PNG Facts - Sports News

Queensland's State of Origin dynasty has stretched to a remarkable eight years after the Maroons withstood everything NSW could throw at them to win the series decider 12-10 at ANZ Stadium.

Hammered in the penalty count before a game three record crowd of 83,813 and forced to defend for large periods of the game, Queensland refused to let their crown go - a try to Justin Hodges just after the hour mark putting the visitors on the brink of victory.

NSW kept coming with Trent Merrin scoring to close the gap to just two points, but the Maroons stood firm against the Blues and also a streaker - whose length of the field run denied Maroons prop Matt Scott a try - to keep their streak alive with their first win in Sydney since 2010.

The Blues paid dearly for failing to make the most of their chances, halfback Mitchell Pearce again doing little to convince his critics he is the answer for the Blues who won't have two home games in a series again until 2016.

By that time the Maroons could have stretched their run to a full decade.

In a game which stood on a knife edge for much of the contest, the Maroons jumped out of the gates quickest when Johnathan Thurston ducked past both Blues props to dive over next to the posts.

The video referee ignored Robbie Farah's claim of an obstruction, but the Blues could have no argument when Thurston added a penalty after James Maloney shoulder-charged Cooper Cronk.

It was the sort of ill-discipline that cost the Blues dearly in game two, but the momentum quickly changed with the injection of bench forwards Anthony Watmough and Andrew Fifita, who were immense for the Blues.

Their go-forward and a string of penalties finally turned into points for the Blues when winger James McManus, playing his first Origin game since 2009, went over out wide - that just NSW's second try in 150 minutes of football.

The onslaught continued but the qualities that had propelled the Maroons to seven straight series wins came to the fore - the Blues unable crack a defence that had Darius Boyd's fingertips to thank when he reached back to ground a fumbled ball as Josh Morris pounced.

The team leading at halftime had won 25 of the past 30 Origins, and the Maroons had the edge 8-4 this time but the Blues were coming - and they could have been away had Josh Dugan held onto a Fifita offload with only Billy Slater to beat.

Crucial knock-ons by Watmough and McManus - the latter with no-one near him as he cleaned up a clearing kick, hurt the home side - just as Mitchell Pearce's poor grubber with his side on the attack did.

The Blues failed to take advantage of their chances, but the Maroons were not so forgiving - and on the back of just their third penalty all but put the game away when a deft Cronk pass put Hodges over, Merrin's late try not enough for the Blues.

THE multi-million PNG LNG Project developer Esso Highlands Ltd is the major sponsor for Papua New Guinea Kumuls to the 2013 World Cup in England in October.
Esso Highlands Ltd managing director Peter Graham announced the sponsorship – in a press conference held at the PNG LNG Plant site at Konebada – to support Kumuls as they prepare for the World Cup under the guidance of Team Kumuls coaching director Mal Meninga.
Minister for Sports Justin Tkatchencko and the Team Kumul players and managers were also in attendance.
Graham said the PNG LNG Project recognised how important rugby league was in Papua New Guinea.
“We understand that Papua New Guinea is the only country in the world with rugby league as the national sport,” he said.
“It is a powerful force for national unity and pride.
“The project recognises the potential for the Kumuls, as ambassadors and role models, to have a positive influence on Papua New Guinean youth in particular, and we are pleased to contribute to the progress of the Kumuls.
“We will be cheering them on to victory.”
Graham said he hoped the project’s sponsorship of the Kumuls would help people appreciate the PNG LNG Project is not just about natural gas production.
“The PNG LNG Project is also about delivering sustainable, long-term benefits for all project stakeholders, contributing to economic growth and strengthening the resilience of communities across Papua New Guinea.
“This partnership will bring together two organisations that are committed to the values of teamwork, respect, personal integrity and excellence,” he said.
Meninga said the team’s involvement with the PNG LNG Project was a natural fit.
“The PNG LNG Project is a leader in its field, which is something the Kumuls also strive to be.
“We are delighted to welcome them on board as a major sponsor and have them along with us on our journey to the Rugby League World Cup,” the Queensland Maroons coach said.

