WARRINGTON Wolves’ England Knights stars said they planned to embrace everything about Papua New Guinea – and they have stuck to their word!

The Knights have been making friends across the southwestern Pacific Ocean island since their arrival last Thursday, and not just through their talent that was shown on the field in Saturday’s victory over the Kumuls in Lae.

 

They have been entertaining hundreds of schoolchildren on stage – Wire back rower and skipper Jack Hughes gave them a rendition of Oasis song ‘Wonderwall’, Tom Lineham brought the house down with his centipede joke and Toby King cut out some dance moves while performing Drake rap ‘Miss Me’.

WATCH: Tom Lineham joke has PNG kids in stitches

Prop Joe Philbin, who came off the bench in the hard-earned 16-12 success in the hot and humid mid-afternoon conditions at Lae Rugby League Oval, said: “Tommy was unbelievable, but Toby just came out of his shell.”

Lineham added: “Toby was really scared to start with, after Jack Hughes had got up and done his bit pretty confidently.

“He was really unprepared and was thrown under the bus but he just excelled doing his rap and dancing.

“That set the whole day up. It was a brilliant day.”

Philbin, who also visited PNG with Ireland in last year’s World Cup, added: “You should see Toby’s confidence now. It’s changed him, he’s a changed man.”



 

They were all joined by fellow Wire players Dec Patton, Harvey Livett and new signing Danny Walker among the Knights boys who ran a coaching clinic for local kids, some of whom were proudly wearing Warrington Wolves training gear.

Lineham was one of a number of players who left the field in his underwear after Saturday’s match, with the locals eager to get their hands on kit as a souvenir of an all-too rare international occasion on PNG soil.

Prior to last year’s World Cup action in capital city Port Moresby, where the Knights will play their second and final game against the Kumuls on Saturday, visits by touring teams have been few and far between.

But the Warrington players are revelling in the trip and creating memories for life.

Rugby league is the national sport in Papua New Guinea and the natives are fanatical, idolising the warriors who take to the field.

The locals were sat on grass banks and lining the streets as the England Knights players made their way to the ground in Lae.

And some locals climbed into the tree tops to get the best vantage points of the unfolding drama on the pitch.

 

Lineham, who dived in at the corner for a first-half try on his international debut at the weekend, said: “It’s been brilliant. They’re all lovely people.

“Driving in you could see how excited everyone was about the game.

“The atmosphere is very unique, something I’ve never experienced before but I thoroughly enjoyed it.



 

“They all seem pretty calm after the game when you go round clapping them – all they want is your gear. They’re all pulling on your shirt, your shorts and boots. Even the security guard was asking for boots.”

Philbin posted a Tweet after the final hooter saying: “Maddest day of my life playing in Lae today. Such a passionate set of fans who love there rugby absolutely unreal.”

 

PNG led twice in the first half but Lineham’s 31st-minute effort gave England an advantage they never lost.

They stretched from 10-8 to 16-8 by the break and the only points of the second half came from PNG’s third unconverted try while England had their backs to the wall.

The difference in the end was the two conversions slotted from the touchline by Wire half-back Patton.

 

Lineham said: “It’s always nice to score tries but it was the work on the inside that did it.

“It’s a play we’ve been working on in training so to execute that is really pleasing for the team.

WATCH: Highlights from Papua New Guinea 12 England Knights 18

“It was a tough, tough game and we did not know what to expect coming into this.

“It wasn’t the prettiest of games, there was a lot of errors but the effort from the boys and how everyone worked for each other, giving 100 percent effort and the unity in the team was brilliant.

 

“You could see afterwards everyone was out on their feet but to get the victory as a first competitive outing as a team – we only came together 10 days ago – is really pleasing.

“I think in the next game we need to smarten up. Completion rate would not have been high but we’ll take a lot from this.

“We defended a lot of sets on our own line, penalty after penalty, but we kept turning them away, so I think if we can smarten up and play in their half of the field that’s when we can really flourish and put some more of our plays together.

“We showed with my try and the one from Tom Davies in the other corner that we do look very dangerous and we can cause them problems.”