Kumuls can be giant-killers too

RUGBY league fans are expecting nothing less than a win when the national rugby league team take on one of the three international giants of the sport – Great Britain – in Port Moresby on Saturday.
And so they should. They have at least two reasons to think positively that way.
One, rugby league commentators and analysts agree that the Lions’ performance during their current tour south had been below par.
They are on a three-game losing streak.
And they scored only 22 points in those matches.
Lions head coach Wayne Bennett admits that his charges have regressed during the Southern Hemisphere tour.
Two, the Rhyse Martin-captained side is brimming with confidence after a gallant outing against the Fiji Bati last Saturday which they lost by a mere two points.
They could have won it easily. After two years, the Kumuls are also looking forward to playing in front of their home crowd.
If Justin Olam and co can again display that brilliance, strength and flair at the National Football Stadium, local rugby league fans will be happy.
The players some of whom such as Olam have been playing exciting rugby overseas this year know that the people always expect them to win.
They understand it especially when playing at home.
But as the world of rugby league has witnessed recently, the three giants are no longer impregnable.
The Tongans showed that by beating Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand within a short period of time.
The three giants fielded full-strength sides. They just did not have any excuse for their defeats to the men from the island kingdom.
They had self-belief, did the basics right, played without fear, rattled the opposition. They played their hearts out for king and country.
The Kumuls can be giant-killers too.
They too have the depth in talent, self-belief and confidence. They can be as good or even better than Tonga. It comes down to how well they execute their game plan on the day.
The trick is to limit the Lions’ completion rate as much as possible, and force them into errors.
Once rattled, the Lions are vulnerable.
Coach Michael Marum and assistant coach Stanley Tepend are backing David Mead, a specialist fullback, to hold his own at centre, given the 31-year-old’s switch to the position at the Catalans Dragons in the English Super League this season.
Boom winger Garry Lo comes to the bench at Terry Wapi’s expense.
Daniel Russell moves to the second row, a switch which is somewhat of a surprise.
But the 23-year-old is upbeat about holding his own against Canberra Raiders backrowers Elliott Whitehead and John Bateman.
Lo has had very limited opportunities at test level this season and some game time in the Kumuls’ final match of the year should do him some good as he continues to rediscover the form during the SP Hunters’ 2017 Queensland Intrust Super premiership-winning season and the Rugby League World Cup.
Rugby league and sports in general have been a great unifying factor in the country. This weekend will be no different. Everyone will be watching.
It has been a difficult year for many.
A good performance by the Kumuls is sure to lift spirits as we head into the festive season.