The National

ALL potential Kumul players in the sights of the high performance training programme must continue to maintain their form with just over a month before final the selection trial.
Team Kumul general manager Matthew Natusch yesterday said all Digicel Cup players must continue to maintain a high level of fitness even if their franchises are not in the top five after the last round of matches this weekend.
This will mean those players on the watch-list and on the outer in the play-offs still have a fighting chance to catch the eye of national selectors.
“Team Kumul will not announce names of players targeted for the trial match as yet as anything can happen over the next few weeks of the Digicel Cup playoffs.
“We can’t have finality at this stage, as we want to give every one a fair go for selection,” Natusch said.
“No one at this stage is confirmed, as everybody will be given a chance to prove themselves in the trial match.”
He said the World Cup (Oct 26-Nov 30) was only two months away and, “All players currently targeted for World Cup selection are being monitored weekly and after the last round of matches, those that are not in the play offs have their programmes to follow,” he said.
He further confirmed that they are monitoring international players in the National Rugby League (Australia) and the Super League (England) as well.
“Some are nearing the playoffs and others may be available sooner than later,” he added.
Natusch said the trial match slated for Sept 22 in Port Moresby will have all international and local players mixed together to form to two teams for a match to select a team to play in the Prime Minister’s XIII math on Sept 29 in Kokopo.
“I can further say that even then players that are targeted for the tour may not even play in the PM’s XIII match with the Australians.”
“So the door is not closed for those that still have hope of making an impression,” Natusch said.

WITH less than two months away from 2013 World Cup in England, former Australian Kangaroo Petero Civoneciva is convinced that the Papua New Guinea Kumuls will be the toughest opponent for the upcoming event.
“Their chances are good, they will be very strong during World Cup in England,” this was how Civoniceva described PNG’s prospects after playing against PNG Prime Minister’s Xlll (2006) and the PNG Kumuls in the Four Nations (2010).
According to the big Fijian Australian the acquisition of Queensland coach Mal Meninga as the Team Kumul coaching director in preparation for the 2013 and 2017 World Cups was a huge coup in rugby league.
He said the local Kumuls would benefit greatly form the expertise of Meninga and coach Adrian Lam.
Petero, who played under Meninga in the seven consecutive series wins said the former Canberra Raiders player had “tremendous rugby league knowledge of modern game” which the Kumuls would gain from as they take on teams like New Zealand, France and Samoa.
He said the World Cup in England in October may be too soon to see the effects of the training and development under the Meninga-Lam partnership but the fruit of the investment would really come to fruition in the 2017 World Cup.
The Maroons legend said PNG players were some of the toughest in world rugby league and would not be easy beats.
“When I played against them, I woke up sore the next day, and I know many of my Australian teammates also shared the same sentiments,” Civoniceva said with a smile.
“When you play the Kumuls, you know you’ve played the game of rugby league. PNG Kumuls are hard tacklers and hard runners with the ball, and they leave a legacy on the paddock.”
Civoniceva said the Kumuls’ toughness has a place in the NRL as proven by former Melbourne Storm winger Marcus Bai and other PNG players who have played in NRL.
He gave the thumps up to the Team Kumuls’ the high performance training programme describing it as the great concept to improve the standard of the game and take it to the next level.
“This concept for PNG’s elite players is not new but something all NRL clubs are doing week-in and week-out as part of their preparation.
He added that the new level of training was to allow local players to be brought up to similar levels of preparation as other top teams.

