PNG Kumuls Beat Lebanon 42-18 to Open World Cup at Home

Papua New Guinea opened their Rugby League World Cup campaign with a 42-18 win over Lebanon at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Saturday, Oct 17, 2026. Captain Rhyse Martin scored a try, kicked seven goals from seven attempts and made 31 tackles for the Kumuls. Lebanon, with Jacob Kiraz and Alex Twal in their side, cut an 18-0 lead to six points before halftime and stayed in the contest until the last ten minutes.

Voro and Derby set the early pace

The home crowd got its first try in the eighth minute. Five-eighth Gairo Voro gathered a loose ball after a knock-on by Lebanon winger Jason Saab and ran 60 metres to score. Winger Rob Derby scored next, finishing a cut-out pass from fullback Morea Morea. Nixon Putt scored the third try in the 30th minute after another clean break by Voro, and Papua New Guinea led 18-0.

Lebanon answered with two tries in four minutes before the break. Abbas Miski burrowed over from dummy half after a strong run by Tupou Francis. Tony Sukkar then scored after an intercept by Tony Francis. Alex Conti converted both, and Lebanon trailed 18-12 at halftime.

Derby finished the match with more than 200 run metres and six tackle breaks, Fox Sports reported. Tony Francis ran for 292 metres for Lebanon, and Kiraz ran for 207 metres.

Four tries after the break close it out

Papua New Guinea scored first in the second half. Finley Glare picked up a loose pass and ran through the defence. In the 48th minute Jack de Belin put Epel Kapinias over with a short pass, and Martin's fifth conversion made the score 30-12.

Miski scored his second try in the 54th minute and Conti converted, bringing Lebanon back to 30-18. Both sides had chances after that, and Lebanon held out for long spells in defence. The home side finally broke through again with eight minutes left. Edwin Ipape put Martin over from close range with a short ball. Three minutes later Ipape put a grubber kick into the in-goal area, and Bailey Biondi-Odo reached the ball first to score the seventh try.

Martin, playing his 22nd Test for the Kumuls, ran for 93 metres to go with his perfect kicking. Wingers Derby and Dudley Dotoi combined for 379 run metres, and centre Nene Macdonald ran for 203 metres, the NRL reported.

Samoa next, in the same stadium

The win gives Papua New Guinea two points from their opening match in front of their home crowd. They stay in Port Moresby and play Samoa on Saturday, Oct 24, 2026. Lebanon play Tonga on Friday, Oct 23, 2026 in Parramatta, Sydney.

Interest in the Kumuls is high at home because a Papua New Guinea team, the Chiefs, will join the NRL in 2028. Local players such as Voro, who also set up the Putt try, used this opening match to show they can handle the World Cup level. Lebanon leave with credit for the fightback from 18-0 down, led by the running of Francis and Kiraz, but no points from the first round.