27 Oct 2018

Sport: England Knights focus on development in PNG

10:46 am on 27 October 2018

The England Knights rugby league team is focusing on development during their short tour of Papua New Guinea.

The Knights, who play the PNG Kumuls in Lae this afternoon, are packed with Super League talent.

England Knights Coach, Paul Anderson

England Knights Coach, Paul Anderson Photo: RNZ Pacific / Melvin Levongo

The team contains Wigan duo Tom Davis and Sam Powell, fresh off their Super League Championship win.

The Warrington Wolves, who lost to Wigan in the final, dominate the side with forward Jack Hugh named as captain for the tour.

Knights Coach Paul Anderson said the team is not focussed on what the Kumuls can do but more on the cohesion of his own unit.

Anderson said despite the Super League experience, his is a young team, so most of the preparation time has been about themselves.

He further adds that the purpose of the Knights is to help England win the World Cup in 2021 so the aim is to get more and more players international and life experiences.

Papua New Guinea Kumuls have named a strong squad for the match with Catalan Dragons fullback David Mead leading the team and Wellington Albert from the Widnes Vikings among the forwards.

The team also boasts Featherstone Rovers new recruits Ase Boas and his brother Watson who will spearhead the PNG attack.

The England Knights team:

Niall Evalds, Tom Davies, Toby King, Liam Sutcliffe, Tom Lineham, Chris Atkin, Declan Patton, Robert Mulhern, Sam Powell, Matthew Lees, Oliver Holmes, Jack Hughes (c), Dean Hadley, Kruise Leeming, Joe Philbin, James Batchelor, Brad Fash.

The PNG Kumuls team:

David Mead (c), Junior Rau, Justin Olam, Nene Macdonald, Brandon Nima, Edwin Ipape, Watson Boas, Enock Maki, Tom Butterfield, Stanton Albert, Moses Meninga, Nixon Putt, Wellington Albert.

Interchange: Ase Boas, Rhadley Brawa, Dilbert Isaac, Zev John, Woods Kawage.