THE National Broadcasting Corporation will have exclusive radio and television rights to two Kumuls games in the country next month.
The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) announced the deal yesterday.
The games are the Team Kumul Red-Team Kumul Gold on Sunday, September 22, at the Lloyd Robson Oval, in Port Moresby.
The match will feature overseas and locally-based players in a trial for the Prime Minister’s XIII match and the World Cup squad.
The second match, the Kumuls-Australian PM’s XIII will be a week later, on Sunday, September 29 at the Kalabond, in Kokopo.
The match is expected to see the strongest possible line-ups from both nations ahead of the announcement of the Kumuls World Cup squad.
NBC chief executive officer and managing director Memafu Kapera, above, said the rights were a coup for the network.
“This is an exciting time for rugby league in PNG and we want to be at the forefront of this revolution in the game,” Kapera said.
“We have invested heavily in infrastructure to improve our broadcast and believe under the new board and management of the PNGRFL we have the beginnings of a fantastic ongoing partnership.
“This is an important year being a World Cup year for Team Kumuls and we are looking forward to delivering a quality broadcast to the nation for fans who cannot attend either of the in-country matches.”
PNGRFL interim chief executive officer Brad Tassell, right, said, “We are very happy with the deal and thank NBC Radio and Television for their support of the international programme.
“This is a sign that the Team Kumul programme implemented by the PNGRFL has significantly lifted the profile of the national body and the value of the international programme to broadcasters and potential sponsors.
“We are now looking for a naming rights sponsor for both matches and hope to secure this soon.
“The new board and management have been extremely proactive and a lot has been achieved already in a short space of time.
“We have been saying all along that this is a new PNGRFL, with a very bright future and we are dedicated to ensuring the game is managed and delivered professionally for fans across the country.
“We understand that NBC are close to securing the rights to broadcast the upcoming Rugby League World Cup so this is the perfect start and lead in to that campaign for NBC.” The National

Menzie's club coach Mark Aston (who is also the Ireland coach) thinks he has earned a place in the PNG squad.

Menzie Yere’s form this season should earn him a place in Papua New Guinea’s squad for the Rugby League World Cup says rival international coach Mark Aston.
The powerful centre can win games on his own says Aston who is head coach of Ireland and Yere’s club team Sheffield Eagles.
“Can he score a full-length try? Yes. Can he score a try from two yards out? Yes. Menzie can have an impact,” said Aston. “If I was Papua New Guinea’s coach I would certainly be looking at having him in there because sometimes when it’s a close game people like him can win it for you.”
Yere is having his best season for Sheffield Eagles who lead the Championship – the second tier competition in the UK professional game.
He has set a new club individual try-scoring record with 38 and his career total for Sheffield is 110 only four behind the mark set by Daryl Powell between 1984-95.
Yere burst on the international scene for PNG in the 2008 World Cup and his ferocious tackling in the
Menzie Yere in action Sheffield. Getty ImagesFour Nations three years later earned him the nickname ‘Jukebox’ – because he has all the big hits.
He joined the Sheffield club in 2009 and faces competition for a place in the PNG squad for this year’s competition from players plying their trade in Australia.
“Menzie did enough to get in the squad in 2008 and I think he’s got better,” said Aston “He’s back to his best. He’s scoring more tries and he’s playing at a higher level. He’s stronger, more mature.
“Menzie would certainly be given an opportunity to be in the Ireland squad. What we are looking for at Ireland is that person that can do something different – that’s what all the nations, even those with the riches of the NRL or Super League are looking for.
“All the countries from that side of the globe will be full of NRL players. But it’s about getting the players to gel. The NRL is the best competition in the world but not every player is the best.”
The Rugby League World Cup 2013 kicks off at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, on Saturday October 26, with matches played in England, Wales, Ireland and France.
PNG are in Group B and will face the holders New Zealand, Samoa and France.

Read Full Story and see photos on : Pacific News Flash

Three Stop and Shop Port Moresby Vipers Club players and an official appeared before the Kokopo District Court today on charges of threatening and drinking in a moving vehicle and other alcohol-related offences.

Two of them are Port Moresby-based policemen.

Provincial Police Commander, Anthony Wagambie Junior said the four were arrested yesterday morning after they followed the referee from a shop down to the police station in Kokopo where a woman saw what was happening and alerted duty police.

The duty police stopped the vehicle and arrested the four men.

According to a police report and that of the complainant - the referee, the Vipers players and official were apparently under the influence of alcohol when they approached him in their vehicle and began threatening him.

They tried to attack him and he managed to escape towards the Kokopo Police Station.

When they saw him heading in that direction, they sped towards the station in an attempt to stop him.

