Mead rocks Fiji with man-of-the-match performance

One of the try saving tackle  by Kumuls Captain David Mead on Fiji's fullback

Gold Coast Titans sensational and PNG Kumuls captain, David Mead came up with a stunning performance in his debut as  Kumuls skipper to produce the first win for Papua New Guinea in 16 years. 

David Mead said he had no hesitation in returning to the PNG side after spending the past two years playing for Country Origin. It's a decision rugby league fans in Port Moresby are thankful for. 

The Titans speedster ran for 161 metres and made two line breaks in his first international game since 2013, but it was his defensive work that stole all the headlines.  Mead produced tackles worthy of 'hit of the year' and 'try saver of the year' in the space of 13 minutes to keep his side in the game leading into half-time. 

Sea Eagles winger Brayden Williame was the first victim, making a clean break before being met front on by Mead in a tackle that left both men dazed.

The Fijian centre was stopped in his tracks before falling in a heap onto the Parramatta turf courtesy of a shot Fox Sports Commentator Braith Anasta likened to being hit by a truck. 

"Williame, he doesn't know what's hit him," Anasta said.

"He's hit a semi-trailer – no it's not a semi-trailer – it's David Mead."

Mead then swapped brute force for dogged determination to deny Fijian fullback Tyrone Phillips what would have been a certain 70-metre solo effort.

Phillips was in the clear and looked set to score, only for Mead to find energy he didn’t know he had to reel him in five metres out from the line, drag him to ground and somehow hold him up all in the one motion.

Given the Kumuls won by two points, it was a play that probably won them the game. 

source: NRL.com