Samoa enforced media ban before RLWC2021 semi-finals

Samoa coach Matt Parish has doubled down on his Samoa media ban leading up to their semi-final clash with England this weekend. 

Samoa enforced a media ban on players 

The media were unable to chat with their players in the build-up to their semi-final contest with England.

There are concerns raised by rugby league followers about the media ban.

Andrew Voss said the media ban is unacceptable. Here is how he put it...

Media bans in rugby league are a crock of shit. @RLWC2021 Seriously...Do your job. It's not life or death. It is sport. Sport attracts opinions all day every day. And you take the good with the bad. If it is offensive material you delete or block. @BBCSport @VossyBrandySEN

Later, he tweeted

''I hope coach changes his stance. Nothing but good will be achieved as a result.''

Joseph Suaali'i escaped a ban

Samoa captain and leading front-rower Junior Paulo has been handed a one-match ban and is set to miss their semi-final clash with England. 

Paulo has been given a Grade A penalty for striking after leading with his forearm during a carry that went straight into the face of Tongan forward David Fifita.

Samoa coach Matt Parish will most definitely appeal the decision. If unsuccessful, Samoa will be without the Parramatta Eels wreaking-ball in when they meet England again in the RLWC2021 semi-final.

Fullback Joseph Suaali'i escaped a ban for kneeing Kaufusi.

Media bans in rugby league are a crock of shit. @RLWC2021 Seriously...Do your job. It's not life or death. It is sport. Sport attracts opinions all day every day. And you take the good with the bad. If it is offensive material you delete or block. @BBCSport @VossyBrandySEN

— Andrew Voss (@AndrewVossy) November 7, 2022

Latest on Samoa’s Junior Paulo...

 He was successful in his challenge against a one match penalty notice for a Grade A Striking Offences during Sunday’s RLWC2021 quarter final game against Tonga.

He will be free to play in the semi-final against England.
 

Papua New Guinea Kumuls vs Wales Lineup and Prediction RLWC 2021/2022

The Welsh lost all three of their group matches at the last World Cup, including a 50-6 defeat at the hands of Papua New Guinea that they will be desperate to avoid a repeat of. 

With a place in the quarter-finals at stake, Papua New Guinea will not just want to win, but win-BIG to make it into the finals.

Papua New Guinea v Wales 31 October 2022

• Keepmoat Stadium (Doncaster)
• RLWC Kick off at 7:30pm

PNG Kumuls Line up

1. 1 Alex Johnston, d
2. 20 Rodrick Tai 
3. 3 Nene MacDonald, 
4. 4 Justin Olam, 
5. 19 Jimmy Ngutlik
6. 6 Kyle Laybutt, 
7. 7 Lachlan Lam, 
8. 8 Wellington Albert, 
9. 9 Edwin Ipape, 
10. 17 Emmanual Waine, 
11. 11 Nixon Putt, 
12. 12 Rhyse Martin, 
13. 13 Jacob Alick, 
14. 14 Wesser Tenzer
15. 15 Daniel Russell,
16. 22 Jeremiah Simbiken
17. 21 Sherwin Tanabi 
18. 24 Zev John

Papua New Guinea v Wales prediction

With Tonga and Cook Islands facing each other in Group D, Papua New Guinea will know that victory over Wales should see them qualify, although there is a slim chance that a win may not be enough depending on the points difference. 

With that in mind, Papua New Guinea won’t just want to win here, they’ll want to win by a significant margin. 

Expect them to come out of the traps firing against a Welsh side who struggled to keep a lid on Tonga, ultimately losing by a margin of 26 points. 

Papua New Guinea are a stronger all-round unit on paper and are worth backing to secure a high-scoring victory in Doncaster.

Papua New Guinea's RLWC campaign 2022

It has been a difficult start to Papua New Guinea's campaign with the loss to Tonga. There were lots of missed opportunities in the first game against Tonga. But the win against the Cook Islands is a vote of confidence.

It is sad to lose the stars outside-backs Xavier Coates and Edene Gabi through injury. 

They have the fire-power in NRL superstars Alex Johnson and Justin Olam. 

The result will determine which side will meet England in the quarter-finals.

RLWC 2021/2022 PNG Kumuls wins against Cook Islands

Huge game to round off the 2nd round of group games in the rugby league world cup as Papua New Guinea took on the Cook Islands. PNG bounced back from a heartbreaking loss to Tonga to contest a quarter-final berth with England.

