PNG's performance

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Ref was the worst person on the field. Not up to test standard.

 

[siv]

While PNG had good agreesion they lacked they lacked the halves, Kicking game was also very poor

But you do need to remove 10 gift points and the lucky try off the post from the scoreline - that means it more like 10-0 first half and 16-0 second half

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

While PNG had good agreesion they lacked they lacked the halves, Kicking game was also very poor

But you do need to remove 10 gift points and the lucky try off the post from the scoreline - that means it more like 10-0 first half and 16-0 second half

No you dont remove it. Its an element of luck. PNG could have similar luck at the other end of the field.

Although that Australia didnt plan those moves, its no coincidence that those opportunities arise for them and not PNG.

 

[kiwileaguefan]

PNG were hopeless at times....however lets not forget it was amateurs vs the best in the world. To keep Australia to 42-0 was a pretty good effort. I cant see PNG playing any worse than what they did today. Though i think the Kiwis will put at least 60 on them on a dry track.

How pathetic was the crowd.....

 

[mono_mal]

The crowd was quite poor and consisted largely of Samoan, Tongan and Kumuls fans.
The Kumuls put in a spirited performance despite the scoreline. Simple handling and disciplinary errors led to a lack of possession and territory, with the Kumuls struggling to get rhythm in attack. PNG were impressive in defence at times with strong one on one defence and numbers in tackles early, though fitness told late in the game.
Regarding Yere, he currently plays in the English Championship (level below Super League) with the Sheffield Eagles and has been awarded several player of the season trophies.

 

[yakstorm]

PNG held Australia scoreless from the 25th minute of the match until the 55th minute of the game.

They also after a couple of hiccups then held Australia out for another 16 minutes right at the end of the game before Lockyer scored the final try. This is at a time where many past PNG sides usually fell to pieces.

So PNG can take their hats off for bringing a good defensive game to the match. Luck certainly didn't help them out either, Slater's try is an example of that.

Naturally poor ball handling and not kicking penalties out on the full ensured PNG contributed to their own bad luck, but from my opinion, PNG really needs some backs, if David Mead had played, I honestly feel they would have at least had one explosive player who could have helped open up some opportunities for the side.

I think the comments that PNG has gotten worse is unfair. Comparing them to the 2009 Pacific Cup isn't fair as they were playing against sides who are either on equal standing or worse, so you can only really look at 2008 to compare fairly.

Now in 08, Mead showed why he is such an exciting back for the Titans, they also had Costigan and of course Gene was playing. That side had more experience, yet this team was more competitive which bodes well for the future.

Honestly I'll be disappointed if some of the PNG squad don't get picked up from this tournament. Hopefully some do which will help lay the foundations for the 2013 RLWC.

 

[mrpwnd]

It's safe to say we're kidding ourselves if we think the other developing nations, PNG included, will ever have a solid footy team.
League will always stay within the top 3, England, NZ and Australia.
I don't understand all the hopes on leagues international status considering it was dead the moment it started.
Sure we can hope that within 50-100 years they might actually be able to put in a proper try, but that's about as high as my expectation of the future is.
Watching the game it seemed like the kumuls just wanted to smash a few blokes around and go home.
So much for 'strict and intense discipline' during training which saw 2 drunk blokes get fined.

 

[Tigger Madness]

I actually thought the ref was very good in this game. I've seen many worse referring performances this year in the nrl. Hats off to him, I'd be very happy for him to ref the tigers any time he likes.

 

[Chook Norris]

first thing is first - they need to cut those atrocious errors. I wasn't expecting them to play awesome or anything, but i also didn't expect them to drop simple ball.. motivational wise, it's all there though

and given the state of their country, you'd be delusional to think there is any short term fix.. this will be a long work in progress..

 

[hutch]

It's safe to say we're kidding ourselves if we think the other developing nations, PNG included, will ever have a solid footy team.
League will always stay within the top 3, England, NZ and Australia.
I don't understand all the hopes on leagues international status considering it was dead the moment it started.
Sure we can hope that within 50-100 years they might actually be able to put in a proper try, but that's about as high as my expectation of the future is.
Watching the game it seemed like the kumuls just wanted to smash a few blokes around and go home.
So much for 'strict and intense discipline' during training which saw 2 drunk blokes get fined.

riiigghht!

rugby league has never been as big internationally as it is now and has a massive future ahead.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Can't believe some of the condescending comments towards the PNG defence. It wasn't just big hits, their defence was flat-out excellent.

Despite the fact they should have been completely f*cked given the amount of defending they had to do, the Aussies hardly dented them the whole game. I doubt the Kiwis or Poms could have done as well. Once you take out the tries from kicks hitting the posts etc there's pretty much nothing there.

 

[batiarmy]

Loved the desperation they showed at times.. Jukebox take a bow.

Too many silly errors cut them off any chance to move forward though. An experienced half is what they really lack, they need someone to get in there and give them some sort of direction.

 

[The 18th Man]

The criticism of the ref is ridiculous. He was paid to ensure the rules of the game were upheld, he was right more often than he was wrong. I can only recall the penalty against PNG on Morris being the glaring error.

The ref shouldn't be sympathetic to a developing Nations cause.

 

[Perth Red]

I thought they played excently defensively. What they lack in skill and structure they more than make up for in ticker and toughness. I enjoyed watching the game, anybody who thought they would get within 40 of Australia needs a wake up. As it was they played with everything they had, did some great hits (bet Tate is having nightmares right about now!) and if we can find a way to get more of their talent exposed to Sl and NRL they will become a force at Int level.

 

[RedVee]

They had a real crack, good on them. They should have been beaten by 70 considering the amount of ball the Aussies had.
If it is good enough for the Poms to have Brian Smith helping them, surely it would be good for a NRL coach helping Gene????

 

[deluded pom?]

If they can work on that a bit more they might just get a win against england

:lol::lol::lol:

 

[deluded pom?]

, but for a team with only NRL players and a few SL players, the rest in Queensland Cup, NSW Country and of course PNG, I thought PNG did ok.

The only player with a SLE contract (Jessie Joe Parker) hasn't played a game in the SLE yet.

 

[ozbash]

League will always stay within the top 3, England, NZ and Australia.

thats because it suits NZ, Aust and England.

There should be some sort of challenge where a team repping France,PNG, Samoa, Tonga, Maori and Aboriginals play, find a winner and the winner goes into the next seasons 4 nations.

PNG shouldnt be there now..

 

[Parramatta1947]

I think one of the key issues for them - they put all thier effort in defence that they ran out of petrol when they did have the ball.

 

[simostorm]

They played above expectations imo.. put some crunching tackles and hits on..