Mr Wagambie Junior applauded the quick action by his officers, in dealing with this case and appealed to inter-city teams not to take their grievances from the field onto the streets, but pursue them professionally, through the proper channel.

Scotland will play a World Cup warm-up match against Papua New Guinea at Featherstone on Saturday, October 19.The first-ever meeting with the Kumuls will be the only pre-tournament match for Steve McCormack's men this year and will take place 10 days before they open their World Cup campaign against Tonga at Workington.

"We're delighted to secure the game against PNG," said McCormack. "We've been working on it for weeks and all the pieces have fallen into place thanks to the tremendous efforts of the two countries' boards and Featherstone Rovers, who have been fantastic in making this happen.

"It should be a tremendous game and the perfect preparation for us ahead of the Tonga game."

Papua New Guinea play their opening Group B game against France at Hull KR's Craven Park eight days later, on Sunday, October 27.

PNG playing France in one of the test match. Getty Images"PNG are excited by the prospect of playing their league brothers from the far north," said Kumuls general manager Matthew Matusch.

"We are really looking forward to this opportunity as this is the first time, to our knowledge, that Papua New Guinea and Scotland have played each other.

"We are aware that we will be in for a good strong clash with the Bravehearts. We're hoping for a nice warm afternoon!"

Scotland will go into camp in Workington two days before the PNG clash.

FOUR National Rugby League stars agreeing to be Kumuls is good news for the country.
The welcome tidings was delivered by Team Kumuls general manager Matthew Natusch.
Gold Coast Titan David Mead, Newcastle Knight Neville Costigan, Penrith Panther James Segeyaro and North Queensland Cowboy Ray Thompson all want to be Kumuls to the Rugby League World in the United Kingdom in October.
It is particularly pleasing in Mead’s case as he had told an Australian magazine last year he was no longer interested in playing for the country of his birth because of the infighting in the game here.
All that has been resolved and the hiring of Adrian Lam and Mal Meninga no doubt played a strong part in influencing Mead to return to the fold.
The announcement by Natusch that these four players are going to the World Cup adds spice for local players wanting to make their mark on the international stage.
The pressure is building nicely for the remaining spots, while at the same time, the world knows there is real class among the Kumuls.
Neville Costigan left will play for KumulsPapua New Guinea is the only country in the world that considers rugby league as its national game.
There is a passion for the game here that is not found anywhere else.
Now comes the time when the game must give back to the country.
The fact the Kumuls have never made the semi-finals of this global benchmark tournament is a bitter pill.
That must be the first target the Kumuls have to aspire for.
The Kumuls must consistently be in the top four in the world.
To do that requires hard work and self-belief.
That self-belief will no doubt be drummed into them by people like Meninga.
The Kumuls have had millions of kina pumped into the game.
Now rugby league and the Kumuls have to justify that faith put in them.
The only way they can do that is by winning on the world stage.
They have to show that every toea given to the game is an investment the country can be proud of.

DAVID Mead, Neville Costigan, James Segeyaro and Ray Thompson have confirmed their availability for the Rugby League World Cup.
Team Kumuls general manager Matthew Natusch said the four National Rugby League stars would be picked for the tournament in England that starts on October 19.
This will be Mead and Costigan’s second World Cup. Both played for Papua New Guinea in the 2008 event in Australia.
Neither man has played for PNG since 2009. Mead, 24, had told Rugby League Week he was disillusioned with the infighting plaguing the PNG Rugby Football League’s administration in 2010 and had lost interest in representing the country of his birth. Costigan, 28, was tipped for a long Kumul career off his 2008 performance at the World Cup but had eligibility questions having opted to play State of Origin for Queensland from 2007 to 2010 (six games).
“We’ve contacted them and they are all keen to play for PNG,” Natusch said.
But he said all four may not play in the trial match and the Prime Minister’s XIII game on September 22 and 29 if their teams made the NRL playoffs.
Mead’s Gold Coast Titans (24 points) are in eighth spot and Costigan’s Newcastle Knights (25) in seventh are expected to see NRL finals action with three games left in the regular season. Segeyaro’s Penrith Panthers and Thompson’s North Queensland Cowboys, both on 22 points, could make the playoffs if results go their way.
“We’re looking at these four players as well as a few others in the Holden Cup (NRL junior competition) and the Queensland Cup.
“Our UK-based players are in the frame. Menzie Yere, Jessie Joe Parker, Jason Chan and Paul Aiton will be included in the World Cup squad, which will be named after the PM’s XIII match on Sept 29,” Natusch said.
He said Yere might not be able to play for the PM’s XIII as his Sheffield Eagles would be in the English second division finals.

