The PNG LNG Kumuls triumphed over Cook Islands with a 32-22 win in tonight’s opening match of the Pacific Test triple-header at Campbelltown Sports Stadium in Sydney, Australia.
It was a controlled start for both teams in the opening minutes of the first half.
The Kukis looked to have registered the first points as early as the sixth minute when David Munro grounded a deflected Isaac John grubber.
But the try was disallowed after the Bunker ruled Munro offside.
Two consecutive penalties brought the Kumuls out of their own half and within striking distance 10 metres out from their opponent’s try line.
The Kumuls hit the front from a play from Wartovo Puara Jr, who passed to Justin Olam who then drew in two defenders before flicking it out to Adex Wera, who ran into score.
Five eighth, Ase Boas struck it clean to take the Kumuls to a 6-0 lead right before the 15 minute mark.
An error from the restart invited the Kukis to hit back, which they nearly did had Jonathon Ford held onto the ball from a cross-field kick.
Weathering the storm, the Kumuls worked their way out of trouble and pushed themselves further in front when Puara feigned to pass on the 5th tackle and burrowed over under the posts to score.
But Cook Islands hit back in the 25th minute through Geoff Daniela, who crossed over untouched to score out wide.
This lifted the Kukis, who ran in their second four pointer just before half-time when Kobe Tararo threw a no-look pass to send Uiti Baker charging over.
John added the extras to make it level up at 12-12 going into half-time.
The Kumuls made the Cook Islands pay for back-to-back errors early in the second half when fullback Stargroth Amean beat four defenders to score.
A mistake in defence from Justin Olam allowed the Kukis to bring the deficit to 18-16 after John’s conversion sailed wide.
The Kumuls took the game away from the Kukis with another try to Amean in the 57th and one to debutant Nixon Put in the 62nd minute.
Converting both tries, Boas put the score out to an unassailable lead of 30-16 .
Cook Islands managed to sneak in their last try a minute out from the full time hooter when Esan Marsters found the try line.
Boas capped off an all-round performance right on the 80 minute mark, slotting through a penalty from 47 metres out to make it six from six for the night.
The man of the match was awarded to two try hero Stargroth Amean.
Picture from www.nrl.com