Papua New Guinea’s national rugby league team made a strong start to their Pacific Bowl campaign with a 22-10 win over Fiji on Saturday night. The victory puts the Kumuls in a prime position to advance to the top tier of the Pacific Championships in 2025. The match, held in Suva, marked Fiji's first home game in 24 years, and the Fijian fans filled the stadium with excitement. However, the Kumuls quickly silenced the crowd by taking control of the first half and building a 16-0 lead by halftime. Fiji struggled to match Papua New Guinea’s pace and intensity. Robert Derby of the North Queensland Cowboys stood out for the Kumuls, intercepting two passes from Fijian star Viliame Kikau. His first interception led to the game’s opening try, and his second set up a try for veteran player Nene Macdonald early in the second half. Macdonald had a standout performance, with 227 running meters, two line breaks, and 10 tackle breaks.
This win marks Papua New Guinea’s second consecutive victory over Fiji, having previously beaten them in a Test match. Under coach Jason Demetriou, the Kumuls now have a strong chance to qualify for the Pacific Bowl final. A win over the Cook Islands in Week 3 will secure their place in the final and promotion to the top division. Fiji, meanwhile, must defeat the Cook Islands in Week 2 to keep their hopes alive. Fiji had some bright moments, with a key goal-line tackle by Taane Milne and a 40/20 kick by Kurt Donoghoe offering brief relief. However, Kikau’s errant pass was intercepted by Derby, leading to Papua New Guinea's first try. Moments later, Nene Macdonald broke through several defenders and offloaded the ball to Judah Rimbu, who scored the Kumuls' second try. Sylvester Namo then crossed for the third try just before halftime. Fiji’s comeback efforts started with a try by Semi Valemei early in the second half, but Derby’s second interception led to another Kumuls try, again through Macdonald. Fiji managed a late try by Maika Sivo, converted by Milne, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap. The match took place at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. Papua New Guinea’s tries were scored by Robert Derby, Judah Rimbu, Sylvester Namo, and Nene Macdonald, with Rhyse Martin converting three times. Fiji’s points came from tries by Semi Valemei and Maika Sivo, with Milne adding a conversion. Papua New Guinea will now turn their attention to their Week 3 matchup against the Cook Islands, knowing a win will secure their place in the final. Fiji, on the other hand, faces a must-win situation in Week 2 to stay in the competition. Also read Comments are closed.
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