REFEREE Wayne Wool had to call a halt to play on two occasions during the Digicel Cup minor semi-final between the Port Moresby Vipers and Enga Mioks on Sunday.
The Vipers had to walk through fire to secure a brave 28-16 win in difficult conditions.
Rowdy fans started to hurl beer bottles, cans and other debris onto Lloyd Robson Oval 10 minutes into the second half, prompting Wool to stop play and walk off with his touch judges.
The match was delayed for 18 minutes as a result of the crowd behaviour.
PNG NRL general manager Hubert Warupi and Vipers medical officer Dr James Naipo did their best to quell the unrest.
Drunk Mioks fans unhappy with their side’s first half performance resorted to peppering the field with an assortment of objects and even lit several fires as their side failed to score points against the Vipers.
The halftime score was 16-4 to the Vipers. Tries to
Gary Lo, Richard Kambo and captain Larsen Marabe ensured the home side were firmly on the front foot while the Engans scored through Paul Kambi.
The Vipers not only had to put up with a menacing crowd but they were on the receiving end of numerous instances of rough play.
Kambo scored his second try in the 47th minute, while lock Adam Korave capped off a strong performance with a try in the 54th minute to push the Vipers out to an unassailable 24-4 lead.
The inevitable fightback came from the visitors with Jeffrey Maino and Maxwell Auvita scoring late tries but they butchered at least two more with loose passes and poor handling.
Port Moresby Vipers 28 (G Lo, R Kambo 2, L Marabe, A Korave tries; S Pandia 4 con) Enga Mioks 16 (P Kambi, J Maino, M Auvita tries; R Laka 2 con). The National

THE Goroka Lahanis have snared the first Digicel Cup rugby league grand final spot.
That follows the Eastern Highlands franchise’s dramatic 15-14 win over reigning champions, the Rabaul Gurias before a boisterous home crowd at the National Sports Institute in Goroka on Sunday.
An estimated 3,000-strong crowd went into a frenzy as Bena product and rookie halfback Robin Soga landed a field goal to break the 14-14 deadlock in the final 10 minutes of the major semi-final.
The Lahanis will now standby for the 2013 Digicel Cup decider on September 8.
They play the winner of this Sunday’s preliminary final between the Gurias and the Port Moresby Vipers.
The Vipers beat the Enga Mioks 28-16 in the knock-out clash at Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby.
The win by the Lahanis continues their mercurial rise to prominence this season after they were written off following the departure of senior players and coaches.
An overwhelmed Lahanis franchise owner Simon Sia described the win as courageous against a quality side in the Gurias.
The Lahanis will have some work to do before that as the Gurias had them on the ropes on several occasions.

The Lahanis led 6-0 from a try to prop Gonzella Urakusie, but it was the East New Britain franchise that took the helm in a 30-minute spell to throw caution to the wind of an unexpected party pooper to half-time.
It was poetry in motion as the visitors silenced the crowd with successive tries to potential Kumul centre prospect Francis Paniu and half-back Ase Boas.
Paniu was at his attacking best as he has done all season down that left corridor to slice through his opposite John Arame-Gand for their opening try.
Then when his partner in crime Jackie Marcus on the right-side did the same before finding Boas supporting on the inside for their second four pointer, the pendulum had changed dramatically.
Goroka home-boy Danny Patrick, playing for the Gurias at lock, and prop Travis Waninara complimented their backs with decisive line-breaks.
The Lahanis re-established their authority with their physical presence with inter-change forward George Abba jolting Marcus in a huge tackle and then Gand stopped fullback Boas Ruru to snuff out more tries from the Gurias menacing backsa.
The second-half saw the Lahanis firebrand lock Bernard Tatsim Jnr break the shackles and then Minaho Goso followed that up with another after some damaging runs by the bench players in Spiro Mikaive, Micah Siboni and Abba.
The Lahanis, leading 14-10, were soon short-lived when a Marcus break down the right-flank saw Boas fly through for his second try to level the scores.
That’s when Soga kicked the match winner to seal the win.
Gurias coach Michael Marum would not comment on the loss but did say they were looking forward to a positive performance this weekend to set up another meet with the Lahanis in Port Moresby.

