Former England half-back Kevin Brown has issued a warning ahead of England’s upcoming Rugby League World Cup match against Papua New Guinea, emphasizing the challenge posed by the Kumuls. England, coached by Brian McDermott, will face Papua New Guinea on Friday with their hopes of reaching the semi-finals hanging in the balance.

England must secure a substantial victory against Papua New Guinea to keep their World Cup campaign alive. Their chances of advancing also depend on Tonga defeating Samoa in a subsequent match scheduled 48 hours later. The combination of results will determine whether England progresses to the tournament’s last four.

Brown, who faced Papua New Guinea twice in 2010 and 2017, offered a candid perspective on the physicality and intensity the Kumuls bring to the field. He revealed that in both encounters, he was forced out of the game before halftime due to concussions sustained against the PNG side. “I’ve played against them twice, but never got past half-time because I’ve been concussed twice,” Brown said.

He described the Kumuls as fighters who transform when wearing their national badge, underscoring their reputation as a physically imposing and resilient team. “It is a completely different aspect of rugby league when they put that Kumuls badge on and they turn into absolute warriors,” Brown noted.

With England’s World Cup journey at a critical juncture, the upcoming match against Papua New Guinea presents both a significant challenge and an opportunity to keep their championship hopes alive.