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PNG v Tonga

morningstar

morningstar

Juniors
Messages
827
Sunday, October 19 at 2pm at the Lae Rugby League Ground.


Tonga team named...

http://www.nospam18.com/rlp-nations...nounce-team-to-take-on-png-in-sanctioned-test


Tonga has today announced their 17-man team to take on the PNG Kumuls in a fully sanctioned International Test Match in Lae this Sunday 19th October 2014. The Tongans will arrive into Port Moresby on Wednesday

Current Broncos Assistant Coach Kristian Woolf who has recently taken on the Head Coaching job of the new Intrust Super Cup Team the Townsville Blackhawks for 2015 coaches the Tongans.

The PNG Kumuls 18-man team will be announced on Wednesday ahead of their departure from base camp in Kokopo to Lae on Thursday.

Points for World Cup rankings are on offer as the Papua New Guinea Kumul’s prepare to host Tonga Ma’a this weekend in an historic clash.

After a solid, confidence building performance against the Australian Prime Ministers 13 in Kokopo last Sunday, the Kumuls will be looking to build on their first up hit out against a Tongan team stacked with NRL talent.

The game against Tonga is vitally important and the PNGRFL are calling on fans to pack out Lae Rugby League grounds this Sunday.

The game is scheduled for Sunday, October 19 at 2pm at the Lae Rugby League Ground. Tickets and merchandise will be on sale from 8am game day.

2014 Tonga Rugby League Team

Sitaleki-Moala Akau'ola - West Tigers
Viliami Fine - West Tigers
Sione Folau - Parramatta
Daniel Foster - Penrith
David Hala - Broncos
Solomone Kata - Warriors
Samisoni Langi - Sydney Roosters
Haveatama Luani - West Tigers
Viliami Manu - Penrith
Benjieman Murdoch - Penrith
Agnatius Paasi - Warriors
Wellentony Satini - Manly
Ukuma Taai - Huddersfield UK
Siosiua Taukeiaho - Sydney Roosters
Peni Terepo - Parramatta
Vai Toutai - Parramatta
Pio Bill Tupou - Canberra

Coach: Kristian Woolf
 
mikail-eagle

mikail-eagle

Bench
Messages
3,067
https://www.facebook.com/pnghunters

PNG sticking with the same team from last week.


PNG Kumul Test Squad:

Dion Aiye
Stanton Albert
Israel Eliab
Adam Korave
Roger Laka
Timothy Lomai
Gary Lo
Rhyse Martin
Mark Mexico
Willie Minoga
Kato Otio
Sebastian Pandia
Brandy Peter
Wartovo Puara
Esau Siune
Jason Tali
Thompson Teteh
Lawrence Tu'u
Henry Wan
Adex Wera
Noel Zeming

Head Coach: Mal Meninga
Assistant Coach: Michael Marum
 
mikail-eagle

mikail-eagle

Bench
Messages
3,067
http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/77537

Kumuls win

Source:
The National, Monday October 20th, 2014
By GABRIEL LAHOC

PAPUA New Guinea came from behind to record a hard-fought 32-18 win over Tonga in yesterday’s rugby league Test match in Lae.
True to their motto, Mate Ma’a Tonga which means “to die for Tonga”, the Peni Terepo-led islanders tested Mal Meninga’s Kumuls physically and mentally in a bruising clash at the Lae Rugby League ground in front of a packed house.
Kumul lock Adam Korave was stretchered off midway through the second half after being run over by a rampaging Tongan forward.
But the initial signs were good for the home side as Dion Aiye and Jason Tali combined to crunch Tonga fullback Wellentony Satini in the Kumuls’ first defensive set.
Tonga’s controlled aggression and better structure saw the Polynesians drag the match into trench warfare as PNG’s ball players continuously turned the ball back inside to runners hoping to dent the red line.
PNG scored the first try off the back of a good set which saw a fumbled bomb by Tonga land in the hands of centre Thompson Teteh, who set winger Adex Wera to draw first blood.
The Kumuls’ lazy defence in the ruck area saw the bulkier Tongan side captained by Viliami Manu, silence the crowd’s celebratory mood with a try by second-rower Ukuma Taai for a 6-4 scoreline.
Tonga five-eighth Samisoni Langi missed the conversion but his side managed two more unconverted tries in quick succession through Taai and centre Villiami Fine to push out to a 12-6 lead.
Kumuls drew level when Teteh laid on a try for winger Gary Lo, which captain and fullback Israel Eliab converted. The halftime score was 12-12.
In the second half, Lo grabbed his second after a fumble by the Tongans close to their tryline, which substitute Noel Zeming slotted to see the Kumuls regain the lead 18-12.
Wera bagged his second four-pointer, which Zeming failed to convert, after another Tongan mistake and PNG opened up a 10-point lead 22-12 midway into the second stanza.
Despite the heat taking a toll on Tonga, winger Bill Tupou got his side back into the contest with a well-judged try.
The fatigue finally swamped over the brave Tongan side in the final 10 minutes allowing the Kumuls to finish strongly.
Teteh grabbed a try to extend the score to 28-18 minutes before hooker Wartovo Puara raced 60-metres for the home side’s fifth and final try.
A pleased Meninga singled out Puara as his best and praised his side for winning what was a physical encounter.
He said he was proud of the attitude his players showed under fire.
“I thought we hung in there really well and never gave up.”
 
girvie

girvie

Moderator
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4,871
Most of the Tongan side are in NRL squads. Will this result see some interest in any of the PNG players?
 
mikail-eagle

mikail-eagle

Bench
Messages
3,067
There is big interest in winger Gary Lo, hooker Wartovo Puara, centre Thompson Teteh and Captain Isreal Eliab but as usually it might all come to nothing.

But they are all still young and had a very good first season for the PNG Hunters in the QLD ISC Competition so a second season in the ISC will probably be good for them too.
 
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