Papua New Guinea have included UK Super League utility Stanley Gene and NRL forward Neville Costigan in a preliminary 49-man squad for this year's Rugby League World Cup in Australia.

Gene, from Hull Kingston Rovers, will line up for his third successive World Cup having played in 1995 and 2000, while it will be the first time for the former Queensland Origin representative Costigan.

Kumuls coach Adrian Lam named 27 PNG residents in the squad along with 22 overseas-based players, including four current NRL players and three UK Super League players.

The NRL players are Penrith pair, Paul Aiton and Keith Peters, Manly's Michael Bani and Costigan, while Macali Aizu (Hull KR), John Wilshere (Salford) and Gene come from the UK Super League.

The final team of 24 will be named on October 8.

The squad includes the nucleus of the team that drew 24-all with Australia's Prime Minister's XIII in October last year.

Townsville, in Australia's north, will be the Kumuls' home during the tournament in its strong pool against Australia, New Zealand and England.

The Kumuls open their campaign against England in the first match of the 2008 tournament in Townsville on October 25 before playing New Zealand on the Gold Coast on November 1 and then returning to Townsville to play Australia in November 9.

Squad: Paul Aiton, Macali Aizu, Jay Aston, Michael Bani, Wayne Bond, Tom Butterfield, Richard Cambo, Jason Chan, Neville Costigan, Trevor Exton, Steve Franciscus, Stanley Gene, Rod Griffin, Sam Joe, George Keppa, Tuu Maori, David Moore, Ames Nightingale, Merv O'Flanagan, Keith Peters, Kevin Prior, John Wilshere, Dion Aiya, Dominic Angra, Sigfred Gragande, Nigel Hukula, Jessie Joe, Benjamin John, Gimapau Keimelo, Geno Kima, Nickson Kolo, Anton Kui, Larsen Marabe, Michael Mark, Mark Mexico, George Moni, Thomas Ninkama, Joseph Omai, Charles Onguglo, Benny Pamunda, Kingston Pisep, Rodney Pora, Francis Ray, Elizah Riyong, Rodney Ropra, Niko Ubile,Charlie Wabo, Menzie Yere, Simon Young.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP