FORMER Kumul prop Rodney Pora says the late George Moni was one of the most talented front-rowers he had the privilege of playing with and was shocked and saddened by his death.
Pora, who played alongside Moni in eight tests told The National on Monday his fellow Kumul’s death was a great loss for his immediate family the rugby league community.
Moni, who is officially listed as Kumul No.216, died in Mt Hagen Hospita last Wednesday after a short illness.
“He was a humble character who didn’t talk much but you gave him the rugby ball and he showed what he was made of on the field,” Pora said of the man he considered a close friend.
Pora said one of the highlights of his career was when they both helped the Mendi Muruks and Agmark Gurias win premierships.

​THE Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) and the rugby league community around the country are saddened by the news of the passing of Kumuls great David Noifa.
Noifa, aged 56, died at his Warala village in Banz, Jiwaka, on Sunday after a short illness.
PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka said Noifa debuted as Kumul No.80 as a centre against New Zealand in Auckland on Oct 2, 1983.e.

​PNG Rugby Football League Chairman Sandis Tsaka today announced the appointment of Matthew Church as the new Head Coach of the SP PNG Hunters.

“The PNGRFL Board has endorsed the appointment of Matthew Church to be the SP Hunters Head Coach for the next two years effective immediately,” Tsaka said.

He said 14 applications were received including three from PNG.

Papua New Guinea has surged up the rugby league world rankings following historic home wins by the men's and women's teams at the weekend.

The PNG Orchids have leapfrogged Canada and France into fourth place in the women's standings following their 20-16 win over England on Saturday.

Shirley Joe scored a last-minute try to break the 16-all deadlock and secure PNG's first-ever test match win.

Fiji Bati have secured promotion to Pool A of next year's Oceania Cup after emerging 22-20 winners over the Papua New Guinea Kumuls in a thrilling Test where the lead changed hands four times.

After crushing Samoa 44-18 a week earlier, Fiji went into the game in Christchurch knowing anything bar a loss by more than 22 points would book them a place alongside New Zealand and Tonga in the top group for next year.

Parramatta superstar Maika Sivo was huge for the Bati, running for over 200 metres and setting up a crucial try late in the first half, while towering prop Tui Kamikamica laid a solid platform after opening the scoring for Brandon Costin's side.

​South Sydney’s Alex Johnston, North Queensland Cowboys Daniel Russell and Hela Wigmen’s Stanford Talita are the new faces named in the 20-man Test squad announced today for the 2nd leg of the Oceania Cup Pacific Test against Fiji in New Zealand on November 9, 2019 and the Test against Great Britain Lions in Port Moresby a week later on November 16, 2019.

DIGICEL Cup minor premiers Lae Snax Tigers completed the double with a 15-4 win over the Kroton Hela Wigmen in the grand final at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby yesterday.
This is their third premiership after winning the title in 2016 and 2017.
The Stanley Tepend-coached Tigers scored three tries through Kafare Amos (double) and vice-captain Enoch Sine while the Wigmen managed just the one through Gilmo Paul.

The PNG Rugby Football League has announced an 18 man squad for the NGCB Prime Ministers XIII match between the PNG Kumuls and Australia Kangaroos on October 6th in Port Moresby.
To be known as the NGCB PM's XIII team, the squad includes three debutants among experienced hands from this year’s Pacific test and the 2017 World Cup teams.
Marum said a number of players had to pull out due to family commitments , injuries and suspensions.

Papua New Guinea stunned the bookmakers and thrilled their supporters by upsetting the highly-fancied Fiji side 26-14 to edge clear of their Pacific cousins in head-to-head meetings.

The Kumuls now lead Fiji 2-1 in their fledgling international careers.

Jarryd Hayne played at halfback for Fiji for the first time and kept PNG pegged back with good, tactical kicking early, but his team was starved of possession with loose play in possession.