Explore the latest developments concerning Papua New Guinea.
Papua New Guinea vs Samoa LIVE: Rugby League World Cup – score & radio commentary
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Samoa – finalists four years ago – thrashed France 78-4 in their opening match
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‘The next Jarome Luai’ ready to take on the original one
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Port Moresby: Requests for an interview with Gairo Voro, the PNG Kumuls playmaker described as a Jarome Luai clone, were politely declined.
Given the language barrier, as the man who discovered him attests, it’s one of those occasions where it’s better if Voro’s football does the talking. Voro hails from a remote fishing village in the Abau District in PNG’s Central Province, a one-and-a-half-hour drive from the capital.
It’s a trip that paid off for Joey Grima, the PNG Chiefs player development manager who is tasked with unearthing local talent. There are 1000 tribes across the Pacific nation, and 800 languages spoken. Neither English or Tok Pisin – one of PNG’s national languages – is spoken in Voro’s village.
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'Feels like home': To'o, Luai feted like heroes as Samoa arrive in PNG
Jarome Luai and Brian To'o received two welcomes as they touched down in Port Moresby with Toa Samoa – one from the local Samoan community who turned up to greet the World Cup team and the other from PNG fans excited about the pair's decision to call their country home from 2028.
As Samoan music blasted from a boombox, dancers in traditional dress performed and leis were placed around the necks of players upon their exit from Jacksons International Airport, PNG fans held up signs, chanted the names of Luai and To'o and presented them with handmade bilums.
The pair are in town to play for Samoa in Saturday's sold out IRL Rugby League World Cup 2026 match against the Kumuls, but their arrival coincided with the launch of the PNG Chiefs logo and jersey on what was arguably the busiest day in PNG rugby league history.
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