19 Dalton GRANT
20 Christiaan ROETS
21 Matthew BARRON
