Papua New Guinea 4 Samoa 38: World Cup hopes fade as Kumuls suffer in East Hull

With strong links given a clutch of past and current players at Hull KR, Papua New Guinea had hoped to make Craven Park a home from home in this World Cup.

However, instead, they depart having lost both games here, last Sunday’s agonising 9-8 defeat against France feeling like a distant memory last night after they were easily vanquished by Samoa.

All hope is not lost; the Kumuls, who rallied well after trailing 28-0 at the break, still have a slim chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals – if they can beat holders New Zealand, Sonny Bill Williams et al, at Headingley on Friday.

This World Cup has been full of surprises and colour and panache but that would be a shock too far, a firework that simply will not go off.

In fairness, this fixture – the 13th of a tournament that has intoxicated so many – rarely lit up last night but there was always likely to be a subdued contest at some point amid all the dreamy heroics of USA, Scotland and Italy.

Maybe the locals anticipated that as a disappointing crowd of 6,871 – there was more in games at Wrexham and Bristol – arrived to witness what, in theory, could have been a classic.

It started well. The Siva Tau always sounds – and looks – intimidating enough sat in the stands.

But when it is enacted in front of a microphone, as Samoa did so last night, the wildness of it all reverberates around the stadium, almost physically rocking it as it takes on another lifeform.

Iosia Soliola led Samoa’s version of the Haka here and the St Helens second-row was clearly still pumped as he rattled into the first tackle of the match.

Papua were knocked back then and things never really improved as Samoa’s innate physicality was allied to some clever running and deft handling to create a perfect storm.

Admittedly, the Kumuls did not help themselves either, throwing up some of the comedy errors which have lit up this tournament just as much as the classy moments of action too.

You had to feel sorry for Enoch Maki, the, well, how do you say, sizeable prop who Hull KR have signed for next season.

He dropped Paul Aiton’s pass from dummy half when looking to take up one carry and then, soon after, somehow got in the way of another delivery arrowed out by the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats hooker.

Maki did all he could to get out of its flight path, looking like he was midway through performing a hula hoop exercise as he tried to breathe in his hulking frame.

But it fired off a stray leg that was a little behind the pace of it and, typically for the unfortunate Kumuls, straight to a team-mate who was marooned offside.

Part of the beauty of this World Cup, however, has been the chance for supporters to go along and watch sides who, more often than not, play with a freedom not regularly associated with their usual Super League fare.

Daring to pass in confined situations, trying things ad hoc, putting on that speculative play...

Of course, it can be chaotic at times when sides don’t always stick to ‘structures’ but amid it all the game is stripped back to the basics and plenty of those have been on view so far with Samoa, especially, demonstrating some quality handling last night.

Suaia Matagi was more agricultural, rumbling over for the first try after just 78 seconds.

But there was plenty to admire about winger Antonio Winterstein’s hat-trick of tries, the first created by a wonderful flick pass from his centre Tim Lafai and the second showing real finishing class as he tip-toed besides the touchline off a slick passing move.

Winterstein completed his treble in the last minute when latching onto a grubber as Samoa finished with seven tries.

The big centre Joseph Leilua was too powerful as he set up Pita Godinet with full-back Anthony Milford bringing the crowd to its feet with one dazzling run.

Scrum-half Ben Roberts plucked off a kick to race in from halfway before the break but Papua finally gave their adopted fans something to cheer when Menzie Yere, the Sheffield Eagles centre, flicked out a pass for Josiah Abavu to sprint clear and put Jessie Joe Nandye over.

Isreal Elib missed the simple kick, though, bringing back painful memories of David Mead’s off-target last minute effort against the French which has, in hindsight, proved so costly.

Papua had the greater chances thereafter but Samoa’s Sauaso Sue restored order on the hour before Winterstein rounded it all off.

That means, the winner of Samoa v France in Perpignan on Monday is set for a quarter-final against Fiji. That is, of course, if England beat Fiji in their final group game. Steve McNamara’s side will then take on the loser of that French appointment at Wigan a week Saturday.

Papua New Guinea: Mead; Abavu, Yere, Eliab, McDonald; Aiye, Thompson; Mexico, Aiton, Marabe, Nandye, Chan. Costigan. Substitutes: Wabo, Kambo, Tali, Maki.

Samoa: Milford; Winterstein, Lafai, Leilua, Vidot; Manumaleailii, Roberts; Fa’alogo, Godinet, Matagi, Soliola, Ah Mau, Sue. Substitutes: Sio, Moors, Taufua, Masoe.

Referee: Shayne Hayne (Australia).