PNG Kumuls Build World Cup Momentum with Rising Stars and Overseas Gains
The roar of the Kumuls is getting harder to ignore on the international rugby league scene. Papua New Guinea’s national team has locked in a high-stakes opening to their 2026 Rugby League World Cup journey – beginning with Lebanon in Port Moresby on October 17 – as a new generation of players prepares to carry the hopes of a nation.
 |
| PNG’s Kumuls Build World Cup Momentum with Rising Stars and Overseas Gains [PNG Captain Martin kicking a goal /Photo by PNG Kumuls] |
Coach Jason Demetriou’s squad is undergoing a quiet transformation. No fewer than nine Kumuls will be plying their trade in England’s elite competition next season, with five joining Demetriou’s London Broncos and four remaining pivotal at Leigh. This overseas experience, coupled with standout domestic performances, has lifted PNG to sixth in the world rankings – and hungry for more.
Unlike traditional group formats, the 2026 World Cup features a crossover system. PNG, slotted in Group C with Tonga and France, will instead face Pool B opponents: Lebanon, Samoa and England. Two wins from those matches could be enough to secure a historic semi-final berth – something no Kumuls side has ever achieved.
The pipeline of fresh talent is already flowing. Teenager Cooper Bai, winger Dudley Dotoi and backs Morea Morea and Gairo Voro all made their Test debuts during this year’s Pacific Championships, which doubled as a World Cup trial run. Meanwhile, established stars like Rhyse Martin (Hull KR), Emmanuel Waine (Bradford) and Nene Macdonald are negotiating new deals in Europe, ensuring continuity at the top level.
“We’ve shown what we can do in the Pacific Bowl. Now we want to take that next step,” Demetriou said.
“We might be behind the big teams now, but the way we’re building, we’ll start knocking a few of them off. The World Cup is the stage for us to do that.”
Also read
Post a Comment