PNG World Cup squad

[nadera78]

Not at all.

The closest you can get to proof is to compare the results of France vs PNG when they have clashed. PNG often beat France, but it is always a very close match! It is one of the great tragedies of the current format that there is virtually no chance of a PNG vs France matchup in this tournament. But, hopefully we will see France vs PNG some time in the next year or two, which would go along way to showing things. I would back a PNG domestic team with 5 top class imports to do give catalans players a very good run for their money. I dont think there is any question that domestically the PNG league is current stronger than the current French comp and is about on the same level that the French comp would be if Catalan French players ever rejoined the league.

I was right the first time, you have never watched anything outside of the NRL. PNG toured France last year and lost both tests, in addition to being stuffed by Wales.

The players from PNG just aren't big enough physically to compete with other international sides, the only big guys are mixed race (generally Aussies) and few of them make it to the NRL/ESL. The biggest, most physical player PNG has produced from within its own ranks would be Makali Aizue, and he's only six feet tall. They play some nice RL, but they just get dominated too easily.

 

[bender]

I was right the first time, you have never watched anything outside of the NRL. PNG toured France last year and lost both tests, in addition to being stuffed by Wales.

The players from PNG just aren't big enough physically to compete with other international sides, the only big guys are mixed race (generally Aussies) and few of them make it to the NRL/ESL. The biggest, most physical player PNG has produced from within its own ranks would be Makali Aizue, and he's only six feet tall. They play some nice RL, but they just get dominated too easily.

Yeah, 1 years results are the be all.That is why Great Britain are a class above New Zealand.:roll:

My memory isnt what it used to be so I will reprorduce the results of last years internationasl from the rlinternational scores website, as I read them. I presume they are right.
PNG 24 vs Australia 24 - My memory, says it was a strong Australian side and a mixed Import/Local match. That is correct isnt it?

PNG Locals 26 PNG Overseas 27. - Not an awful lot of difference between the local standards and those playing overseas (admittedly some of the best were missing from memory).

Wales 50 v PNG 10 - A bad result, you could be right. I remember this now, was a surprise.

France A 12 v PNG 38 - Well, i guess we can both agree that PNG are better than France A standard. I cant remember now but that was players from the top french division wasnt it (almost like a b team)? or was it the best from outside it (excluding Catalans players obviously)

France 38 v PNG 26 - The first test and there is 8 points in it. Well done France, but it certainly seems that both were at the same level, with France too good on the day.

France A 6 v PNG 20 - Again another PNG victory, quite comfortably.

France 22 v PNG 16 - This time a it was a 6 point loss. Again nothing in it.


Looking at the results, it shows that PNG and France are about the same level. Go back other years and you will find PNG beating france as much or more than France beat them, as i said. So, that is as close to proof as you can get that (finances and logistics aside) that a PNG team with the same imports as catalans would compete as well as catalans.

Your suggestion that PNG are not big enough to compete at international level because they are too short, is absurd. They are probably one of the lower ranked teams for the simple reason that they do not train as hard as the others because most of the others draw professional players that are half Aussie, kiwi etc. A tonga or even samoan residents side might tower over PNG residents, but they would never be in the game. France have big forwards usually, but they hardly have dominant record over PNG. If they do beat them it will come down to performance on the night and nothing else.

By the way, how much of the PNG local stuff have you watched? I havent seen anything since Port Moresby played in the Qld Cup. Is there a way of watching it?

 

[nadera78]

It's a false argument. When a bunch of amateurs play each other, one side being bigger and stronger isn't so much of an issue if the other side is genuinely talented. It affects the game but not is not a deciding factor.

When it's professionals playing against one another if one side enjoys an enormous physical advantage then it rarely matters if the other side is more talented or not because they will not get the chance to demonstrate it. If the biggest player you can get on the pitch is Makali Aizue then, regardless of how hard he runs or how committed he is, you will not be able to defeat sides like Australia or England.

Those results from France v PNG were when both sides were largely amateur. If they were both full time pro then the French would have the upper hand because of their physical superiority.

From the dvd of the Wales game last year I'd reckon the local PNG boys were NL standard, although that may have been just a really off day.

Oh, just realised I may have been a bit rude earlier on. Didn't mean to be, sorry.

 

[christopher]

Thanks for that info. I was wondering what happened to Joe and Mark.

there was abit of drama surrounding that..

Dennis Keefe (CEO of the Northern Pride) was none too impressed in regards to the new sports immigration laws which meant those two were not able to play.

It is disspointing all round really because they would have addedd a lot to the comp.

Rodney Griffin now plays for the Northern Pride and has been going sensational.



I really rate Titans youngster David Moore, exhiliarting pace and is a great athlete. His defense has probably held him back a bit but he is just like Michael Jennings. Was the top try scorer in colts for Tweed Heads last year. That team won the GF.

