PNG LNG Kumuls

With Maika Sivo and Kurt Donoghue both claiming a double at Santos National Football Stadium, the Bati blew the game open early in the piece with the Kumuls unable to match the visitor's speed and class in attack. 

However, the Kumuls refused to lie down despite the scoreline, orchestrating two tries late in the second half to keep the passionate PNG faithful on their feet.

The Kumuls opened their account in the third minute when halfback Lachlan Lam shifted the ball left to find fan favourite Alex Johnston who threw a dummy to split the Bati defence close to the line.

Before they departed PNG, Prime Minister James Marape held a formal dinner on Sunday, October 22, and thanked them for their time in PNG and at the same time welcomed Fiji in the country who is set to play PNG LNG Kumuls next weekend at the Santos National Football Stadium.

Holbrook said Olam is nursing an injury and is likely to sit out the remainder of the Pacific championship campaign. However, the boys from England are expected to be available for the match against Fiji Bati on October 29.

Holbrook said, “I’d love Justin to be playing as he wants to play but at the moment he's doing his rehab down in Melbourne when he picked up the injury in his last game.”

Holbrook blooded six Test debutants in his first match as Kumuls coach and they all impressed as the new look PNG team romped to a 46-10 defeat of Cook Islands at Santos National Football Stadium on Sunday.

The Kumuls will be bolstered by the return of England-based stars Edwin Ipape, Rhyse Martin and Wellington Albert, while injured Storm centre Justin Olam may also be available for the October 29 clash with the Bati in Port Moresby.

Laybutt, who played just six Queensland Cup matches for Sunshine Coast Falcons this season, impressed new Papua New Guinea coach Justin Holbrook when he took on the captaincy role in last month’s Prime Minister’s XIII match.

With Leeds second-rower Rhyse Martin not due to join the Kumuls squad until their next match against Fiji on October 29 after his partner Vanessa recently gave birth to a daughter Mya, Laybutt has again been given the job.

The Kumuls come in fresh off an impressive Prime Minister’s 13 showing, which involved most of their squad, the Kumuls take on the Cook Islands in their first home Test match in four years.

The Pacific Championships opener is set for a big showdown on Sunday 15^th October at the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.

Kumuls halfback Kyle Laybutt has been named captain to lead a strong PNG team.

Holbrook coached de Belin at St George Illawarra when the former St Helens and Gold Coast Titans mentor was starting his coaching career with the Dragons NYC under 20s team in 2012.

De Belin, whose grandmother Aileen Leary was born in PNG while her parents were serving as missionaries, has been considering declaring his eligibility for the Kumuls since the 2013 World Cup, when Adrian Lam was in charge of the team.

The teams under Head Coaches Justin Holbrook of the PNG LNG Kumuls and Ben Jeffries of the Santos PNG Orchids, are set to field the best available athletes in the sport, competing at the highest possible level and also exposing talent having come through the existing PNGRFL pathways.

PNG LNG Kumuls Head Coach, Justin Holbrook, will lead his team boasting PNG exports to England, Edwin Ipape of the Leigh Leopards and Wellington Albert of the London Broncos.

With the 2021 Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) scheduled for later this year, the PNG LNG Kumuls are looking forward to the mid-year test as an opportunity to build the national team’s preparations towards the World Cup. 

Terry Wapi has been dropped from the 17 to the extended bench man while Stargroth Amean has been named at wing, and Gary Lo comes in taking a spot on the bench.

Enoch Maki has also been moved to the extended bench.

Coach Michael Marum has kept the front row and halves combination intact

The PNG LNG Kumuls extended squad for Great Britain Test Match on Saturday 16^th November: