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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Julie Stott

Great Britain receive heroes' welcome in Papua New Guinea as Lions bid to end dismal tour with win

Hundreds of fans turned out to give Great Britain a superstar welcome to Papua New Guinea today.

Rugby league is the national sport on the island - the only country in the world where league dominates.

Supporters flocked to the Jackson International Airport in Port Moresby to see them arrive and then mobbed the players as they came out.

Centre Jake Connor said: "It was a bit crazy, it was a bit mind blowing. I have never seen anything like it before.

"It was like something off a film. Everyone wanted to touch you and wanted to take some of your training kit. It opens your eyes to what it is like over here."

Lions boss Wayne Bennett is mobbed by PNG fans (Great Britain Rugby League)

Great Britain have lost all three games on their tour Down Under, to Tonga and twice to New Zealand.

But Connor said they are determined to feed off the league frenzy in PNG and respond with a win against the Kumuls on Saturday.

He said: "We are going to experience some different things and hopefully put a smile on our faces and forget about the losses that have happened and refresh our minds.

Connor in action for GB against New Zealand last week (Getty Images)

"The first defeat to New Zealand was not nice but we really thought we were going to come away with a win in the second game.

"It was quite tough. We fell short again but we know what we are capable of and I am sure we will bounce back."

Half backs George Williams and Jake Trueman will both make their Lions debuts in Saturday's game.

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