The 2013 Digicel Cup reigning premiers, Agmark Gurias, are optimistic to win today's semi-final match against the Vipers in Port Moresby.

Coach Michael Marum says Gurias have played three consecutive games against the Vipers and have won all of them and he's confident his boys will also win this game.

Marum says he will be counting on the experience of his team to take the game.

He will be fielding in the same line-up that took on the Bintangor Lahanis last weekend.

The team will be captained by half-back, Ase Boaz, and will be assisted by Dion Aye.

Marum says the team will play today's game as a grand final match.

Meantime, Franchise owner, Agmark company says Gurias supporters will be out in numbers today to back their team in the do or die match against the Vipers.

Franchise Manager, Kevin Wright says, they are hopeful for the team to take on the Lahanis in the finals on Sunday.

He says this has been a tremendous season for the Gurias and the Agmark company is looking at continuing its support for the next 10 years.

Mr. Wright without revealing much says they are looking forward to the team participating in more overseas matches in Australia for exposure.

By Rausim Na

It is a nerve wrecking week especially for the Digicel Cup debutant coaches Michael Moses of Lahanis and Lenard Tarum of Vipers. Both will be biting their fingers and thinking extra hard evaluating all their chances and assessing the strength and weakness of the 17 players that will be taking the field this Sunday at the showdown. Both coaches have done so well enough this season to see their teams playing in their final week of the competition. Both coaches have cool head and are very composed and strictly adhere to set game plans and have great future ahead of them.

I was watching very closely on their last encounter 3 weeks ago at PRL when Lahanis came from behind, down 22 nil in the first half to run away in the second half 24-22. It was one of the greatest ever come back that I had ever witnessed in our semi professional competition. What aided Lahanis second half onslaught was the genius of Michel Moses to rotate his interchange during the game which was a telling factor. Vipers had 1 forward, 2 backs and 1 utility on the bench. Lahanis had 4 mobile forwards on the bench. While Tarum was interchanging his bench in the first half, Moses kept a cool head and rested all 3 off his go forward men and rotated only one in the likes of veteran Geroge Aba who was the only one going in and out in the first 40 minutes.

The second half was a different version of Lahanis outfit where Moses unleased his potent weapons fresh from the bench who created havoc for the Vipers. Vipers had no answers as the fresh legs kept raiding the Vipers up the middle and the flashy outside backs had a lot of room to mauver. Lahanis also had a game plan to put Larson Marabe out of the game as he was overworked in the first 40 minutes and had no petrol in the second 40 minutes, by then Vipers were gone and had no answers for the Lahanis. It was a strategic move by Moses, the former Kumul fullback by playing his cards right. I am sure the former Kumul dummy half Tarum has learnt his mistake. It was evident with the use of heavy forward artillery which blasted the Gurias off the park and they had on answers for the massive onslaught by the heavier Vipers pack. Few Lahanis were present at the game and I’m sure it would be a different game plan this time around by both coaches.

Vipers will be relying on their mobile heavier pack to lay the foundation. They also have a good organiser in Isreal Eliab who has been phenomenal ever since taking on the play making duties. His pin point kicking game accuracy will be an added bonus for the Vipers. Vipers have a good defensive technique in gang and driving tackles which has proven to be effective for the city slickers.