Titans

 

[christopher]

Thanks for that info. I was wondering what happened to Joe and Mark.

there was abit of drama surrounding that..

Dennis Keefe (CEO of the Northern Pride) was none too impressed in regards to the new sports immigration laws which meant those two were not able to play.

It is disspointing all round really because they would have addedd a lot to the comp.

Rodney Griffin now plays for the Northern Pride and has been going sensational.



I really rate Titans youngster David Moore, exhiliarting pace and is a great athlete. His defense has probably held him back a bit but he is just like Michael Jennings. Was the top try scorer in colts for Tweed Heads last year. That team won the GF.

Titans have some excellent young outside backs in S Walker, More, K Gordon, D Gordon and Luke Dumas.

All great athletes who need moe time to develop theirfootball skills but when they do, watch out.

 

[Broncos thats my team]

wheres andrew rickertt

 

[bender]

It's a false argument. When a bunch of amateurs play each other, one side being bigger and stronger isn't so much of an issue if the other side is genuinely talented. It affects the game but not is not a deciding factor.

When it's professionals playing against one another if one side enjoys an enormous physical advantage then it rarely matters if the other side is more talented or not because they will not get the chance to demonstrate it. If the biggest player you can get on the pitch is Makali Aizue then, regardless of how hard he runs or how committed he is, you will not be able to defeat sides like Australia or England.

YOu are correct, but is bigger necessarilly stronger? How tall is Sam Thaiday? He looks huge on the field but i pretty sure that he isnt that much over 6 ft.

The importance of size is really only important in the forwards. There are plenty of examples of players that have not been huge but have been great players in other positions. Matt Bowen, Preston Cambell, Allan Langer were all great little players.Even icons like Wally Lewis, Johnny Raper, Terry Lamb were not over 6ft. Even in the forwards, guys like Trevor Gilmeister, and David Gillespie were not all that big.

The three best best PNG Forwards i can remember are David Westley, Bruce Mamando and Mark Moms. Those three were bigger than 6 ft werent they? They certainly looked big on the football field anyway.

Those results from France v PNG were when both sides were largely amateur. If they were both full time pro then the French would have the upper hand because of their physical superiority.

It is an interesting theory. I guess it comes down to whether or not, you think that size is the be all and all in becoming a successful player. In recent years, you may be correct. Smaller players very rarely get picked across the board. Most NRL players have become giants. Is this because of rule changes, because skills can be improved on easier than size or because coaches always pick physically bigger players first and therefore they have more opportunity to improve their game.

My line of thinking is that if two sides are of a similar standard, and one gets a few imports and full time training and then goes on to finish third in the ESL, then the other side would almost certainly do the same thing if they got the same standard imports and the same training. I think the argument is exceptionally strong when the last time they played (last year) the two sides were reasonably close in results still. I see your point though, i may have to think a little harder about it. I certainly will be very interested in the next PNG v France test!

From the dvd of the Wales game last year I'd reckon the local PNG boys were NL standard, although that may have been just a really off day.

I think that is probably a fair comment, across the board, although i think that they would be one of the best NL1 sides. Put 6 top imports in any NL1 side and they will also be very capable of being a good superleague side. Incidentally, imo, if you put 6 top imports in the very worst NRL side, then i think that they would be favourites in the NRL, and if you did it to a QLD cup side, they would be competive in the NRL. With the right 6 players, i also think that PNG would make a decent fistof the NRL. I am not sure how cats would go. Hopefully they will win the Grand final and we will get a taste in the world club challenge.

Oh, just realised I may have been a bit rude earlier on. Didn't mean to be, sorry.

Not at all. though any time someone is told they learn somthing from Phil Gould it is a little low

 

[nadera78]

I think the advantage the Dragons have over any potential PNG team would be that they are so very strong in the forwards, they really do have an impressive pack of big guys who work very hard (and hit hard too!). For better or worse - and personally I'd probably say for worse - the modern game is geared more towards size over skill. My only complaint about the game really is that we some big guys, with limited skills, having an inluence on the game out of proportion with their ability. Maybe that sound harsh on them?

Either way it's an interesting argument, and I'd be very intrigued to see a PNG team given the opportunity to take on the NRL/ESL clubs. At the very least we need to find a way of getting more players from that country playing in the two pro comps.

 

[Big-Hitter]

Could've sworn Michael Bani is a Torres Strait Islander. Any idea how he qualifies?

 

[petetheileet]

Will get pumped by the other NRL Islander teams!

 

[PaulyTom]

Decent squad. Will struggle against the big guns but still will be a great experience for some of these players from Papua New Guinea. Can you imagine the feeling as some of these PNG highlander players walkout in their first overseas game. Hope some of these guys get a run.