By Rich Cowley, Date: 31/10/17 (Photo Credit NRL Photos)
Venue: National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
TV Kick-off time: Sunday 5th November 2017, 4pm PGT
This is shaping up to be the best match of Pool C. Ireland will be travelling North to Port Moresby to take on Pool favourites the Kumuls for what is a top of the table clash for Pool C.
The PNG Kumuls were relentless against the Welsh last week at home. With the tropical heat of Port Moresby along with the fanatical crowd going against them, Wales had no answers to domination PNG displayed in both defence and attack. The Kumuls steamrolled Wales 50 – 6 along with breaking the record for the most points scored in a World Cup match by a Papua New Guinea Rugby League Team.
Expect much more of the same when PNG meet Ireland on Sunday afternoon. Once again the Kumuls will have the home crowd advantage along with the tropical heat working in their favour. Papua New Guinea will look to outmuscle Ireland up front and run around the Ireland pack early. If this happens it could be a long afternoon for the Wolfhounds.
If the Kumuls win they will secure a place in the Rugby league World Cup quarter-finals. If Papua New Guinea lose they would need to win against the United States the following week and hope Ireland also lose against Wales if they are any hope of a quarter-finals berth.
Ireland caused the first major upset of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup when they ambushed a star studded Italy 36 – 12 in Cairns over the weekend. The Irish seemed to handle the heat well and really surprised many by their discipline around the ruck and their willingness to spread the ball from side to side of the field.
Ireland will be looking to cause another upset when they run out in Port Moresby on Sunday. The Wolfhounds have the speed and skill to make it very uncomfortable for the Kumuls. Look out for an Ireland team trying to put as many points on the board as possible.
If Ireland continue their giant killing ways and defeat the Kumuls they will almost secure their place in the Rugby League World Cup quarter finals. The Irish will just need to win against the Welsh the following week in Perth to make it a certainty. If Ireland lose to PNG this weekend then they would need the Kumuls to lose against the USA next week. The Wolfhounds would also need to rack up a mighty scoreline against Wales and hope the for and against to work in their favour.
Papua New Guinea 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 Kurt BAPTISTE
10 Luke PAGE
11 Rhyse MARTIN
12 Willie MINOGA
13 Paul AITON
14 James SEGEYARO
15 Wellington ALBERT
16 Stargroth AMEAN
17 Enock MAKI
18 Moses MENINGA
19 Lachlan LAM
20 Nixon PUTT
21 Wartovo PUARA
Ireland 2017 RLWC Team:
1 Scott GRIX
2 Shannon McDONNELL
3 Ed CHAMBERLAIN
4 Michael MORGAN
5 Liam KAY
6 Api PEWHAIRANGI
7 Liam FINN (c)
8 1 Brad SINGLETON
9 Michael MCILLORUM
10 Kyle AMOR
11 Louie McCARTHY-SCARSBROOK
12 Oliver ROBERTS
13 George KING
14 Tyrone MCCARTHY
15 James HASSON
16 Joe PHILBIN
17 Anthony MULLALY
18 Will HOPE
19 Joe KEYES
20 Matty HADDEN
21 Jack HIGGINSON
