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Kumuls aim to help PNG's NRL push

Nov 2nd, 2017Nov 2nd, 2017

Rugby League World Cup success could further forge Papua New Guinea's path towards an NRL team, according to captain David Mead.

Almost 15,000 fans packed Port Moresby's National Football Stadium on Saturday, as PNG hosted their first ever World Cup match with a 50-4 flogging of Wales.

PNG is widely regarded as the only country where rugby league is considered the national sport, and they took a significant step towards the NRL in 2014 when they became the first Pacific nation to enter the Queensland Cup.

Expansion in the NRL is not expected until at least the next TV rights deal in 2022, where they will likely face opposition from Perth, additional Queensland teams and a second New Zealand side.

But Mead, a hat-trick hero on Saturday as the Kumuls surged towards a quarter-finals berth, said more big wins in front of a patriotic PNG crowd would only help push their case.

"If we get the results and go where we want to go then I'm sure it will help the cause for PNG progressing in rugby league," Mead said.

"That's the goal - to have a team. There's no doubt there would be a lot of support from here. Memberships wouldn't be an issue either.

"The hard thing would be convincing players to come and live over here and change their lifestyle a little bit.

"And if we can do that then certainly PNG could compete in the NRL."

PNG's Queensland Cup team the Hunters won the their maiden title in just their fifth season this year, where they play each of their home games out of Port Moresby.

Mead's match on Sunday was just his fourth on PNG soil, but he's already certain the country is logistically ready to host an NRL team.

"The hotels are fine and the stadium kind of reminds me of the set up at the Gold Coast. It's a really beautiful stadium," Mead said.

"You can just tell they love the sport. Every time there is a line break or tackle break - that's probably the difference with NRL games, these guys just love every bit of contact."

Mead highlighted winger Justin Olam and props Enoch Maki and Wellington Albert as Kumuls who could join the likes of Kurt Baptiste, Nene Macdonald and James Segeyaro in the NRL.

©AAP2017

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