PNG Kumuls likely to play England and New Zealand in the Finals

The Rugby League World Cup, RLWC

• 14 Countries
• 6 weeks
• 28 games (21 pool games, 7 final games)
• 1 Winner

Source: Adapted from Fox Sports (accessed 28/10/2017)

Check out the finalists here.

In the pool games (weeks 1 – 3) six bottom teams will be eliminated. Obviously, eight teams go through to the quarter-finals: three teams from Pool A, three teams from Pool B, one team from Pool C and one team from Pool D.

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PNG Kumuls makes the Quarter Finals (QF)

If the team PNG Kumuls makes the Quarter Finals (QF), the Kumuls will play (the team that comes 2^nd in Pool A) in the 4^th QF in Melbourne, Australia. The second *hot* team in Pool A in England, after Australia. Team PNG Kumuls may, most likely, meet England in the 4^th QF on Sunday, November 19th.

The team that wins the 4^th QF will play the team that wins the 3^rd QF in the 2^nd Semi-Final. A closer look at Pool B teams would reveal that New Zealand is likely to top the pool matches and play in that 3^rd QF and proceed to the 2^nd Semi-Final.

The PNG Kumuls team survives 4 weeks of competition and will see the team go head-to-head with the New Zealand Warriors in the 2^nd Semi-Final match in Auckland, New Zealand.

RLWC FIXTURES

 
Week 1

Friday, October 27

1. Australia (WON) v England at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne, 8pm (AEDT)

Saturday, October 28

2. Papua New Guinea (WON) v Wales at Oil Search National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, 4pm (AEDT)

3. New Zealand (WON) v Samoa at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, 6.10pm (AEDT)

4. Fiji (WON) v USA at Townsville Stadium, Townsville, 8.40pm (AEDT)

Sunday, October 29

5. Ireland (WON) v Italy at Barlow Park, Cairns, 3pm (AEDT)

6. France v Lebanon (WON) at Canberra Stadium, Canberra, 4pm (AEDT)

7. Scotland v Tonga (WON) at Barlow Park, Cairns, 5.15pm (AEDT)

Week 2

Friday, November 3

1. Australia (WON) v France at Canberra Stadium, Canberra, 8pm (AEDT)

Saturday, November 4

2. New Zealand (WON) v Scotland at Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch, 3pm (AEDT)

3. Samoa v Tonga (WON) at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, 5.30pm (AEDT)

4. England (WON) v Lebanon at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, 8pm (AEDT)

Sunday, November 5

5. Papua New Guinea (WON) v Ireland at Oil Search National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, 5pm (AEDT)

6. Italy (WON) v USA at Townsville Stadium, Townsville, 5pm (AEDT)

7. Fiji (WON) v Wales at Townsville Stadium, Townsville, 7.30pm (AEDT)

Week 3

Friday, November 10

1. Fiji (WON) v Italy at Canberra Stadium, Canberra, 7.40pm (AEDT)

Saturday, November 11

2. New Zealand v Tonga (WON) at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, 3pm (AEDT)

3. Samoa (draw Samoa through to QF) v Scotland at Barlow Park, Cairns, 6pm (AEDT)

4. Australia (WON) v Lebanon at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, 8pm (AEDT)

Sunday, November 12

5. Papua New Guinea (WON) v USA at Oil Search National Football Stadium, Port Moresby 4pm (AEDT)

6. Wales v Ireland (WON) at Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth, 5.30pm (AEDT)

7. England v France at Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth, 8pm (AEDT)

Week 4 Quarter Finals

Friday, November 17

1. First quarter-final at Darwin Stadium, Darwin, 8pm (AEDT)

    1^st Pool A vs 3^rd Pool B

Saturday, November 18

2. Second quarter final at Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch, 3pm (AEDT)

     2^nd Pool B vs 1^st Pool D

3. Third quarter final at Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington, 5.30pm (AEDT)

     1^st Pool B vs 3^rd Pool A

Sunday, November 19

4. Fourth quarter final at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne, 4pm (AEDT)

     2^nd Pool A vs 1^st Pool C

QF Finalists

Week 5 RLWC Semi finals

Friday, November 24

1. First semi final at Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane, 8pm (AEDT)

     Winner QF 1 vs Winner QF 2

Saturday, November 25

2. Second semi final at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, 4pm (AEDT)

           Winner QF 3 vs Winner QF 4

Week 6 RLWC Grand final

Saturday, December 2

Final at Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane, 8pm (AEDT)

For more info, check out the Fox Sports website.

How much do PNG Rugby League players Earn?

Papua New Guinea Rugby League (PNGRL) officials are caught out when the recently promoted head coach of Gateshead Thunders signed 4 talented players from PNG Hunters. 

The immediate counterword was ‘protocol’. PNGRL will release a statement on Monday the 3^rd of November. If the protocol has been bridged, what then?

This is a serious issue. PNG Government, sponsors and PNGRL have developed something unique last year through PNG Hunters. For this not to repeat, the management of PNG Hunters will set a precedence to safeguard their players – they will send out a clear message to players, scouts, agents and admirers.

If the situation hits a deadlock, it may mean the visa application is stalled. Their dreams of playing for Gateshead Thunders and their future in the UK or PNG could be shattered. They are likely to be terminated from playing with the PNG Hunters or the national team. Their future in RL is gloomy.

Stanley Gene’s career can also be jeopardised if he did not follow due process. If there was an International Rugby League Code Of Ethics to deal with this issue, Stan would be aptly disciplined. However, he can escape this predicament for now.

Stanley has admitted that he did not talk to PNGRL and PNG Hunter's management. But in all honesty, Stan’s intention wasn’t that sinister. Take a look at the benefits these 4 players are likely to enjoy posted on QPNG Rugby League News & Views by Chris Thompson:

GREEN GREEN GRASS OF ENGLAND

1. House - A house will be supplied for the boys to live in communally.

2. Car -  A car will be supplied whoever chooses to get a UK driver's licence will be able to drive it,

3. Money - Players will be full-time as paid professional players.

4.  Education - Gateshead College will be available for any players wanting a tertiary education for life after rugby league.

 5. Future - Gateshead Thunders is the owner is a Multi-millionaire with the vision of getting Gateshead elevated into The Super League Competition in the next few years.

Others

6. Travel – Given their status as seasoned international players plane tickets to the UK and back to PNG.
7. Insurance would be included in their contracts - a compulsory component of risk cover.

Perhaps the most important benefit is their salary. So, here is an insight into how much they are going to earn - take-home pay. The minimum wage in the United Kingdom is £6.50 an hour for those 21 years of age and over. These 4 young men are professionals. They are going to earn more than the minimum wage. The table puts figures for take-home pay based on UK Government's minimum wage scale. It is important to note that this is the BASE wage.

How much do PNG Rugby League players Earn?

Gateshead Thunders are going to pay these professional rugby league players more. They are NOT minimum wage earners. They are professionals. 

It is a win-win situation for everyone involved in players’ development. Stan’s intention was innocent except to give his countrymen a better chance. This is an opportunity – truly an opportunity as these 4 men wouldn’t have a chance to get a life in the northern hemisphere if it wasn’t for the head coach of Gateshead Thunders.

This is their life. Let them have it.