If Lahanis is to win this game, their forwards need to run on the fringes to avoid getting bashed up with Vipers gang tackling techniques up the middle which hurt the Tigers earlier and recently Gurias. The next best option is for Lahanis forwards to get on the knees quickly to play the ball without struggling and avoid Vipers’ wrestling techniques. Lahanis has flare and class all over the park especially the Tasim brothers and their second phase play is natural and this will really hurt the Vipers if Vipers do not secure the ball in defence. This game will be the battle of the forwards and the full backs. Both Adex Wera and Joshua Abavu have been in good form. The involvement of the two custodians will be the telling factor of the game. May the best team win...

KUMUL coach Adrian Lam says he has players to cover losses in the lead-up to next month’s rugby league World Cup.
The Kumul great said in light of recent injuries to Australian National Rugby League players David Mead (back) and Ray Thompson (jaw), he was still hopeful they would get a clean bill of health by the window of the tournament to be staged in England and Wales from October 26 to November 30.
The former Queensland and Papua New Guinea halfback said Thompson was in the running to secure the No: 7 jumper but with his participation in the balance there were other options in the Team Kumuls squad for the pivotal role.
“There are a couple of boys at the moment (who can fill the halfback role). Halfback is the heart of the side,” he said.
“Obviously there are the players who are in the squad at the moment – Dion Aiye, Ray Thompson, who should be back by the first game of the World Cup, Ase Boas and Israel Eliab – so the halfback will come from that group,” Lam said.
Other sources from Team Kumuls have indicated Kokopo Gurias’ hooker Wartovo Puara Jr was a potential half.
He slotted into the playmaking role for the Kokopo-based side in Sunday’s Digicel Cup preliminary final after five-eighth Aiye (51st minute) and halfback Boas (69th minute) came off injured against the Port Moresby Vipers.

SUNDAY will be the last throw of the dice for potential Papua New Guinea Kumul prospects to get a look in for World Cup selection, coach Adrian Lam says.
National selectors will finalise the PNG Gold and PNG Red teams after the Digicel Cup grand final.
The teams will play in a trial match slated for September 22 in Port Moresby. Lam, pictured, yesterday confirmed the Goroka Lahanis and Port Moresby Vipers players had a golden opportunity to catch the eye of national selectors and become part of the World Cup squad.
“Obviously the opportunity is there for players to showcase themselves and with both teams filtered with players who have been in and out of the Team Kumul programme it should be a good match-up,” he said.
Lam gave credit to the Vipers for what he described as an absolutely impressive performance to beat the Kokopo Gurias 32-8 in the preliminary final on Sunday. “I’m just happy to see that what we have been teaching through the camps is paying off, especially in the area of line-speed and aggression in defence,” Lam said.
He said the trial would include Australian and English-based players who were available.
“Those overseas-based players who do not make it due to their club commitments will be considered on merit by national selectors,” he said.
Lam said he was sure national selectors had a good idea of what the World Cup squad would look like.
The final squad will be named after the trial match in preparation for the Prime Minister’s XIII clash in Kokopo on September 29.
The World Cup will be held in England in October-November.

THIS year’s State of Origin coaches Mal Meninga and Laurie Daley will again be at loggerheads in the forthcoming Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL)-organised Prime Minister’s XIII clash in Kokopo.
In a media statement, PNGRFL interim chief executive officer Brad Tassell said it would be an interesting twist with the Australian Rugby League (ARL) announcing New South Wales coach Daley, pictured top, would be head coach for the Australian PM’s XIII team.
“With Mal lining up as Team Kumul coaching director, PNG fans will be treated to a rematch of this year’s State of Origin series,” Tassell said. Meninga, pictured bottom, is coach of the Queensland Origin side.
Tassell said as part of the promotion to the New Guinea Islands, the PNGRFL would be hosting the Prime Minister’s XIII dinner at the Kokopo Beach Bungalow Resort on Friday, September 27, before the match on Sunday. The dinner will be attended by all Team Kumul and Australian players.
“It will be the first time the dinner has been staged in the NGI region and we hope that businesses in the region get behind it and support what should be a fantastic night,” he said.
He said there would be raffle prizes, an auction and a chance to meet Australian and PNG rugby league star players.
Tassell said all proceeds raised would go towards funding PNGRFL programmes for 2014.
“Depending on the amount raised we will be making a contribution back into the East New Britain Rugby Football League from proceeds raised from the dinner,” he said.
Tickets are available contact the PNGRFL office on phone: 325 9499 or email btassell@pngrlfoundation.com or Tassell on 71114699.

