PNG Builds for World Cup glory as Kumuls blend youth and experience
Papua New Guinea Kumuls head coach Jason Demetriou says the 2025 Pacific Championships will be the foundation for PNG’s bold push towards the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
As the Kumuls prepare to face the Cook Islands Aitu this weekend, Demetriou has named a prominent 20-man squad that mixes hardened internationals with emerging stars tipped to carry PNG’s hopes on home soil next year.
Among the debutants are Finley Glare, Gairo Voro, and Cooper Bai alongside the electrifying fullback Morea Morea - four players Demetriou believes will play key roles in shaping PNG’s World Cup campaign.
“Finley’s an elite-level hooker and I wanted him learning alongside Edwin [Ipape],” Demetriou said. “Gairo and Morea have both had outstanding seasons, and this is the perfect time for them to step up and show their class.”
Demetriou said his long-term plan has always been to expose as many players as possible to international football before next year’s World Cup, which will feature games on PNG soil.
“The World Cup is a huge opportunity not just for the team, but for the country,” he said. “To debut on home soil is special, and this campaign is about giving players that experience early, so they’re ready when that moment comes.”
The coach admitted selection was difficult given the growing depth in the PNG system, with Judah Rimbu, Sanny Wabo, and Ila Alu narrowly missing out, while Rodrick Tai and Jeremiah Simbiken were sidelined by injury.
“It’s getting harder every year to pick a Kumuls squad,” Demetriou said. “That’s a good problem to have, it means we’re developing genuine competition for places ahead of the World Cup.”
Demetriou said the Pacific Championships serve as a key testing ground for combinations particularly in the halves as he looks to settle a core group for next year’s global tournament.
“This is where the building starts,” he said. “We want to find the right balance of youth and experience and build the combinations that can take us deep into the World Cup.”
With veteran leaders Rhys Martin, Edwin Ipape, Lachlan Lam, and Alex Johnston guiding the side, Demetriou said the Kumuls’ focus now is to play with discipline and identity.
“We’ve got the passion, now we need to turn that into process and performance,” he said. “If we can build that consistency, there’s no reason we can’t aim for PNG’s best-ever World Cup finish.”
The 2026 Rugby League World Cup will be hosted across Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea, where Santos National Football Stadium will stage multiple matches at home.
“To play a World Cup on home soil is massive,” Demetriou said. “You can feel what it means to the players, the fans, and the country. We want to use that energy to push PNG rugby league to new heights.”
The Kumuls host the Aitus this Saturday at Santos National Football Stadium, where a sellout crowd is expected for the 3pm match.