Aussies too good

Pride and determination . . . PNG Prime Minister’s XIII backrower Rod Griffin attempting to break through the Australian defence, with centre Joel Monaghan keeping a close watch during their rugby league international at the Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby yesterday. The Australians came back strongly in the second half, after leading by six points at the break, to pile on another 28 to win 54-30. Despite the loss, a happy PNG coach Adrian Lam said the focus would now be on selecting a PNG Kumuls World Cup outfit through an Origin-style match scheduled for Oct 12. – Nationalpic by WILLIAM WILLIANDO

* Kumuls run out of steam after a strong first half *
By DAVID KAPI
IN A MATCH that featured a feast of tries, the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII outscored Papua New Guinea Telikom Kumuls 54-30 in Port Moresby yesterday.
The Kangaroos’ 10 tries to six victory did enough to silence the 5,000-strong vocal home crowd as the Australians ran riot in the second half, in a gripping and fiery encounter at Lloyd Robson Oval.
Most of the Aussie players, looking to put their hand up for World Cup selection, needed the victory after surrendering a halftime lead in the 24-24 draw last year.
But in a stark contrast to that performance, the Australians, led by Nathan Hindmarsh, reached the half century mark in the second 40, after only having a 22-16 advantage at the break.
Young stars Jarryd Hayne and Chris Lawrence both bagged doubles, while Hindmarsh, Robbie Farah, Michael Jennings, Joe Picker, Carl Webb and Josh Morris also scored.
PNG captain Stanley Gene, who was at his damaging best both in attack and defence, scored two tries in each of the halves to inspire the Kumuls, but that did little to dampen the Australian onslaught engineered by halfback Scott Prince and Robbie Farah for their electrifying backline to pile on the points quickly.
However, the Kumuls, sensing danger after going 12 points down in the opening 10 minutes, narrowed the gap through backrower Nickson Kolo and tries to front rower Rodney Pora and pivot Gene.
The Kumuls scored three tries in the last 20 minutes of the second half through winger Michael Mark, Gene and Ham Tee, but the Australians had already secured the much needed win.
Australian coach Mal Meninga, while praising his team’s excellent performance in the hot conditions, said that PNG too had improved a lot, especially in attack and defence.
“PNG had improved and they looked like a committed bunch of players who got the better of us in the first half. Good for us, we hung in there and came out on top in the end. It was a good performance by us as it was always tough playing PNG up here,” Meninga said.
Australian captain Hindmarsh, with a heap of bilums presented by fans dangling from his neck, said it was the brutal encounter he expected.
“We expected it to be brutal and tough, especially in the first half, but full credit to the boys, especially Ben Cross, Carl Webb and Chris Heighinton,” Hindmarsh said.
Kumuls coach Adrian Lam said he was proud of his team’s performance as it a was team with a lot of players flown in from around the world.
“I am very happy with the boys’ performance as we were in the game in the first half, but a bit of execution let us down in the second 40. Now, I am focused on the Kumuls selection match (in two weeks),” Lam said.
The Kumuls World Cup team will be selected after the origin style match on Oct 12.