Match Thread: PNG vs GB

[kiwileaguefan]

GB NAME 21-MAN SQUAD AHEAD OF HISTORIC PNG CLASH

Great Britain Rugby League Lions Head Coach Wayne Bennett has named his provisional 21-man squad for this Saturday’s final game of the Lions tour against Papua New Guinea Kumuls in Port Moresby.

The team have had a hectic schedule since Saturday’s clash with New Zealand in Christchurch, having travelled to Papua New Guinea via Brisbane so Bennett has named a provisional 21 man squad that includes all seventeen players who featured against the Kiwis plus Joe Philbin and Zak Hardaker, who could return after missing Saturday’s game through injury, along with George Williams and Jake Trueman, who are yet to feature in the tour so far.

The Lions will train for the first time in Papua New Guinea on Wednesday before a final team run on Friday at the Oil Search Stadium. The squad will then be reduced to 19 players for the clash. It is the first time that Great Britain have visited the Rugby League-mad nation of Papua New Guinea since 1996, and it will be a historic occasion with England Women facing the PNG Orchids beforehand at the same venue as they look to complete a two game series win.

The 21-man squad in full is:

1. Jonny Lomax (Orrell St James, St Helens)

2. Jermaine McGillvary (Deighton Juniors, Huddersfield Giants)

3. Jack Hughes (Golborne Parkside, Warrington Wolves)

4. Jake Connor (Siddal, Hull FC)

5. Blake Austin (Doonside Roos, Warrington Wolves)

6. Gareth Widdop (Kings Cross, St George Illawarra Dragons)

7. Jackson Hastings (Western Suburbs Red Devils, Salford Red Devils)

8. Chris Hill (New Springs Lions, Warrington Wolves)

9. Josh Hodgson (East Hull, Canberra Raiders)

10. Tom Burgess (Dewsbury Moor, South Sydney Rabbitohs)

11. John Bateman (Bradford Dudley Hill, Canberra Raiders)

12. Elliott Whitehead (West Bowling, Canberra Raiders)

13. James Graham (c) (Thatto Heath, St George Illawarra Dragons)

14. Josh Jones (Blackbrook, Salford Red Devils)

15. Luke Thompson (Bold Miners, St Helens)

16. Daryl Clark (Fryston Warriors, Warrington Wolves)

17. Alex Walmsley (Dewsbury Celtic, St Helens)

18. Joe Philbin (Culcheth Eagles, Warrington Wolves)

19. George Williams (Wigan St Patricks, Wigan Warriors)

20. Jake Trueman (West Bowling, Castleford Tigers)

21. Zak Hardaker (Featherstone Lions, Wigan Warriors)

 

[kiwileaguefan]

So Ash Handley is flown back to the Southern Hemisphere and NOT named in the squad where GB still only have one winger available?

 

[deluded pom?]

So Ash Handley is flown back to the Southern Hemisphere and NOT named in the squad where GB still only have one winger available?

Unbelievable.

 

[Burns]

Thanks for making Thread!

I think PNG could pull off an upset here. This GB Team is in a real funk.

 

[Burns]

Also, this match has a long way to go to be a sell out - https://purchases.tiketmastas.com.p...11-16_15.00/national football stadium?hallmap

Around 10,000 tickets still on sale. Would mean only 5,000 sold so far

 

[Walter sobchak]

Also, this match has a long way to go to be a sell out - https://purchases.tiketmastas.com.pg/en-AU/events/gbr league lions vs png kumuls/2019-11-16_15.00/national football stadium?hallmap

Around 10,000 tickets still on sale. Would mean only 5,000 sold so far

Are PNG RL fans known for purchasing tickets online or paying for them in advance?

I’d have thought that the majority fans turn up on game day and pay at the gate.

 

[Burns]

Are PNG RL fans known for purchasing tickets online or paying for them in advance?

I’d have thought that the majority fans turn up on game day and pay at the gate.

They had sold out their World Cup games in advance.

I don’t think we’ll get a sell out. Maybe 9,000?

 

[roughyedspud]

C'mon png....

And I wouldn't worry about the crowd,most will walk up on the day

 

[Jim from Oz]

Unless I missed it, I don't think this is being telecast in Oz on GEM … :-(

 

[yakstorm]

10,730 seats exactly still to be sold... that said, in the World Cup, PNG sold the vast majority of their tickets 3-4 days before kick off... There were no big sell outs well in advance, so won't be stressing yet provided we start seeing tickets move in the next day or two.

 

[adamkungl]

What odds Bennett doesn't play Williams and Trueman, a week after saying he wasn't gonna fly blokes down here and not play them

 

[Perth Red]

In a way I hope they lose just so we can get rid of Wayne and shake the squad up. Is it available to view in Australia?

 

[kiwileaguefan]

I'm not too concerned with still 9,900 tickets left for sale three days out, but I am surprised as when was the last time PNG hosted a tier-one nation for a full test? I thought this would have sold out rather quickly...

PNG Squad for this weekend:

Dan Russell has been moved to second row to make way for David Mead for this Saturday’s International clash against the Great Britain Rugby League Lions at the Oil Search National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.

Stargroth Amean will start at wing. Moses Meninga has been named on an extended bench. Rhyse Martin retains the captaincy.

The 20 man squad is:

1. Alex JOHNSTON

2. Edene GEBBIE

3. David MEAD

4. Justin OLAM

5. Stargroth AMEAN

6. Kyle LAYBUTT

7. Watson BOAS

8. Wellington ALBERT

9. Wartovo PUARA Jnr

10. Luke PAGE

11. Nixon PUTT

12. Daniel RUSSELL

13. Rhyse MARTIN – Captain

Interchange

14. Edwin IPAPE

15. Garry LO

16. Stanton ALBERT

17. Moses MENINGA

18. Stanford TALITA

19. Enock MAKI

20. Terry WAPI

 

[roughyedspud]

In a way I hope they lose just so we can get rid of Wayne and shake the squad up. Is it available to view in Australia?

Bennett's done...it's gonna be announced on Monday

 

[Getmefood]

I hope PNG flog them. What do you guys reckon Aus will play against GB or as England next year...

 

[Walter sobchak]

Where’s nene McDonald these days??

 

[Jack Deth]

Bennett's done...it's gonna be announced on Monday

I bloody well hope so.

 

[Jack Deth]

I hope PNG flog them. What do you guys reckon Aus will play against GB or as England next year...

I would not be too unhappy if PNG win.

 

[Walter sobchak]

I would not be too unhappy if PNG win.

Me neither. It would hopefully drive the final nails into the coffins of both Bennett and GB and boost RL in PNG.

 

[adamkungl]

GBL obviously should win here.
But with how listless they have been on this tour, with so many players out of position.. if there was ever a time for a major upset, this is it.

Go PNG. Hammer that nail

Anyone got broadcast details on this?