RLWC2021 – Papua New Guinea v Wales: Team news, how to watch on TV & predictions
Everything you need to know – Papua New Guinea v Wales.
Stanley Tepend’s Papua New Guinea will be looking to book their place in the quarter-finals. They will face England in Wigan on Saturday if they beat Wales tonight.
Wales have yet to win a game in the tournament, but have proved to be tough opposition against the Cook Islands and Tonga.
John Kear’s side still have a chance of reaching the quarter-finals though. They would need to beat the Kumuls by at least 22 points.
Tonga finished top of Group D having won all their games against Papua New Guinea, Wales and the Cook Islands. They face their Pacific neighbours Samoa in the quarter-finals in Warrington on Sunday.
Match details
- Papua New Guinea v Wales
- Date: Monday, October 31
- Kick-off time: 7.30pm
- Venue: Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster
- Group D
Papua New Guinea v Wales team news
Papua New Guinea 19-man squad: 8. Wellington Albert, 13. Jacob Alick, 18. Kevin Appo, 24. Zev John, 9. Edwin Ipape, 1. Alex Johnston, 7. Lachlan Lam, 6. Kyle Laybutt, 3. Nene Macdonald, 12. Rhyse Martin, 14. Wesser Tenza, 19. Jimmy Ngutlik, 4. Justin Olam, 11. Nixon Putt, 15. Dan Russell, 20. Rodrick Tai, 22. Jeremiah Simbiken, 17. Emmanuel Waine, 21. Sherwin Tanabi.
Wales 19-man squad: 1. Caleb Aekins, 2. Rhys Williams, 4. Will Evans, 6. Elliot Kear, 7. Josh Ralph, 8. Anthony Walker, 9. Matty Fozard, 10. Dan Fleming, 11. Rhodri Lloyd, 12. Chester Butler, 14. Ollie Olds, 15. Curtis Davies, 16. Joe Burke, 17. Bailey Antrobus, 18. Connor Davies, 19. Mike Butt, 22. Kyle Evans, 23. James Olds, 24. Gavin Bennion.
What the two camps are saying
Wales coach John Kear said: “It’s obviously very important to us to get a win but I think it’s important as well to outsiders looking in. As a group we wrote down what we felt success would be in this World Cup and we made a pact to keep it within ourselves but if, we played as we’ve written it, we wouldn’t be far away with regard to achieving the first win. We’ve also looked at the points difference and we know, if we beat them by 22, we’re in the quarter-finals, so we aren’t putting a white flag up.”
Papua New Guinea centre Nene Macdonald said: “We are doing our own style, we’re rising up and bringing our own Kumuls style. Hopefully we are having an effect on this World Cup and not just being a part of it. We want to make a difference and we want to lift that trophy one day, not just for our team but our nation where the number one sport is rugby league.”
How can I watch the game on TV?
Every game across the men’s, women’s and wheelchair World Cup tournaments is being broadcast by the BBC.
Papua New Guinea v Wales is on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
READ: How to watch every Rugby League World Cup game on the BBC
Odds and predictions
Papua New Guinea go into this one as huge favourites, being priced at 1/100, according to Planet Sport Bet. Wales, who have yet to win a game, are priced at 16/1 to cause an upset.
If Papua New Guinea win this game, they will face tournament hosts England in the quarter-finals in Wigan on Saturday. We’d expect to Kumuls to win this one, but Wales will provide a tough test.
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