Returning stars and young talent to boost Kumuls stocks

Kumuls coach Jason Demetriou has expressed enthusiasm about the return of notable players Alex Johnston and Edwin Ipape. He is also eager to introduce promising young talents like Cooper Bai and Dudley Dotoi during the upcoming Pacific Championships.

Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup, Demetriou anticipates that selecting the Kumuls squad will become increasingly challenging as the player pool expands with the inclusion of a PNG team in the NRL.

As the hosts for the 2025 Pacific Bowl, Papua New Guinea will take on the Cook Islands on October 18 and face Fiji on November 1. Additionally, Aitu and Bati will compete on October 25, with all matches scheduled to be held at Santos Stadium.

The Kumuls had a successful run last year, winning the Pacific Bowl and maintaining a close score against New Zealand, leading 12-6 until just before halftime during their playoff for advancement to the 2025 Pacific Cup.