SportMate Blog

SEARC SHARE TWEET BeyondWords Sunderland have been struggling without a recognised striker since mid-September, but head coach Tony Mowbray was bolstered last weekend with the return of Ellis Simms from injury. The Black Cats suffered two doses of cruel misfortune two months ago – firstly with talisman Ross Stewart pulling up in the warm-up before facing Middlesbrough with a quad injury, and then just a over a week later it was Simms’ turn to be struck down. The toe injury that Simms suffered was only supposed to keep him out for a few weeks, but it ended up being much longer than that – over six weeks of action was missed and in that time, Sunderland won just one league match and started to slide down the table as a result. Most Read on Football League World “There was interest“ - Virgil van Dijk opens up on possible transfer move to Sunderland "It would certainly be on-brand" – Sunderland eye 22-year-old ahead of January: The verdict "Has got amazing talent" - ...

0 GARETH COPLEY/GETTY IMAGES Kumuls barely got out of second gear as they ran in six tries in front of 6968 fans to round out the group stages of the tournament. The victory, which guarantees Stanley Tepend's side a spot in the 2025 edition in France, sets up a rematch of the 2017 quarterfinal with the English on Saturday (Sunday NZT) in Wigan. PNG were comfortably beaten when the two sides met in Melbourne five years ago. But in the intervening period they have knocked off the Great Britain Lions and pushed Tonga to the wire. Under the guidance of Tepend and his assistant coach Shane Flanagan the Kumuls have a new-found defensive steel. Along with their attacking panache and the form of Melbourne centre Justin Olam, who delivered his most impressive showing of the tournament so far, they will give England plenty to think about. Crafty five-eighth Kyle Laybutt put the Kumuls ahead after just eight minutes and the Kumuls followed up with tries to back-row pair Dan Russell and Nixon ...