Aussie stars shine in 54-30 win over PNG - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Aussie stars shine in 54-30 win over PNG

PORT MORESBY 28/09/2008 06:17:17 PM Comments (0)

There were a few police gun shots, plenty of tries and an Australian team putting their names forward for World Cup selection as the Prime Minister's XIII completed a 54-30 rout of Papua New Guinea.

Led by skipper Nathan Hindmarsh, the Australian team scored 10 tries to six in an entertaining and fiery encounter at Lloyd Robson Oval that saw more than 5000 pack the tiny stadium.

Parramatta winger Jarryd Hayne and Wests Tigers youngster Chris Lawrence both bagged doubles while Hindmarsh, Robbie Farah, Michael Jennings, Joe Picker, Carl Webb and Josh Morris also scored.

Hayne bagged his double in the second half within the space of a minute.

PNG's co-captain Stanley Gene also scored twice, his second coming on the final hooter. Gene was the pick of the Kumuls in the hot, dry and windy conditions.

Australia were held to a respectable 22-16 halftime lead before a dominant final second stanza saw them run away with the contest.

The result was in stark contrast to last year's game when the Australians surrendered a halftime lead in the 24-all draw.

After the match Nathan Hindmarsh, while giving one lucky local his footy boots, said it was the brutal encounter he expected.

"It was tough, especially the first half, we couldn't seem to hold the ball," he said.

"We let them score a few tries and the crowd got really behind them and really lifted them."

The game was the last chance for several Australian World Cup hopefuls to press for selection before the 24-man squad is announced on October 7.

Australia's coach Mal Meninga said while happy with the win conditions made it a difficult to chart players' performances for World Cup selection.

"The field's rock hard, it's hot as buggery, you are playing against a pretty committed Kumuls side," he said.

"They (PNG) were really good today, very aggressive in the way they played but our boys just hung in there pretty well.

"Charlie (Carl) Webb was pretty good, Benny Cross, Nathan Hindmarsh, Luke O'Donnell was good, Robbie Farah - they all deserve an opportunity to be earmarked for a spot in the World Cup.

"They put their best foot forward today so we see what happens.

"This Kumul side improved - they'll pick a pretty good side too."

PNG coach Adrian Lam said he will select a World Cup side after another internal match.

"We've improved but we've got an origin-style match before we make a final decision," he said.

Locals packed the stadium with hundreds more outside and others taking vantage spots in the nearby trees.

Police crowd control required several warning shots to be fired, especially in post-match jubilance that saw hundreds swarm both the Australian and PNG side.

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