Brief

PNG Kumuls playmaker Gairo Voro likened to Jarome Luai ahead of World Cup clash

The remote‑village talent scored a record‑breaking try for London Broncos and earned man‑of‑the‑match honours for the Kumuls against Lebanon.

By Felo News Desk · Published Fri, 23 Oct 2026 10:12:25 GMT

Port Moresby, 23 Oct 2026 – PNG Kumuls playmaker Gairo Voro, described by development manager Joey Grima as a "Jarome Luai clone", is set to line up against the Samoan international in the Rugby League World Cup, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

What happened

Voro, who grew up in a fishing village in the Abau District of Central Province, first attracted attention at a 2023 tournament in Sogeri. Grima, the PNG Chiefs player‑development manager, travelled to watch Voro play and was impressed by his defensive aggression and game‑orchestrating ability. After a second scouting visit, Grima secured the youngster a contract with the London Broncos. Voro recently broke the Broncos' club record with seven tries and 44 points in a match against Hunslet, and he starred for the Kumuls against Lebanon, scoring a try and winning man‑of‑the‑match honours.

What the report adds

The article notes that Voro does not speak English or Tok Pisin, requiring translators for his first interview attempt. It also highlights that his performance against Lebanon came "last weekend" and that his London Broncos record‑breaking haul was achieved "in a match against Hunslet". No other outlets are cited.

What was said

Grima recalled his first impression: “I thought, ‘Wow, he looks like Jarome Luai.’” He added that Voro’s defence was "quite aggressive for a really thin, small, skinny guy with long hair". The report records Grima’s comment that Voro "looked at me like I was from another planet" when he first tried to speak with him in broken Tok Pisin.

How it came about

Voro’s rise follows the PNG Chiefs’ broader talent‑identification push, which has featured in recent Felo News coverage on the club’s market‑value challenge and legal dispute over its name. The development pathway that took Voro from a remote village to a professional contract mirrors the league’s recent emphasis on homegrown Pacific talent.

Key facts

• Gairo Voro was first spotted at a 2023 tournament in Sogeri. (smh.com.au)
• He signed with the London Broncos and set a club record with seven tries and 44 points against Hunslet. (smh.com.au)
• Voro scored a try and earned man‑of‑the‑match honours for the PNG Kumuls against Lebanon. (smh.com.au)
• Development manager Joey Grima likened Voro to Australian halfback Jarome Luai. (smh.com.au)

Sources

• [1] smh.com.au — originally reported as “NRL 2026: Meet PNG Kumuls sensation Gairo Voro ready to take on Samoan lookalike Jarome Luai in Rugby League World Cup”