07/11/2025
📸⚡Flashback Friday: Our 2000 Rugby League World Cup 🇵🇬 Kumuls Squad
Members of the 2000 RLWC squad recently presented jerseys to the 2025 PNG Kumuls, 25 years after their historic appearance in the World Cup held in France.
The team finished top of their pool and qualified for the quarter finals, a first for PNG, captained by Adrian Lam (Kumul #163). There performance on the world stage, showed the progression of the team and the game in PNG.
Before going to the 2000 World Cup, the team had played a trial match against Australia and were defeated 84 – 0 in Townsville.
Notably, members of this 2000 RLWC Kumuls squad have gone on to continue to make impact in the game and in their communities. Adrian Lam and Hon. Michael Marum went on to coach the PNG Kumuls. Current Melbourne Storm Head Coach, Craig Bellamy, was an Assistant Coach of our side at the time, now one of the most successful NRL coaches.
Match results:
PNG def. France 23-20 |Paris, France (2000 World Cup)
PNG def. South Africa 16-0 | Toulouse, France (2000 World Cup)
PNG def. Tonga 30-22 | St. Esteve, France (2000 World Cup)
Wales def. PNG 22-8 | Widnes, England (2000 World Cup Quarter Final)
🇵🇬 PNG Kumuls RLWC Squad: Eddie Aila, Makali Aizue, Marcus Bai, David Buko, Stanley Gene, Raymond Karl, Leo Kondai, Alex Krewanty, Adrian Lam, Augustine Justin, Bruce Mamando, Michael Marum, Mark Mom, Michael Mondo, Duncan Na'awi, Andrew Norman, Tom O'Reilly, Elias Paiyo, Chris Purkilkil, Lucas Solbat, Alfred Songoro and John Wilshere.
Head Coach: Bob Bennett
