sport news Ex-England ace Jason Robinson reveals Papua New Guineans are the Rugby League's ... trends now

Rugby League is a tough sport and there are no tougher competitors in the game than the men of Papua New Guinea, according to former England and Great Britain ace Jason Robinson.

The ex-Wigan man should know. He won 19 international caps in League and has come up against opponents from scores of countries in a career that spanned 16 years and both codes of rugby, but in his estimation, the Pacific Islanders are the hardest of them all.

Papua New Guinea promise to be a surprise package at the Rugby League World Cup, which will open on October 15 at St James' Park, when England take on Samoa.

'They do not always look big, but if you run into any Papua New Guinean player, then more than likely they will just pick you up and dump you,' says Robinson. 'It's like running into a car.'

The tournament, which will see male, female and wheelchair athletes competing simultaneously in their respective competitions for the first time, has the potential to be one of the best in the World Cup's 88-year history.

As well as Papua New Guinea, Tonga, New Zealand, Samoa and England will be out to beat the odds and steal Australia's crown.

Robinson played in the Rugby League World Cup for England in 1995, losing in the final to Australia, before winning the Rugby Union World Cup in 2003, beating the Wallabies Down Under.

'I can't wait. I have been lucky enough to do it as a player. And now I am lucky to be watching it,' said Robinson, who is an ambassador for the Rugby League World Cup and sponsors Vodafone.

'I wish I was 20 years younger and able to play. There will be some greater atmospheres.

'There are the men's, women's and wheelchair competitions. There has never been a World Cup in any sport where they have all run at the same time. It is great.'

Robinson relishes these tournaments for testing the best players to their limits, but also for discovering new talents and experiencing the different styles teams bring the tournament.

This year's competition, delayed for 12 months as a result of the Covid pandemic, brings together 32 teams across the three competitions.

In the men's tournament, which will culminate in the final on November 19 at Old Trafford, Australia are, as usual, the hot favourites to lift the Paul Barriere trophy.

However, Robinson says there are a host of credible challengers this time around: Greece are set to become every fans' second favourite team; Papua New Guinea will thrill with their all-power game and the home crowd could just roar England to victory. The ex-England flyer tells Sportsmail what he is looking forward to at RLWC22.

Hard-hitting Papua New Guinea

Nicknamed the Kumuls, Papua New Guinea are going to be a handful and they are planning on springing some surprises.

Rugby League is the national sport on the Pacific Island nation and the players are as passionate as their fans.

They are also among the toughest and strongest competitors Jason Robinson has ever faced.

'Papua New Guineans are so strong. I don't know what it is about them. Normally you would associate [that strength] with the Tongans and Samoans, but the Papua New Guineans have it, too.'

A popular Papua New Guinean player during Robinson's era was Stanley Gene, whose playing career encompassed Hull KR, Hull FC, Huddersfield, Bradford and Halifax.

'He was not tall, not the biggest, but he was the strongest player, pound-for-pound I have ever played against,' recalled Robinson.

'In Super League players used to tell you, 'Man, don't run into Stanley Gene'. He was just so strong, tough and resilient.'

Gene was capped 16 times by the Kumuls, which translates as 'birds of paradise', in a 17-year career and recently left the coaching staff of Hull KR.

The Kumuls enjoy extraordinary support, too, which gives their players an extra edge.

'It will be the first time some of those players have come to the UK and they will be buzzing,' said Robinson. 'It is their national sport. It is an opportunity for them to create something. If Papua New Guinea can do well, they will go back as heroes. Real heroes.'

In June, PNG recorded an impressive 24-14 win over Fiji, which has further boosted the confidence of squad and fans.

'For the players who put on that jersey it means a lot more to them than a lot of people understand,' Leigh half-back Lachlan Lam told LoveRugbyLeague.com.

'We're definitely capable of turning over teams that people wouldn't expect us to.

'Last time we made the quarter-finals for the second time ever and we won all three of our pool games. This year we will be looking to go a little bit better than that.'

Papua New Guinea are currently ranked fifth in the world.

Australia Can Be Beaten

Australia may be favourites (again), but they are beatable, insists Robinson. However, they have so many good players that defeating them is a daunting task.

'You could name about 100 good players for Australia,' chuckles Robinson, but he picks out full back James Tedesco and half-back Daly Cherry-Evans as two key individuals.

Australia have contested 14 of the 15 Rugby League World Cup finals since 1954, winning 11 of them. And Robinson admits the Kangaroos have quality in every position and will 'outmatch anybody'.

'They like confrontation, there will be a lot of sledging and banter,' he said. 'They come with a confidence that most teams don't have. They expect to win. That is where the battle is for everyone else.'

But the former England winger believes that the Kangaroos can be tripped up.

'Sometimes teams give them too much space,' he said. 'Even the best teams can be put under pressure. They can make mistakes. You have to move up, close the space, you cannot hang off them.

'When you are defending you have to punish them, be

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