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Papua New Guinea has won a very entertaining game in Port Moresby, surviving a spirited bid from the Cook Islands. The home side ran out 40-28 winners to deny the Cook Islands their first ever win in the Pacific Championships. MATCH CENTRE: PNG v Cook Islands, score, stats, live blog Watch the 2025 Rugby League Ashes LIVE with no ad-breaks in play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. It was a six-point game with a minute remaining, but a late intercept try from the Kumuls extended the lead to 12 and put the final nail in the coffin. PNG and Cowboys winger Rob Derby was one of the best afield, running for 135 metres and scoring two tries. The highlight was Derby’s stunning solo try in the first half. The PNG flyer darted out from dummy-half before slicing through the Cook Islands’ defence and racing 50 metres to score under the posts. The Cook Islands raced out to a 12-6 lead but PNG scored three unanswered first half tries to head into the break up 22-12. The two sides than exchanged tries in a free-flowing second half. PNG legend Alex Johnston (try, 94m), Cowboys centre Zac Laybutt (try, 112m, three tackle busts) and Super League halfback Lachlan Lam (three try assists) all enjoyed strong games for the home side. For the Cook Islands, centre Reubenn Rennie (108m, seven tackle busts, try) proved a handful all afternoon while Dolphins utility Mason Teague was tireless in defence (38 tackles, 56m).
