'Unbelievable' kick off as little known rule exploited

A howling wind caused chaos as Australia's Prime Minister's XIII visited Port Moresby to play a Papua New Guinea select side, with several 75m line dropouts across the men's and women's games and a kick off that flew 20 metres backwards.

Leading 12-6 at the break, the Aussie men ran out to their positions to receive the kick off to start the second half and were stunned when they saw it land back on the hosts' side of halfway, only for play on to be called.

While Nicho Hynes was clearly switched onto the rules and chased through in an attempt to make a play on the live ball, it was clear that several of his teammates were not aware that as long as the kick off goes forward and crosses the 40m line in the air, it is play on even if it blows backwards.

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That's exactly what happened, in spectacular fashion (watch the video at the top of the page).

"It crossed the plane, know the rules," said Brad Fittler in Nine's commentary.

"Nicho Hynes knew the rules."

Fittler was then asked by co-commentator Brenton Speed if he'd "ever seen a kick off retrieved on your own 30?"

Laughing, Fittler could only reply: "That's unbelievable."

The comical scene from that kick off wasn't the only time the wind had a huge impact on the play, with disbelieving players finding it difficult to adjust as they on several occasions were forced to retreat after whopping line drop-outs travelled well over the halfway line and over the heads of the waiting opposition.

In the first half of the men's game the PNG side's Kyle Laybutt kicked a drop out 75 metres, forcing Cody Walker and Jake Trbojevic to run backwards before the Manly forward carted the ball back towards the halfway line.

And there was almost a carbon copy of that insane drop out in the women's game, with retreating ball carriers stationed to close to the kicker.

While the wind was an entertaining feature of both games, there was also some superb footy played, with Ben Hunt starring for the men's side with two try assists as they ran away with it to win 28-18. The game was actually brought to a close two minutes before it should have been, with the referee calling time after a Tyrell Sloan try in the 78th minute.

Earlier, in the women's game, it was was Wests Tigers winger Jakiya Whitfield's day, with the left winger scoring four tries for the Aussie side as they ran out 56-4 winners.