Ipape, Johnston among form players in Kumuls World Cup squad

England's Championship player of the year Edwin Ipape is being tipped for greater honours as the Leigh hooker prepares to play a key role in Papua New Guinea's World Cup campaign.

Mount Hagen-born Ipape will join the NRL's most prolific tryscorer, South Sydney's Alex Johnston, and Melbourne Storm backline stars Xavier Coates and Justin Olam, in strong Kumuls squad named by coach Stanley Tepend.  

"I'll tell you something: in a couple of years and he'll be winning Super League's Man of Steel award and he might win it more than once," PNG legend and Leigh coach Adrian Lam told RLWC2021.com.

"He offers something at nine that no-one in my entire life have I ever seen offer - seriously!"

Photo: Ipape helped PNG to a win against Great Britain in 2019 (NRL Photos)

Leigh have broken all sorts of records this season as they dominated the Championship - and Ipape has won fans for his dynamic play.

The 23-year-old gave an impassioned speech in accepting the trophy for the competitions best player, thanking his manager Rob Kawaiba back in PNG.

But also back in PNG is Ipape's family, who he left to keep his faltering career alive. They'll join him next year.

"I followed him in the domestic comp over in Papua New Guinea since he was real young,"
said Lam, who is PNG's greatest player and will resume his role as an assistant to Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga at the World Cup. 

"He stuffed up and got dropped by the [PNG Queensland Cup franchise] Hunters. Luckily I was keeping tabs on him and we got him over here."

Ipape played in the Kumuls shock defeat of Great Britain in 2019 and after helping Leigh to secure a berth in next year's Super League he is now focused on the World Cup.

"I'm just excited. I'm looking forward to the challenge," he said.

The Kumuls will enter the World Cup confident that they have players in form in both Australia and England.

Johnston was this year awarded the Ken Irvine Medal as the NRL's leading tryscorer for the third year in a row and now sits equal fifth on the equal tryscorers list. He will be a critical player in Stanley Tepend's squad.

Photo: Johnston helped PNG to a mid-season win against Fiji (NRL Photos)

Justin Olam enjoyed yet another solid season in his sixth year with the Storm. Known for his almost untameable ability to break through defences,  Olam will happily wear a target on his back as opposing teams attempt to nullify his impact. 

The Kumuls will play from the back of the ruck with Ipape at hooker and he is already a fan favourite on the terraces of English stadiums. 

To lift the squad's energy and to push effort areas beyond expectations, the Kumuls have chosen Queensland Cup team of the year second-rower Nixon Putt.

Tepend will look for consistency in a longer campaign and knows he can rely on Leeds second-rower Rhyse Martin, who recently set a new Super League record for 38 consecutive goals.

"The players in the UK have all been part of our Kumuls team in the past, and whenever they've worn the jersey none of them have let Papua New Guinea down, so I know it won't be any different this time," Tepend said.

"They're all in good form and have all played together before, so getting them settled into camp shouldn't be any issue.

"I wanted players with experience, but I also couldn't look past the players that did well in the Pacific Test.

"The bond they made and the sense of loyalty for winning that match is something to keep together. Players with the right attitude were the ones picked because that's what's important for the longer camp."

Tepend confirmed before the PM's XIII match that it would be an opportunity for players to push their selection case ahead of the World Cup squad being named and Edene Gebbie proved too damaging not to be included in the 24. 

Photo: Edene Gebbie starred against the Australian PM's XIII (NRL Photos)

Jimmy Ngutlik is an exciting young player who, when given his moment, punished an ignorant Australian defensive line who left him unmarked.

Sylvester Namo, another young gun, comes in as the humble workhorse after some solid efforts in the middle, while Wesser Tenza replaces Wartovo Puara after he broke his arm during the PM's XIII match.

Tepend had a number of choices for this role, but the handover from Wartovo to Wesser is seamless. He brings the same playing style and form of a classical hooker and will be looking to do his countryman proud in what will be his debut campaign for the Kumuls. 

Keven Appo, Zev John, and Rodrick Tai are all inclusions from the PM's XIII who did enough to solidify their case.

Tepend has already mobilised his squad, with the team landing in Port Moresby on Saturday. He spoke on the importance of the camp and the need for the team to be seen off by the country before the players make their World Cup Campaign.

"The players needed to feel a sense of ownership of the team. It's important that they see the country is behind them, and to be seen off by our fans in person means that when they play, they can relate directly to it," Tepend said.

The team arrive in the United Kingdom on the 7th and will play their first match against Mate Ma'a Tonga on October 19.

PNG Kumuls squad

Wellington ALBERT (London Broncos)
Jacob ALICK (Gold Coast Titans)
Keven APPO (PNG Hunters)
Watson BOAS (Doncaster)
Xavier COATES (Melbourne Storm)
Edene GEBBIE (Townsville Blackhawks)
Edwin IPAPE (Leigh Centurions)
Zev JOHN (Central Capras)
Alexander JOHNSTON (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Lachlan LAM (Leigh Centurions)
Kyle LAYBUTT (Townsville Blackhawks)
Nene MACDONALD (Leigh Centurions)
Rhyse MARTIN (Leeds Rhinos)
Sylvester NAMO (PNG Hunters)
Jimmy NGUTLIK (Wests Magpies)
Justin OLAM (Melbourne Storm)
Nixon PUTT (Central Capras)
Daniel RUSSELL (Brisbane Tigers)
Jeremiah SIMBIKEN (Redcliffe Dolphins)
Rodrick TAI (PNG Hunters)
Sherwin TANABI (PNG Hunters)
Wesser TENZA (PNG Hunters)
Emmanuel WAINE (PNG Hunters)
Mckenzie YEI KETEPA (Central Capras)