A phone call from Adrian Lam finally convinced former Queensland Origin enforcer Neville Costigan to make himself available for PNG's Rugby League World Cup campaign.

But Costigan would have been forgiven for having second thoughts during the Kumuls' World Cup selection trial - PNG's answer to State of Origin.

Playing for Queensland was tough, but it seems nothing prepared Costigan for PNG's version of "mate against mate".

"Boy it was tough. They are big boys with big hearts and put their bodies on the line," Costigan told AAP.

"And it was like playing on dirt. It was hot too. It felt like 50 degrees."

When the dust settled, Costigan earned man-of-the-match honours for inspiring the Internationals' 22-12 win over the Residents in the second annual Origin clash at Port Moresby on Sunday.

As a result, Costigan was confirmed in Lam's 24-strong PNG World Cup squad.

Costigan may have needed some convincing by Lam to put his hand up for his homeland after reportedly knocking back an offer last year.

But the bruising selection trial and Lam's leadership have convinced the former Maroons hitman that the Kumuls will "shock" the World Cup big guns - starting with England at steamy Townsville on October 25.

"Adrian Lam is a big part of why I am playing for PNG," Costigan said.

"He rang me up and asked me to play. I hadn't really thought about it before but he got me thinking about how special it would be.

"And he has fired the boys up after (the PNG selection trial).

"Now we can't wait for the World Cup to start so that we can rip into them.

"Lam is a real big factor in this squad."

England have flown out for Australia in business class armed only with sessions in "acclimatisation chambers" at a Leeds university in preparation for their Townsville tournament opener.

In contrast the PNG World Cup squad were nursing wounds from a match that they believed bettered any of a cashed-up England's meticulous preparations.

"These boys will go all day in the heat. That's why we think we can beat England," Costigan said.

"We want to make the semi-finals so we need a good start. That means beating England."

PNG are in the "group of death" alongside Australia, England and New Zealand.

Three nations qualify for the semis from the "super group" - but PNG is not expected to be one of them.

"We are definitely underrated but it is probably a good thing for us," Costigan said.

"The big guns are probably thinking `oh, it's only PNG' but we will definitely give them a shock.

"We've decided the draw is only going to be good for us - it will bring the best out of us."

Salford utility John Wilshire will captain a Kumuls squad featuring 11 overseas-based players.

They arrive at their Cairns base on Thursday.

PNG World Cup squad: John Wilshire, David Moore, George Keppa, Stanley Gene, Keith Peters, Charlie Wabo, Rodney Pora, George Moni, Nixon Kolo, Paul Aiton, Jessie Joe, Makali Aizue, Trevor Exton, Neville Costigan, James Nightingale, Rod Griffin, Larson Marabe, Kevin Prior, Jay Ashton, Tu'u Maori, Menzie Yere, Jason Chan, Nick Ubile, Sam Joe.

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