'We have our brand, our own style and we want to have an effect in this Cup, not just be part of it. One day we'd like to win it for our people.' 🇵🇬
"We went away from our way, the Kumuls way. We tried to go wide too early so at half-time I just told them to run straight, run hard, tackle hard," Tepend said at the post-match media conference.
"The boys were not down [after the loss to Tonga] but proud of the performance and we had to put our attention to Cook Islands, who we respect. The start of the second half we played the way we wanted to play. "We have a good bunch of boys. It's sad that two of our wingers [Xavier Coates and Edene Gebbie] had to fly home with injury sad but the connection we have is still strong."
That connection came to the fore in the second half at Halifax Jones Stadium as the Kumuls ran in four tries through Rhyse Martin, Lachlan Lam, Justin Olam and a second for Tai to give them plenty of momentum heading into next week's clash with Wales. With big men Wellington Albert, Sylvester Namo and Yei laying the platform, Lam was able to take control and get quality ball to destructive outside backs Olam and MacDonald, while Rabbitohs star Alex Johnston was cool and composed at fullback.