‘Excited about this opportunity’: PNG NRL team one step closer as locals give PM’s XIII a run for their money
A
Set small text size
A
set default text size
A
Set large text size
Papua New Guinea showcased their potential in their 42-20 Prime Minister’s XIII defeat to Australia as the NRL prepares to grant the Pacific nation a license to join the competition.
Given the year of development that brings rugby league-mad PNG into the NRL from 2028, Sunday’s annual clash in Port Moresby could hardly have been more interesting.
The ability to effectively harness local talent and build a competitive team from the start has been one of the concerns over the Australian government-backed bid. The PNG team had lost three of the last four PM XIII fixtures by 42 points or more.
But watching from the sidelines, NRL boss Andrew Abdo will have been encouraged that a local team consisting mostly of players from the Queensland Cup’s PNG Hunters can compete with NRL talent – even if piecemeal.
Speaking earlier in the afternoon, Abdo did not give any definite timeline for the unveiling of the PNG expansion team, but expected details to be announced soon.
“We have worked very hard, it is the result of a lot of efforts by a lot of people on both sides, in the context of Australia and Papua New Guinea,” he said.
“We are very excited about what this opportunity presents for us, and hope to have an announcement soon.”
PNG hooker Judah Rimbu took the lead from dummy half for the first point after four minutes, due to a mistake by Australian prop Alex Seyfarth.
PNG were keeping pace with the clock when, following a Fletcher Sharp knock-on, the hosts shifted left for Robert Mathias to beat fellow center Reuben Garrick on his way to the tryline.
The class of the Australian playmakers began to shine as Luke Brooks and Tyrone Wishart came off the bench.
Brooks caught PNG without a marker and darted down the left sideline before passing to ex-Wests Tigers teammate Jacob Liddle to give Australia the lead late in the first half.
Canberra’s Kaio Weeks replaced Sharp at fullback after the break and scored two tries in six minutes to extend the lead.
In the most memorable of them, Australia sprinted down the field where Tallis Duncan blasted an offload just in time for Weekes to slide.
At the time an Australian victory felt inevitable, but there were more PNG highlights to come.
An try-saving cover tackle from Rimbu denied Beau Fermor a second try, before PNG charged down the field to create the main moment of the afternoon.
Left winger Dudley Dottoi, who had earlier bombed in a try, broke down the left sideline and chip kicked Weekes.
Before PNG center Alex Max scored his final try of the day, five-eighth Finley Glare grabbed a hard bounce and sent the crowd into raptures.
Costly win with Brown losing
Australia will be left counting the cost of their 50-0 win over PNG in the Women’s Premiers’ XIII match after Lauren Brown suffered an injury just days before the Pacific Championships.
Gold Coast utility Brown went down with a strained left hamstring after leaving Jaime Chapman’s second try kick-off on Sunday afternoon.
She came off the field and watched from the sidelines as Australia took a decisive 44–0 lead at half-time of the game in Port Moresby.
Brown finished the NRLW season as joint runner-up for the Dally M Medal and is assured of a place in the starting 17 for this Friday’s Pacific Championship opener against PNG.
Instead, Jillaroos coach Brad Donald will have to consider whether to promote a playmaker to the squad to include Ali Brigginshaw and Taryn Aiken.
Jessie Southwell showed she was up to the task after tearing open a shell-shocked orchid on the sidelines before half-time.
The Newcastle playmaker provided the last pass for three of Australia’s eight first-half tries, including laying into the hole for newly-fit captain KG Apps.
Australia needed only 17 tackles in the Orchid half to take a 44–0 lead, with Chapman’s try from the kick-off after the first drinks break a particular highlight.
The Orchid brought a renewed defensive intensity in the second half, but remained prone to football errors and could not generate pressure with their kicking game.
But limiting Australia to six points in the second half will be a source of confidence in PNG, where a semi-professional women’s league played its first season this year.
Left winger Keil Brown burst through a gaping hole to seal his hat-trick with Australia’s only four-pointer of the second 35 minutes.
PNG captain Elsie Albert, who was rested from the PM’s XIII clash, is set to rejoin her side for the Pacific Championship rematch as Australia field a new-look side.
© AAP
(TagstoTranslate)Featured(T)NRL(T)Prime Minister's XIII(T)Rugby League