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Live sport on SN this weekendPNG seek to level playing field in sapping Samoa test
George Clarke, AAP • October 24th, 2026 6:00 am
The PNG Kumuls looked sharp in training as they prepare to take on Samoa in the World Cup | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Marcus Bai has urged the Kumuls to not lay out the welcome mat for a star-studded Samoan side led by Jarome Luai ahead of Papua New Guinea's biggest home international in recent memory.
Saturday's World Cup match will follow a seismic week for the league-loving nation, after incoming PNG Chiefs coach Willie Peters touched down in the country and the club unveiled its jersey and badge.
Luai and his Samoan teammates were feted as heroes by locals when they arrived in Port Moresby on Wednesday.
They were met with humid conditions and the temperature is tipped to reach 32C by Saturday's mid-afternoon kick-off.
The PNG Kumuls are coming off a big win over Lebanon in the Rugby League World Cup | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
And even if PNG lack NRL experience in comparison to their Samoan counterparts in a game which shapes as a potential play-in match for the semi-finals, Bai wants the Kumuls to leave their mark.
"Honestly, good luck to them, a 2.25pm, kick-off I feel sorry for them," the former PNG international said.
"If you play in Australia and you come here, it's hard to swallow. It's not a good welcome.
"You can't doubt what Samoa has in their team but I know and I want to see the Kumuls boys dig in and have a go."
PNG are rated outsiders against Samoa but boast an incredible record at home over the last decade, winning 14 of their 15 Tests in Port Moresby.
Kumuls assistant coach Paul Aiton said the conditions were not to be underestimated in helping PNG level the playing field as he agreed with the sentiment that this was the country's most significant game in a generation.
"Even for myself that lives here, it's definitely warm out there and a bit humid," said Aiton, who coaches the PNG Hunters in the Queensland Cup.
"I think it gives our boys a lot of opportunities. Samoa are a really good top squad and we're looking forward to welcoming them to PNG."
PNG assistant coach Paul Aiton says the side is confident heading into the match against Samoa | Video: AAP
Many of PNG's players were sporting bandages after their tournament opener where they put Lebanon to the sword in an emphatic 42-18 win.
Players have complained of the ground at a soldout Santos Football Stadium being incredibly hard as a result of the drought currently impacting the country.
"We just won't tell them that it's hard," said Samoa coach Ben Gardiner.
"At the end of the day, that's why they call it a Test match. It's to test your capabilities under different conditions with different oppositions.
"We plan to go out and test ourselves and if the ground's part of that test, away we go."
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