GOROKA Lahanis franchise owner Simon Sia says the Vipers will have to break more than an arm or leg to deny them victory on Sunday.
Sia, pictured, is passionate about his team and is confident rugby league’s Digicel Cup is heading to Eastern Highlands.
Unlike his Vipers franchise counterpart Sudhir Guru, Sia is more vocal about this season after a disastrous 2012 season when they were one of the first teams to be eliminated from the play-offs.
His hands-on approach not only paid dividends to reinvigorate a new-look outfit but to lay down the law on discipline and commitment if they wanted to fill the huge shoes of past Lahanis greats.
“When I first got involved in the game I didn’t know a thing but now I see the importance of creating a conducive environment while laying down a few ground rules to ensure we collect dividends from our product,” he said.
“To their credit, the players have risen to the task at hand and are more or less believing in themselves a bit more, which is why we have come this far.
“From the players I believe our little general Robin Soga at halfback and blockbusting forward Supa Kokote will play key roles in ensuring a Lahanis show. We will bring the Digicel Cup home again just like we did in 2011.
“I’m confident with the team and we are looking forward to the game in Port Moresby.
“I know it will be a huge game and it will mean a lot for the Vipers after a long time but we have worked hard for this too and will make our presence felt on and off the field to ensure our objective.”
He said the grand final build-up in the town and the province was overwhelming. “People here (Goroka) love their rugby league and their team.
“We are running out of supporters merchandise in the shop and all airline companies flying out of Goroka are fully booked, people are flying out of Mt Hagen, Lae and even Madang,” he said.
“There are a couple of groups that started walking last week just to watch the game so you can see how big the support is and how passionate the Eastern Highlanders are.”

ATHLETICS continued its run to bring in more gold medals for Team Papua New Guinea in the 2013 IX Mini Pacific Games in Wallis and Futuna with clean sweeps in two events.
Sprint queen Toea Wisil again stamped her authority, easily outpacing the opposition to take gold in the 100m.
The day started on a good note with a surprising win by Skene Kiage edging veteran countryman and favourite Sapolai Yao in the 3,000m steeplechase.
Kiage (9:56.06) made a rush in the last lap to overtake Yao (9:57.35) who was leading for most of the race. Inia Sili from Fiji came third (10:18.06).
In the women’s 800m, PNG made a clean sweep of the top three places when Jenny Albert (2:19.84), Tuna Tine (2:21.03) and Poro Gahekave (2:21.12) crossed the line ahead of runners from the other nations.
In the same way, later in the day, the PNG women’s 400m runners of Betty Burua, Wisil and Shirley Wunatup made a clean sweep.
Burua stopped the clock at 56.96s, Wisil 57.58s and Wunatup 58.50s. Wisil was leading most of the way but was overtaken by East New Briton Burua in the final 100m.
In the 100m, Wisil had no problem, stopping the clock at 11.68s, followed by Fijian Yunis Bese 12.21s and Nauru’s Lovelite Detenamo taking the bronze in 12.22s, which is a possible national record.
In the men’s 100m, Kupun chased the favourite Fijian, Banuve Tabakaucoro, all the way with the Fijian setting a new Mini Games record of 10.33s.
Kupun timed 10.60s and another Fijian, Francis Kirikiri finished third in 10.71s.
Until Peter Pulu came on the scene 10.60 was the PNG national record held by Takale Tuna. In the semi final “Banz,” as Kupun is known, ran 10.59 to equal Nelson Stone’s personal best and climb to equal second on the PNG all time best list. In other events, Kaminiel Matlaun won the bronze in the 800m and Mong Tavol grabbed bronze in the men’s triple jump.
In all, athletics brought in four gold, four silver, four bronze medals on day two of the competition

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