Papua New Guinea put rivals on notice with stunning win over Fiji
Papua New Guinea have sent captain David Mead out as a winner while putting their World Cup rivals on notice after defeating Fiji 24-14 in a high-quality Pacific Test.
A physical battle unfolded in the sides’ first Test match since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic but PNG’s steely goal-line defence and ability to make the most of limited opportunities proved the difference.
Mead announced his decision to retire from international duties earlier this week and when Lachlan Lam sent him over for a try after breaking the line in the 66th minute, PNG closed in on victory.
“The coaching staff and all the players have made it a special week for me and my family and to top it off with a win is a huge bonus,” Mead said.
The win would also have added weight to Papua New Guinea’s bid for the NRL’s 18th licence.
Planning is still in the early stages but one thing is for certain – PNG brought enough talent and intensity to the contest to suggest they could compete with an NRL side.
Both nations also look ready to make an impact at this year’s World Cup, which begins in October.
While there has been plenty of discussion about Tonga’s ability to upset the three tier one nations in Australia, New Zealand and England, Saturday night’s game at Campbelltown Sports Stadium will also give Fiji and PNG reason to dream of World Cup glory.
Fiji enjoyed the bulk of field position and possession but lacked inspiration in their fifth-tackle options and struggled to capitalise.
“There was a lack of patience as soon as we got close to the tryline, trying to score every set,” Fiji forward Tui Kamikamica said.
“But in saying that, it was a pretty physical game and PNG really deserved to win.”
There seemed to be no breaking through the resolute PNG defence until Kevin Naiqama chased his grubberkick close to the line and grabbed the ball back for a try.
But PNG went into the break 12-6 ahead despite having only five play-the-balls inside their opposition’s 20m zone, compared to Fiji’s 24.
Fiji fullback Sunia Turuva gave Penrith fans a preview of the future, clocking up 252 metres to go with two tries and seven tackle busts.
The 19-year-old is without question ready for an NRL debut should injury strike Dylan Edwards down in the Panthers’ quest for back-to-back premierships.
NRL rivals might have liked what they saw but Turuva re-committed to the Panthers earlier this month and will join their top-30 squad for at least two more seasons from 2023.
“He’s going to be a very good player of the future,” Kamikamica said.
Turuva brought Fiji back into the contest with his first try in the second half but Mead helped the Kumuls hit back with a try he’ll remember for the rest of his life.
It wouldn’t have been a PNG win without some Justin Olam magic.
The Melbourne fan favourite produced an inch-perfect grubberkick for Lam to score his second try that sealed the result for the Kumuls.
Comments on RugbyPass
What a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
2 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
2 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
228 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
3 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
86 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
30 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
228 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
228 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to comments