Aizue wants shot at Kiwis
FEARLESS Papua New Guinea hitman Makali Aizue has declared the reputation of New Zealand’s big name forward pack will count for nothing when the Gold Coast gets its first taste of the Rugby League World Cup on Saturday night.
In the first of two games to be held at Skilled Park, the Kumuls will collide with the Kiwis in what is shaping as an explosive showdown.
Considered unlucky to lose to England in Townsville at the weekend, the Kumuls arrived on the Coast on Sunday and held their first training run of the week yesterday at Pizzey Park.
Throughout the intense two-hour session, the Kumuls could be heard shouting “let’s get respect” and “bodies on the line NZ”, leaving little doubt of their intentions ahead of the Kiwi clash.
“Definitely, I would like to take the game to them,” said hulking prop Aizue, who turned on a bruising performance during the 32-22 loss to the English.
“I would definitely love to lead the forwards from the front against New Zealand, they are a big side.
“Reputation doesn’t mean anything to me. It is all about putting my body on the line for my country.
“That is what I am looking forward to doing.”
Aizue, who plays for Hull KR in the Super League, backed his side for a powerful performance against the Kiwis, who are considered favourites to make the World Cup final against Australia. While the Kumuls know they face an extremely tough task, there is an underlying feeling in the camp that they are more than capable of launching a massive upset.
“This team now is all about passion,” said 30-year-old Aizue.
“We play for each other.
“Everyone said we would get beaten easy but we gave it to the English and now everybody is saying we have got a chance. It is great for the whole country.”
PNG coach Adrian Lam said Aizue spoke for the whole side when he said New Zealand’s fearsome reputation would count for little.
“Makali’s words there would probably echo through a lot of the other players,” he said.
“This is more about us than who we are playing against.
“The hardest part about coaching this side was bringing a group of 24 players together and finding a bond there. They are from all over the world and some of them don’t speak English or have never been out of Papua New Guinea before.
“But as you see today we have already done that and we have done it pretty good.”
Lam is set to name an unchanged line-up to take on the Kiwis after centre Jessie Joe was yesterday cleared of a fractured eye socket.
“He has got a typical PNG head and bones so he is going to be all right probably,” said Lam.
http://www.postcourier.com.pg
World Cup: New Zealand vs PNG
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