Skipper Lachlan Lam and fullback Nene Macdonald have combined to lead Papua New Guinea past the Cook Islands and into the Pacific Championships promotion-relegation match.
The Kumuls trailed 14-4 midway through the first half and were in danger of falling below Fiji in the Bowl standings before the experienced duo took control of the contest.
Both Lam and Macdonald scored before the break to put their team ahead at half-time and they continued the momentum into the second to lead the side to a 42-20 victory.
Lam was captaining his country for the first time, following in his father's footsteps as a Kumuls skipper. The halfback scored a try, had three try assists, one line break, six tackle breaks and 117 running metres.
Nene Macdonald Try
The result secures a date with New Zealand in next Sunday's promotion-relegation match at CommBank Stadium.
The winner will earn a place in next year's Pacific Championships Cup division, with Papua New Guinea now just one victory away from achieving their goal of regularly mixing it with the sport's global powers.
Elijah Roltinga Try
The Kumuls jumped out to a 4-0 lead thanks to an early Elijah Roltinga try but it was Cook Islands who largely controlled the first half.
The visitors made the most of multiple attacking opportunities to score 14-straight points and give Fiji hope they could leapfrog Papua New Guinea into first place in the Bowl standings.
Steven Marsters Try
The match turned in the final 10 minutes of the half, the Kumuls' leaders taking control to drag their team back into the contest.
First it was Macdonald who charged over from close range before Lam sliced his way through the Aitu defensive line to race 30 metres and put his team up 16-14 at the break.
The hosts picked up where they left off after half-time, running in three tries in the first nine minutes to jump out to a 34-14 lead.
Macdonald crossed for his second midway through the second before momentum finally swung back towards the visitors.
After a period on the attack, Esom Ioka pounced on an Esan Marsters grubber to cut the deficit to 18 with eight minutes remaining.
The Kumuls had one last trick up their sleeves for the vocal crowd in Port Moresby, Morea Morea slicing through the line to secure a 42-20 victory.
Match: PNG Kumuls v Cook Islands Aitu
Week 3 -
home Team
PNG Kumuls
1st Position
away Team
Cook Islands Aitu
3rd Position
Venue: Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
Match Snapshot
- Kumuls foward Sylvester Namo was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Cook Islands hooker Rua Ngatikaura. The dummy-half left the field for an HIA, which he passed and returned later in the first half.
- Aitu forward Zane Tetevano was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Koso Bandi early in the second half.
- Bandi failed his HIA and did not return to the match, leading to the activation of 18th man Morea Morea.
Robert Derby Try
- Papua New Guinea have now won all five Tests against the Cook Islands.
- Kumuls winger Robert Derby has now scored five tries in his past five Tests.
- Papua New Guinea have now won six of their past eight Tests matches.
- Cousins Esan and Steven Marsters played their 10th Tests for Cook Islands.
- Lachlan Lam captained Papua New Guinea for the first time, joining his father Adrian as a Kumuls skipper. They are just the second father-son pairing to captain a major rugby league nation.
- Kumuls fullback Nene Macdonald was voted player of the match for his 174 running metres, 11 tackle breaks and a line break.
Play of the Game
Lachlan Lam Try
What They Said
Kumuls: Week 3
Aitu: Week 3
