Papua New Guinea vs Cook Islands World Cup Tips, Prediction & Preview

Andrew Hendrie:

Papua New Guinea and Cook Islands square off in the World Cup on Tuesday night, with the winner likely to advance into the quarter-finals.

Papua New Guinea vs Cook Islands Tips, Prediction & Preview

Papua New Guinea vs Cook Islands free expert Rugby League World Cup tips, predictions & preview – PNG have won all five previous meetings between the teams…

Papua New Guinea vs Cook Islands H2H Prediction

Papua New Guinea vs Cook Islands Tips

Best PNG -12.5 line odds $1.60 with Ladbrokes

  • PNG have won all five previous meetings between the teams
  • Lachlan Lam scored a try in the loss to Tonga
  • Alex Johnston scored 30 tries in 25 games for Souths this season

Papua New Guinea vs Cook Islands Same Game Multi Tips

SGM will be published once all markets are available

Papua New Guinea vs Cook Islands Match Details

🌏 Competition: Rugby League World Cup
🗓 Date: Wednesday October 26
⏰ Time: 5.30am AEDT
🏟 Stadium: Halliwell Jones Stadium

Papua New Guinea vs Cook Islands Head to Head

  • 6/5/17: PNG 32-22 Cook Islands

Papua New Guinea vs Cook IslandsPreview & Prediction

Papua New Guinea were hugely impressive in their tournament opener, but that will count for nothing if they don’t beat the Cook Islands on Tuesday night in Warrington.

The Kumuls went blow for blow with the might of Tonga and were level with just three minutes remaining before conceding a late try off a scrappy fifth tackle play.

It was a disappointing defeat in the end, but PNG proved they can match it with one of the best nations in the tournament and that should give them immense confidence going forward.

Alex Johnston is one of the most prolific try scorers in Rugby League history, so the Rabbitohs winger needs to get the ball in his hands as much as possible.

Meanwhile, the Cook Islands faced a tougher-than-expected test against Wales in their first match, only taking the lead with 17 minutes to go before running out 18-12 winners.

The Cook Islands have always been one of the weaker pacific island nations alongside Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and PNG and it would be a historic achievement if they were to reach the quarter-finals.

VERDICT:

Unfortunately, we don’t see it happening. Papua New Guinea almost beat Tonga and have toppled the likes of Fiji and Great Britain in some of their recent matches.

They’ve got more NRL and QLD Cup class amongst their line-up and if they can reproduce the level they played against Tonga, they should be good enough to cover a -12.5 line here (Best PNG -12.5 line odds $1.60 with Ladbrokes.)

Papua New Guinea vs Cook Islands Teams

Papua New Guinea: 20. 1. Alex Johnston 15. Daniel Russell 3. Nene Macdonald 4. Justin Olam 20. Rodrick Tai 6. Kyle Laybutt 7. Lachlan Lam 8. Wellington Albert 9. Edwin Ipape 10. Sylvester Namo 11. Nixon Putt 12. Rhyse Martin 13. Jacob Allick 16. Mckenzie Yei 17. Emmanuel Waine 22. Jeremiah Simbiken 23. Watson Boas 18. Keven Appo 19. Jimmy Ngutlik

Cook Islands: 1. Kayal Iro 2. Paul Ulberg 3. Anthony Gelling 16. Reubenn Rennie 5. Steven Marsters 4. Esan Marsters 7. Jonathon Ford 8. Makahesi Makatoa 9. Aaron Teroi 10. Tepai Moeroa 11. Dominique Peyroux 12. Brendan Piakura 13. Zane Tetevano 6. Brad Takairangi 15. Tinirau Arona 17. Ruatapu Ngatikaura 18. Moses Noovao-McGreal 20. Davvy Moale 21. Vincent Rennie

Papua New Guinea vs Cook Islands Stats

  • PNG have won all five previous meetings between the teams
  • Lachlan Lam scored a try in the loss to Tonga
  • Alex Johnston scored 30 tries in 25 games for Souths this season

Papua New Guinea vs Cook Islands Best Bet

READ MORE

LATEST RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP ODDS
LATEST RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP TIPS & PREDICTIONS

RELATED STORIES