England Knights to tour PNG end of 2018 - 2 matches

[Burns]

Not a fan of England A, but if used like this to (raise money for PNG?) then it can't be a bad thing.

 

[roughyedspud]

Cue the whingers..

 

[adamkungl]

Wonder if PNG will field a full side or a residents team like they do against Aus PMXIII.

My only concern with England Knights has always been why any international Test side would waste their limited playing opportunities against a non-Test side

 

[Pommy]

Cue the whingers..

Take games to the pacific, but not these games....

 

[LeagueXIII]

They can tour NZ and the Pacific in other seasons. Plus play France B.

 

[jim_57]

Cue the whingers..

Majority of the whinging was because Knights were going to take place in a major tournament. I have no issue with the Knights touring and playing quality opposition as long as it isn't at the expense of full Tests.

Ideally PNG would have a full schedule of tests and Knights would play the likes of PNG Hunters and PNG PMXIII with 1 game against the PNG test side. Sadly it's still a case of all Pacific Nations taking what they can get.

 

[yakstorm]

It is confirmed:
http://www.asiapacificrl.com/2018/05/18/pngrfl-announce-2018-international-schedule/

June 23: Papua New Guinea Kumuls v Fiji Bati – Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney
October 6 : Papua New Guinea Orchids v Australian Jillaroos – National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
October 6 : Australian Prime Ministers XIII v PNG Prime Ministers XIII – National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
October 13: Women’s Confederate XIII v Australian Defence Force – TBC
October 13: Emerging Kumuls v NSW Country Under 23s – TBC
October 27: Papua New Guinea Kumuls v England Knights – Lae
November 3: Papua New Guinea Kumuls v England Knights – National Football Stadium, Port Moresby

Interesting to see these comments at the press conference (https://postcourier.com.pg/four-tests-ahead-kumuls/) about the PM XIII fixture:

He also said the change to dates for the Prime Minister’s XIII match that will be held on October 6.

“This date has changed from a week before the grand final to a week after the grand final and will be called the Prime Minister’s XIII Test.

“After the Prime Minister’s XIII last year we saw that most of our top players were still in the finals series,” Rau said.

“The sponsors and the people have spoken about the team’s performance against the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII and the NRL has heard our request. They have gone back and moved the annual fixture a week after the grand final … its good they heard of our views.

Surely they won't reclassify this match as a Test? That said, it would be nice to see the Kangaroos play 3x Tests in 2018...

 

[Pommy]

Interesting to see it’s confirmed as the full side to play the knights then.

 

[Springs09]

Prime Minister's XIII Test? Is that even possible?

If that is the case just call it Australia v PNG. A week after the Grand Final means all players bar the GF players will be available. The PM's XIII has been steadily gaining more and more finals players lately anyway. It used to be just the players that didn't make the final.

 

[roughyedspud]

RL fans whinge nations don't play enough games..

Png announce a 6 week end of season schedule

RL fans whinge they aren't "tests"

I really love RL fans....no really..

 

[Springs09]

lol, says the biggest whinger of the lot

 

[yakstorm]

No whinging here. Glad to see the PNGRFL release such a solid calendar, just curious whether or not there is a chance that the PMXIII match could be turned into a Test.

Doesn't matter if it doesn't get converted, it is still an extremely important fixture, but it would be nice

 

[Pommy]

I don’t see why it couldn’t be a real test. Even if Australia didn’t put out a full strength side it’s going to be a stronger ‘test’ than most other pacific sides would face all year.