Australia Beat PNG As Stanley Gene Retires From Test Football

Nov 10, 2008 League Freak World Cup News 0

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Australia beat Papua New Guinea 46-6 up in Townsville tonight in a game that marked the end of the Test career of PNG legend Stanley Gene.

PNG fought hard all game and did themselves proud. They managed to keep the Kangaroo’s close then England did just last week.

Its amazing, after watching every game in this World Cup PNG’s defense seemed to rattle more players than any other team. They have shown they have the skill and the desire, they just need to get more players through the professional ranks.

With the PNG governemnt pledging $20 million dollars towards an NRL club in PNG, and with some of the biggest mining companies in the world also giving their backing, you’d have to think the NRL would be crazy if we don’t have a PNG side in the NRL within the next five years.

As for Australia, they looked good, very mobile and they tried a few things for next week that I’m sure we’ll see against their Semi Final opponents.

I think David Williams and Anthony Watmough may have played their way into the top side while Karmichael Hunt, while playing well, was noticeably a step down from what Billy Slater have been giving the Kangaroo’s in recent games.

Scott Prince looks like he will take up the replacement hooker role, while is a concern for other teams as having him, Thuston and Lockyer on the field gives Australia a ridiculous amount of skill.

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• Anthony Watmough, Australia, Billy Slater, Darren Lockyer, Johnathan Thurston, Karmichael Hunt, Papua New Guinea, Retirement, Scott Prince, Stanley Gene, World Cup

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