The Papua New Guinea Kumuls are eager to raise their profile and establish themselves as one of rugby league’s top-tier teams as they gear up to face the Fiji Bati in their opening Pacific Cup match. With the possibility of facing top teams such as Australia, New Zealand, or Tonga, the Kumuls are motivated to prove they belong among the sport’s elite. Led by seasoned players like Nene Macdonald, the team is ready to embrace the challenge and push for recognition at the highest level. Macdonald, who has represented PNG in 16 Test matches, expressed his confidence in the team’s ability to compete against the best. He welcomed the opportunity to face one of the top three Pacific Cup nations if the Kumuls manage to retain their title under the new promotion-relegation system. “We need to win the upcoming matches, and so does Fiji. We’re playing to earn a spot in the main competition. Every player dreams of going up against top teams like Australia and New Zealand,” Macdonald said. The Kumuls will begin their title defense against Fiji at Suva’s HFC Stadium on Saturday night, followed by a crucial fixture against the Cook Islands on November 2. Winning both games will ensure their place in the final at CommBank Stadium on November 10. Macdonald added, “We believe in ourselves and know we can do it. If you don’t have the drive to reach the top, you don’t belong in this team.”
Arriving in Suva after competing in the Prime Minister’s XIII match in Port Moresby, the Kumuls conducted their first full training session on Tuesday. Due to injuries, Leigh hooker Edwin Ipape and PNG Hunters center Alex Max have been ruled out, with fullback Morea Morea, the 2023 Queensland Cup Rookie of the Year, and second-rower Robert Mathias stepping in as replacements. Judah Rimbu, who was named Queensland Cup Player of the Year, is expected to start at hooker in place of Ipape. Macdonald stressed the importance of developing rugby league talent in Papua New Guinea at an earlier age, highlighting the difference in player development between PNG and Australia. “In Australia, players start as young as six or seven, whereas in PNG, most players don’t start until they’re 14 or 15. It’s a big gap,” he noted. He also highlighted the significance of PNG’s bid to join major professional leagues, which he believes will boost the growth of rugby league in the country. The growing rivalry between Papua New Guinea and Fiji has strengthened international rugby league competition, according to Macdonald, who said that while the players share camaraderie off the field, the competition on the field is intense. “I’ve got a lot of good mates who play for Fiji. We’re close off the field, but once we’re on it, it’s a fierce rivalry. We play hard, but it’s all left on the field,” he said. Kumuls five-eighth Kyle Laybutt, who captained the team to victory in last year’s Pacific Bowl, is eagerly awaiting the matches in Fiji. Laybutt anticipates a lively atmosphere similar to the passionate support PNG fans showed in Port Moresby. “We had incredible crowd support in PNG, and I expect the same from the Fijian fans. It’s going to be a physical challenge, but the rivalry is built on mutual respect, and I’m looking forward to it,” Laybutt said. Also read Comments are closed.
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Papua New Guinea Kumuls Breaking News & Match Reports and highligntsRugby League News by CategoryBringing all the latest rugby league news in PNG. If you want to contribute to this site with articles relating to sports please contact us here Pacific BowlPNG LNG Kumuls 22 Fiji Bati 10
PNG LNG Kumuls Cook Islands World CupPM'S XIIIDowner Rugby League 9s World Cup- PNG Kumuls 0 Australia 26
- PNG Kumuls 18 New Zealand Kiwis 18 - PNG Kumuls 23 USA Tomahawks 10 Pacific Test Results2019 - PNG Kumuls 28 Great Britain Lions 10
2019 - Fiji Bati 22 PNG Kumuls 20 2019 - PNG Kumls 6 Samoa 24 2018 - PNG Kumuls 26 Fiji Bati 14 2017 - PNG Kumuls 32 Cook Islands 22 2016 - PNG Kumuls 24 Fiji Bati 22 2015- Fiji Bati 22 PNG Kumuls 22 World Cup Results
Round 1 : PNG Kumuls 50 Wales 6 Round 2: PNG Kumuls 14 Ireland 6 Round 3 PNG Kumuls 64 USA 0 Quarter Finals : PNG Kumuls 6 England 36
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