PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS MATCH: The PNG Kumuls came out all guns trashed Cook Islands 46 - 10

The PNG KumuNRL PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS MATCH: Kumuls came out all guns trashed Cook Islands 46 - 10

COOKS COOKED 

By Edward Maia 

The PNG Kumuls came out all guns blazing in the first half with six consecutive tries running down the Cook Island outfit 30 nil before trashing them 46-10 in the 80th Minute. 

Led by a four-try effort from Nene Macdonald, Zac Laybutt also crossed twice in the first half, the second of which came at the end of some hard attacking footy from the home side, and in between that, the front-rowers Epel Kapinias and Valentine Richard, both grabbed a try each with Robert Derby adding one to his name on the wing to help PNG. 

The outcome surely as helped Papua New Guinea made a commanding start to their Pacific Championships campaign this year. 

Kumuls Coach Justine Halbrook who was very pleased with the outcome said the boys worked very hard week in-week out to achieve this outcome. 

When asked about the slack off in the last 18 minutes, Coach Halbrook said they just needed to be consistent. 

"We just need to be consistent in our defence especially in the dying minutes but hopefully the boys learnt about  the effect of being inconsistent," said Halbrook.  

Karmichael Hunt-coached side showed a strong improvement in the second half with Esom Ioka and Steven Marsters crossing over back-to-back in the corners to open the side's account with 10 points. 

According to Coach Halbrook, the boys will be running through today's game to see where and when they will need to improve on as they will be taking on  a more consistent Fiji outfit on the 29th of October. 

An outstanding performance by Nene McDonald, assisted the home side to a 36-point margin win against the visiting Cook Island. 

Holbrook said Nene's performance today is the result of hard work and also consistency  in training. 

"Nene loves playing for the Kumuls and he is always training hard and working hard to become better and that's what I always remind him to do" Halbrook said. 

With Edwin Ipape, Justine Olam and Rhys Martine expected to return next week for the clash against the Fiji Bati's, Coach Halbrook said it will be a tough decision to make for the October 29th line-up. 

"If we need a strong NRL outfit to take up the Batis and to win the Pacific Championship, then we must come up with a strong team," said Halbrook. 

The Kumuls will have a bye this week, before taking on the Fiji Batis on the 29th of October. 

Meanwhile, next week's encounter will be between the Cook Islands and Fiji Batis for the men's division and in the Woman's division, the PNG Orchids will go up against the Cook Islands.