PNG Kumuls vs. Wales RLWC 3rd Game Lineup here 

PNG Kumuls vs Cook Islands

You can see the PNG Kumuls vs the Cook Islands line up here.

The PNG Kumuls can take some positives after the narrow defeat to the Tongans. They proved they are more than capable of going toe-to-toe with the world's best nations. 

The PNG Kumuls put pressure on the Cook Islands' key players Jonathan Ford, Esan Marsters and Brad Takairangi and take control of the contest with the first try.

At full time the Kumuls scored 32 points to 16 Cook Islands.

Papua New Guinea's RLWC campaign 2022

It has been a difficult start to Papua New Guinea's campaign. There were lots of missed opportunities in the first game against Tonga. In fact, PNG Kumuls was the stronger team in the contest. They showed that in the second RLWC game against the Cook Islands with a convincing win.

It is sad to lose the stars outside-backs Xavier Coates and Edene Gabi through injury. 

They have the fire-power in NRL superstars Alex Johnson and Justin Olam. 

The result will determine which side will meet England in the quarter-finals.

PNG Kumuls or Cook Island Vs England

The Cook Islands are bookmakers' predictions, but PNG has the firepower in both forwards and backlines that causes the upset to the Kukis.

Australian Prime Minister’s XIII Line-up againt PNG Kumuls

The men’s Australian Kangaroo PM’s XIII will face off against PNG Kumuls at Suncorp Stadium before the semi-finals of the NRL Telstra Women’s Premiership.

Australian RL is fielding a strong team leading up to the Rugby League World Cup in England.

Australian Men’s Prime Minister’s XIII full squad

1. Daine Laurie
2. Josh Addo-Carr
3. Selwyn Cobbo
4. Zac Lomax
5. Jojo Fifita
6. Matt Burton
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
9. Ben Hunt
10. Thomas Flegler
11. Nat Butcher
12. Angus Crichton
13. Josh King
14. Max King
15. Beau Fermor
16. Jake Simpkin
17. Luke Garner
18. Josh Curran
19. Jake Averillo
20. Sam Walker

Check out the possible PNG Kumuls lineup here. The Kumuls are likely to retain the team that beat Fiji Batis in the Pacific Test match in June.

Image: Fox League/Twitter

How to watch  Australian Prime Minister’s XIII vs. PNG Kumuls

All matches will be broadcast on the Nine Network and Fox Sports. 

The PM’s XIII matches will be broadcast on GEM. 

This is the first time the PM’s XIII matches will have been broadcasted on free-to-air television in Australia and in PNG.

Australian Kangaroo 2022 World Cup Lineup

The Kangaroos are set to enter next year’s World Cup as the fourth-ranked team behind New Zealand, England and Tonga. 

The Kangaroo has not been out of the bottom 5 for a long time, but the 2022 Rugby League World Cup (2022 RLWC) in England could be the real test. 

Check out the Cotton On NRL Mechandise 

(Possible) Australia Kangaroo 2022 World Cup Lineup 

1. James Tedesco (C)

2. Josh Addo-Carr 

3. Stephen Crichton 

4. Valentine Holmes 

5. Brian To'o 

6. Cameron Munster 

7. Nathan Cleary 

8. Junior Paulo 

9. Apisai Koroisau 

10. Patrick Carrigan 

11. Haumole Olakau’atu 

12. Liam Martin 

13. Isaah Yeo 

(14. Reuben Cotter 15. Payne Haas 16. Tom Gilbert 17. Matt Burton)

Likely inclusion Australian Kangaroo 2022 World Cup Lineup 

Backs

1. Dane Gagai

2. Latrell Mitchell 

3. Selwyn Cobbo

Forwards

1. Fa’asuamaleaui

2. Hunt

3. Carrigan

4. Murray

5. Nanai

6. Grant

7. Paulo

2022 Rugby League World Cup (2022 RLWC) England

The RLWC will be played in several venues in the north of England from October to November 2022. 

The Kangaroos will enter the 2022 RLWC behind New Zealand Kiwis, England RL and Tonga RL.

Finals are scheduled for the following days:

• Qtr Finals start on the 4th November 2022
• Semi-Finals start on the 11th of November 2022

Check here for all NRL and RLWC stories