PNG books place in 2010 Rugby League Four Nations
Updated
The PNG Kumuls have booked their place to compete in next year's Rugby League Four Nations tournamant after winning the Pacific Cup in Port Moresby with a 42-14 win over the Cook Islands. The Cooks showed good form in the earlier rounds of the tournament, but were no match for the home town favorites in the final.
The win means that the Kumuls will now play in the 2010 Rugby League Four Nations against the likes of Australia, New Zealand, and England. It was celebrated by a capacity crowd at Port Moresby's Lloyd Robson Oval.
Presenter: Brendon Telfer, Radio Australia Sport
Speaker: Steven Mase, rugby commentator with FM 100
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MASE: A couple of hours before the game, it was already jam-packed down here at the Lloyd Robson Oval, so many people come out here in the numbers, of course being so passionate about rugby league and yes I think it was expected that Papua New Guinea were going to win, but with a score line reading 42 points to 14 it just goes to show how dominant and how passionate Papua New Guineans are about rugby league.
TELFER: I notice that Adrian Lam and his victory comments suggested that it was the defensive effort of the Kumuls that was particularly outstanding today?
MASE: Yes, definitely. The Kumuls were so good, they had a great defensive effort you know, as the score line suggests, but also in the attacking prowess. Adrian has done a great job with Telekom-PNG community as they came here. They just going off here with the celebrations. It is not every day you make a Four Nation series and of course against the bigger rugby league nations like Australia, New Zealand and of course England and we'll be looking forward to the southern hemisphere competition when it does come up next year. But Brendan, to tell you the truth, they're just euphoric, especially people here who are mad rugby league supporters. And as Adrian correctly said as well, it's a good blend of youth and experience to take the Kumuls into the future.
TELFER: Wonderful. He also mentioned the fact that he has got a number of younger players. Six 20 year olds as well in that Kumuls group?
MASE: That's correct and I am not to sure, I might get the ages wrong. But definitely one of the up and coming stars is young David Mead and also there is also another young winger who is also coming about. Brendan I think there were also some scouts here today.
TELFER: We're heard in the Cook Islands as well, Steven, Just wondering what you thought about the Cooks, how did the Cookies go?
MASE: The Cook Islanders look very, they played brilliantly, they played their hearts out. At one stage in the game, we had an issue with one of their centres, Anthony Gelling, who was in a big hit and he was out concussed for about 10 minutes. Fortunately medical reports that have come through say that he is okay and he was back at the end of the game. We saw him walking around the Lloyd Robson Oval, which is good to see. But from beating Samoa and then Fiji, to make it this far to the Pacific Cup, I tell you what Cook Islands Rugby League really need to stand up and listen to what sort of talent they have, because there are so many good players, especially from the Cook Islands.
TELFER: So now PNG Kumuls get set for the big one next year, and they take on the four best teams in rugby league in the world?
MASE: That's correct, there will still be a lot of work to do with people like coach Adrian Lam, by Michael Marum, and of course the other coaching team and staff. But I think they are slowly getting right as well, and like he said, as he mentioned, it's a good blend of youth and experience and hopefully it will be a telling tale next year's Four Nations. I think a lot of people already saw the performance on the back of the World Cup Series held last year and I know that they will be looking forward to what the Kumuls have to offer in the upcoming Southern Hemisphere Four Nations.
