Papua New Guinea vs Samoa: World Cup knockout race on the line
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Papua New Guinea host Samoa on Saturday, 24 October. Kick-off is 3:25pm AEDT in Port Moresby.
- PNG beat Lebanon 42-18 in Round 1. Samoa beat France 78-4, their best ever World Cup win.
- The winner takes a big step toward the semi-finals. Both sides are chasing knockout qualification.
Papua New Guinea face Samoa on Saturday in a huge Rugby League World Cup clash. Kick-off is 3:25pm AEDT in Port Moresby. Both teams won big in Round 1, so this could decide who reaches the semi-finals.
What happened
PNG beat Lebanon 42-18 in their opening game. They played that match at the same stadium in Port Moresby.
It was a strong start. But the Kumuls had to work for parts of the win.
Samoa were even more convincing in Round 1. They beat France 78-4 in Sydney. They scored 14 tries and let in only one.
According to League Unlimited, it was Samoa's best ever win at a World Cup.
Sualauvi Fa'alogo scored four tries off the bench in that game. He gets a start on the wing against PNG. He replaces Deine Mariner, who is out with a hamstring injury.
Ronald Volkman joins the Samoa bench and will play only his second test.
PNG coach Jason Demetriou has made changes as well. Bailey Biondi-Odo and Jack de Belin move into the starting side.
Biondi-Odo started on the bench in Round 1. Epel Kapinias now starts at prop, and Valentine Richard moves to the bench.
Rodrick Tai and Khaiya Waiembi come into the PNG squad. Sylvester Namo and Sanny Wabo drop to the extended reserves. Josh Feledy is also on the Kumuls bench.
Rhyse Martin captains the Kumuls and is their goal-kicker too. Jarome Luai and Junior Paulo share the captaincy for Samoa.
Luai has won NRL premierships and brings big-game calm. Martin is one of the most reliable kickers in the game.
Ben Gardiner coaches Samoa in this tournament. Chris Kendall is the referee, with Liam Kennedy on video review. The officials have a big job in what should be a fast, physical game.
Why it matters
This match could decide who reaches the semi-finals. Both teams want to control their own fate. A second straight win would put either side in a strong position in the group.
Samoa are the favorites on paper. Their squad is full of NRL stars. Their back line alone has State of Origin players and premiership winners.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Brian To'o, Izack Tago and Stephen Crichton all play for Samoa. They are proven at the top level.
But PNG have the home crowd. Port Moresby is one of the hardest places to win in rugby league.
The stadium will be packed and loud. That counts for a lot in a World Cup.
The numbers back this up. PNG have won 15 of their last 16 home internationals since 2009. Their last four home World Cup games ended with a combined score of 170-30.
They even beat the British Lions on home soil in 2019.
There are reasons for the Kumuls to believe beyond the crowd. Hooker Edwin Ipape was in the 2022 World Cup team of the tournament. He looked sharp against Lebanon.
Nixon Putt was one of their best players in Round 1. That is according to Rugby League Zone. The Kumuls also won the Pacific Bowl in each of the last three years.
History still favors Samoa. They have won all three meetings between these sides since 2009. The last World Cup clash ended 38-4 to Samoa in 2013.
That was 13 years ago, and Nene Macdonald played in that game. He is still in the Kumuls side today.
Samoa have their own history to protect. In 2022 they reached a men's Rugby League World Cup final. They were the first Pacific nation to do so.
They arrive as one of the teams to beat in 2026.
Fans can follow every match of the tournament. Check how to watch the Rugby League World Cup. The whole event is being played across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
You can also read how the World Cup opened with Australia against New Zealand.
What happens next
The winner will be in prime position for the knockout rounds. The semi-finals take place on 7 and 8 November. The final is on 15 November in Brisbane.
Neither team has an easy road after this. PNG face England next, on 30 October in Wollongong. That will be another big test for the Kumuls.
Samoa face Tonga on 1 November in Sydney. That match could be the game of the pool stage.
This World Cup has already produced surprises. Tonga stunned England 30-12 in their tournament opener. The Pacific nations are proving they can beat anyone on their day.
Port Moresby will be loud on Saturday afternoon. A packed stadium could lift the Kumuls past the odds. Samoa know that a slip here would make their path much harder.
Expect a fierce battle between two proud rugby league nations. A semi-final spot is very much on the line.
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