PNG LNG Kumuls coach Jason Demetriou says his side can lift its performance as the tournament progresses after opening with a win over Lebanon.

Speaking at a post-match press conference, Demetriou described the Kumuls’ performance as “decent” and said the team had shown signs of rust after several players went about a month without playing.

“It’s always a bit rusty, but as the competition goes on we’ll play a lot more free-flowing and a lot more fluent,” he said. “We still scored 40-odd points, so considering that we’re going to get better, it’s good signs.”

Demetriou said Lebanon had been a tough opponent, with experienced NRL and Queensland Cup players in its squad. Although Lebanon had not played together for about three years, he said its performances at the previous World Cup showed it could be competitive.

The win was particularly important given the strength of the Kumuls’ pool, Demetriou said. He praised the players for handling the pressure and thanked the home crowd for its support, adding that the team would need an even louder backing in its next match.

Looking ahead, Demetriou said the Kumuls needed to improve their attacking shape and manage their sets more effectively. He said a run of kicks that went dead in seven-tackle sets put the team under unnecessary pressure and forced its forwards to defend for extended periods.

“We have to end sets on our terms and make it difficult for Samoa to get some front-foot footy,” he said. “But on the flip side of that, we need to play our footy. I believe in what we can do and the style of footy we can play will trouble any team in the world.”

Demetriou said the team had also been affected by heat and fatigue but expected training to help the players become more fluent during the week.

He explained that Bailey was introduced from the bench because he had completed only two full training sessions with the group. Demetriou opted to start with players who had previously played together and understood his system, saying Bailey’s contribution later in the match helped stabilize the team and gave the Kumuls more options for the next game.

Captain Rhyse Martin praised the team’s work in setting up his goal-kicking opportunities. Martin said he had converted 17 of his 18 attempts and credited his routine, practice and 12 years of kicking in Papua New Guinea for his consistency.

“Today the boys kept the tries pretty close in front of the sticks, so they weren’t too challenging,” he said. “It all comes back to practice and process. That’s all I do every week, just trying to nail my routine.”

Martin also spoke positively about the development of Gareth, saying his time in London had helped build his confidence. He said Gareth made a strong contribution and helped put the Kumuls on the front foot early.

The captain said the team would continue to focus on its strengths, particularly playing through the middle and using its power game to create opportunities for its outside players.