Ireland wary of PNG Kumuls Winger Gary Lo threat
Winger Garry Lo, who was the scourge of Wales in last Saturday’s 50-6 hammering in Port Moresby, was given his break by Aston at Sheffield Eagles, for whom he scored 49 tries in 46 appearances and is tipped by his mentor to become a success in Super League with Castleford under his old team-mate Daryl Powell in 2018.
More immediately, Lo will be looking to help the Kumuls book their place in the World Cup quarterfinals at the expense of Aston’s Ireland when the teams meet in the second round of Group C fixtures in Port Moresby on Sunday.
“Garry was the first person to meet me at the airport,” said Aston, who arrived with his squad on Wednesday from Cairns, fresh from pulling off a surprise 36-12 win over Italy in their opening game.
“He calls me his English dad. I know what he’s got and he was good at the weekend. That was no surprise to me. Daryl has got a good player who will only get better as he matures.
“He could be a very dangerous player on Sunday.”
The Ireland squad, who were the only home nation to win a game in the first weekend, attended a reception in the capital on Wednesday and have already experienced the craze with which the locals treat rugby league, the country’s national sport.
“We had a security escort, with six cars following the bus and a couple of us got on the back of the pick-up and stood up and watched it all,” Aston said. “And it’s surreal.
“It’s magical what it means to these people, there’s kids jumping all over you.
“It’s one of those moments where you just go ’wow!“We’ve bought into it. When we got drawn in this group, I said we were not going to come into PNG and run out, we’re going to enjoy it.
“Garry wants to take me out for the day on Friday and show me some of the sights. “People are saying don’t go out but what are they going to do to me?
“Garry is the man here, Garry Lo in Port Moresby is the king.
“That is until Sunday when the mighty Ireland take over.” – TIE
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