PNG Orchids and Kumuls open Rugby League World Cup with home wins
The Orchids beat France 58-4 and the Kumuls defeated Lebanon 42-18 in a Port Moresby double-header, according to RNZ.
Papua New Guinea's Orchids beat France 58-4 and the Kumuls defeated Lebanon 42-18 in a Rugby League World Cup double-header in Port Moresby on Saturday, 17 October, opening both teams' campaigns with home wins, RNZ reported. The Orchids scored 12 tries in the women's match; the Kumuls scored seven in the men's game.
Naomi Kelly scores four as Orchids beat France
Winger Naomi Kelly scored four tries for the Orchids, equalling the team record held by Belinda Gwasamun, who scored four against Brazil at the 2022 Women's Rugby League World Cup, according to RNZ. Kelly scored once before halftime and three times after the break in the Orchids' first World Cup match at home and their first international against France.
The Orchids led 32-0 at halftime at Santos National Football Stadium. Relna Wuruki-Hosea opened the scoring in the seventh minute, and Shelly Long, Fleur Ginn, Tia Molo, Kelly and Ivania Wong also crossed before the interval. France's Manon Samarra scored the visitors' only try after play resumed, before Papua New Guinea added six more. Long, Ginn and Molo each finished with two tries.
Captain Elsie Albert credited the team's preparation and the support in Port Moresby. ‘It's great to be back home playing and to get a win in front of the home crowd,’ she said, according to RNZ. Coach Craig Sandercock called the result a good start to the campaign and praised the players' training and the crowd's backing.
Kumuls complete Port Moresby double-header
The Kumuls then beat Lebanon 42-18, scoring seven tries to their opponents' three, RNZ reported. Gairo Voro, Robert Derby, Nixon Putt, Finley Glare, Epel Kapinias, Ryse Martin and Bailey Biondi Odo were Papua New Guinea's try scorers. Martin added points with his kicks.
Abbas Miski scored twice for Lebanon and Tony Sukkar added its other try. Alex Conti kicked six points. The two matches formed a home double-header for Papua New Guinea, whose women's and men's teams both began the tournament in front of local supporters.
The Rugby Football League's World Cup page describes the 2026 tournament as spanning Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, with men's, women's and wheelchair competitions. The Port Moresby fixtures put both PNG teams on home ground at the start of their campaigns.
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Sources and context
- Orchids and Kumuls pile on tries in respective World Cup victoriesRNZ
- World Cup 2026Rugby Football League / England Rugby League
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.