David Fifita leads Australia in wild mismatch against PNG

In a dramatic display of athletic prowess, Australia's Prime Minister's XIII team convincingly defeated Papua New Guinea 60-10 in their annual rugby league fixture in Port Moresby. The match, the 20th in the series, showcased Australia's dominance, with the Kangaroos amassing 11 tries, while the PNG team struggled to hold onto possession, conceding 47 tackles, a significant 28 in the first half.

Ezra Mam, Jock Madden, Jamal Fogarty, and Josh Curran all contributed to the Australian victory, playing out of position but displaying their versatility and skill. Captain David Fifita started and finished the match as a formidable left centre, his class and power evident throughout the game.

Commentator Cooper Cronk noted that coach Ben Teo's decision to mix up the team was a means of keeping the Aussies engaged after a grueling season. Despite the chaotic nature of the game, with players dropping the ball frequently, the Australians' relentless attacking style proved too much for the PNG side, who were ill-disciplined and unable to match their opponents' effort.

Earlier in the day, Australia's Junior Kumuls secured a historic first win against the Australian Schoolboys, 18-10. If coach Kevin Walters has yet to finalize his squad for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup, several players, including Fifita, Lachlan Galvin, and Tom Hazelton, showed flashes of their potential and may find their way into the national team.

For PNG coach Jason Demetriou, who will lead the Kumuls in the World Cup, the match provided valuable insight into the depth of talent available in his squad. Players like Sylvester Namo, Stanford Talita, and Sanny Wabo exhibited glimpses of brilliance, while Jada Taylor and the women's team, who put up a 66-6 thrashing against their hosts, demonstrated Australia's continued progress in the sport.