After claiming back-to-back Pacific Bowl titles, PNG Kumuls five-eighth Kyle Laybutt said his side were ready to embrace the challenge of facing off against top-tier nation New Zealand for a berth in next year's Pacific Cup.
The Kumuls were forced to shake off a gutsy Cook Islands side to earn their place in Sunday’s promotion-relegation final, with Laybutt saying the game was the ‘rude shock’ they needed ahead of the Kiwis showdown.
“It was a tough start and I think we kind of expected it, Cookies were coming off a pretty tough loss last week, so they did get us at the jump there and it took us a while to kick in, but we knew once we got into our processes that we would come around,” Laybutt said.
“I don't think we were trying to, but (we were probably looking ahead to the next week to start the game), sometimes that can just happen.
“I think we might have and it probably did take us a little bit to get going, but once we got into it and got that rude little shock, we came good.
“This week will be the first time ever playing New Zealand for most of us and it's going to be a massive challenge.
“But I know these boys in here are all really excited and we can't wait to get there and play.”
PNG’s only win from 18 Tests against the Kiwis was in 1986, but under the coach Jason Demetriou, Laybutt said the side had belief that they could upset the top ranked sides.
Ever since taking up the post of head coach earlier this year, Demetriou has demonstrated a strong knowledge of the PNG rugby league landscape both at a domestic level in the Digicel Cup and internationally in the NRL, Super League and Hostplus Cup, and has also said the Kumuls ranking of seventh in the world was too low.
For Laybutt, Demetriou’s pushing of the squad and the growing experience of the side meant faith has been building within the players in their preparations to face New Zealand.
“He's been good. I think he knows what we're good at and he's really looked into that,” Laybutt told NRL.com.
“I think he's just tapped into that and then added a little bit of his professionalism to it.
“We're playing pretty simple, but each week, we're building on combinations and adding a few strings to our bows, so it's exciting.”
One of the key combinations has been that of Laybutt and his halves partner Lachlan Lam, who captained the side for the first time in the win over the Aitu, scoring a decisive try.
Lachlan Lam Try
Overall, the Kumuls have been developing key players to boost their spine, including Hostplus Cup player of the year Judah Rimbu at hooker and Nene Macdonald at fullback, who again claimed player of the match honours in Port Moresby.
“We’ve been playing together for a few years now, so I guess we have figured out how we play and what we're good at and our strengths and again, every week we're getting better at that as well,” Laybutt said of playing alongside Lam.
“It's exciting, especially with Nene at the back and Judah at hooker, we've got a pretty good spine and words don’t need to be said sometimes, we all just roll off the back of each other.
Macdonald with a powerful kick return
“Super blessed (with depth) and it's exciting to see all the depth and all the young kids as well.
“There's a lot of young boys playing in our team and they're doing extremely well and we do have some NRL players out as well; it's awesome to see the depth.”
The Kumuls entered the tournament without Justin Olam and Alex Johnston, while another player who would have slotted into the line-up following his impressive showing last year is Laybutt’s brother Zac, who suffered an ACL injury while playing for the Cowboys this season.
“He's all good, I think he's ready to start pre-season soon,” Laybutt said.
“But he's definitely keen to get back into a Kumuls jersey.”
Match: Kiwis v PNG Kumuls
Final -
home Team
Kiwis
away Team
PNG Kumuls
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
