World Cup: New Zealand vs PNG

**DIEHARD** · 09-11-13, 08:05 AM

Mexico looking for a rumble. Love it.

**DIEHARD** · 09-11-13, 08:09 AM

PNG going well. Playing some entertaining footy in the second half. I hope it continues.

**DIEHARD** · 09-11-13, 08:27 AM

****ing amazing hit by Mead taking a Kiwi out. One for the highlight reel! We need a gif of that! Superb.

**Geeman** · 09-11-13, 08:31 AM

Loved Meady's hit on Goodwin!!!

**DIEHARD** · 09-11-13, 04:37 PM

Mead can definitely hold his head high. It's been a tough tournament for the Kumuls and it's back to the drawing board.

56-10 is a better result than was threatened early. Tremendous crowd of 18,000 on hand. I think northern English fans are the best fans in the world of RL. We got a lot to love up to in 2017.

**C-Whiz** · 09-11-13, 06:55 PM

16-10 second half, a pretty entertaining 40 minutes.

Could've been anything if the Kiwis went on with it after half time though, but plenty of ticker from PNG to bounce back with plenty of energy and tough hits-ups and hard running.

I love the way they throw it around and create opportunity out of havoc.

**DIEHARD** · 09-11-13, 08:45 PM

New Zealand v PNG player ratings

Every player rated from New Zealand's 56-10 win over Papua New Guinea, including our first World Cup 10-point rating.

NEW ZEALAND

1. Josh Hoffman: A bombed try when he should have passed will give his detractors ammunition but he did some great clean-up work at the back. 6.5.

2. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck: Scored a scintillating early double, had fewer opportunities thereafter but was always threatening. 8.

3. Dean Whare: A smooth and professional effort with two tries and one try assist. 7.5.

4. Bryson Goodwin: Scored the opening try and was solid throughout. Both centres are making it hard for Krisnan Inu to get back into the lineup. 7.5.

5. Manu Vatuvei: Carted the ball up strongly, earning himself an early shower once the result was decided. 7.

6. Kieran Foran: Kicked the Kumuls to death in the opening onslaught and finished with four try assists. World class. 9.

7. Shaun Johnson: Just as dangerous running the ball as he was kicking it. Finished with two try assists and four tackle breaks, and landed eight from 10 conversions. 8.5.

8. Ben Matulino: Some strong runs but a bit of a brain snap when he launched himself at the legs of Aiye in the second half, which might have him in doubt for the next game. 7.

9. Isaac Luke: Cut the Kumuls to shreds with his scything dummy-half runs, especially in the first half. They just had no answer to him. The form hooker of the tournament. 9.5.

10. Jesse Bromwich: A consistent threat with ball in hand, finished with a massive 170 metres and was always hard to bring down. 9.

11. Alex Glenn: Solid, but not heavily involved. 6.

12. Sonny Bill Williams: Even the scarcely believable numbers – 13 tackle breaks, 10 offloads, four line breaks, 166 metres, and three tries (which was almost four) – don't do him justice. Targeted by PNG, he was smashed every time he touched the ball but always found a way to offload, and was involved in absolutely everything for 80 minutes. Utterly devastating, the perfect back rower's game. 10.

13. Elijah Taylor: Mostly quiet in attack but still managed to jag a try and got through plenty of tackling. 7.

14. Sam Moa: The former Tongan international hit the ball up enthusiastically at every opportunity. 7.

15. Sam Kasiano: Piggy-backed the Kumuls up the field with a couple of ruck infringements but was hard to bring down with ball in hand. 6.5.

16. Frank-Paul Nuuausala: Under-used by Steve Kearney but let no-one down in his time on field. 6.

17. Thomas Leuluai: Sadly only on the field for a few moments before being forced off by that groin injury. No score.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

1. David Mead: Few opportunities in attack but was flawless at the back, with plenty of clean-up and defensive work to do. 7.5.

2. Josiah Abavu: Some quality touches to help get PNG out of trouble on a couple of occasions, but plenty of points were scored down his wing. 7.

3. Emmanuel Yere: Probably the best of the Kumuls backline with some dangerous runs and some good takes under pressure. 8.

4. Francis Paniu: Despite the lopsided scoreline he was good defensively and produced some good runs. 7.

5. Nene McDonald: One dropped bomb should have been taken but was solid otherwise with limited opportunity. 6.

6. Ray Thompson: A disappointing game from one of the team's few NRL players. Kicking was poor, he failed to find touch with a penalty and his running game was non-existent. 5.

7. Dion Aiye: A top-class game from the halfback. Several of his attacking kicks threatened Hoffman, he was dangerous with ball in hand and his late line break set up one of the side's two tries. 8.

8. Neville Costigan: A solid game from the former Novocastrian, but wasn't able to trouble the monster Kiwis pack. 6.

9. Charlie Wabo: Promoted to start, he gave up a poor penalty and PNG generally looked more solid with Aiton at dummy half. 6.

10. Joe Bruno: Was particularly bruising in defence. 6.5.

11. Jessie Joe Nandye: Has arguably been PNG's best on field for three games in a row. Was involved in the lead up to both tries and led his side in both metres (111) and tackles (25). Never stopped trying; it would be great to see him in the NRL. 9.

12. Jason Chan: Twice dropped the ball cold – once with his team on the attack and once coming out of trouble. Also gave up two penalties. 5.

13. Sebastian Pandia: A quiet game from the lock, who had some defensive issues trying to contain a rampant Kiwi forward pack. 5.5.

14. Wellington Albert: Injected some spark off the bench and scored a late try. 6.5.

15. Paul Aiton: Classy from the moment he came on after 20 minutes. He settled the team down, defended well and produced a great touch-finder when his team needed it. 7.5.

16. Jason Tali: Another who produced some bruising hits in defence. 6.5.

17. Mark Mexico: The best of the bench forwards, his bullocking runs looked the most likely to trouble the Kiwi defenders. He passed the 100-metre mark with three tackle breaks. 8.

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