PNG Facts - Sports News

KUMULS coach Adrian Lam will not resign.
Lam said he was in for the “long haul” and would see the Team Kumul five-year development programme out despite calls from the rugby league fraternity to end his tenure.
“I’m not going to quit. We’ve got a vision to develop rugby league in Papua New Guinea and that process is going to take some time,” he said.
“We’re only six months into this five-year Team Kumul programme. I’m absolutely committed to that,” Lam said from Hull yesterday.
On the Kumuls dismal form at the Rugby League World Cup, the 43-year-old, who has coached the team since 2007 (he was displaced by Stanley Gene in 2010), was frank in his assessment.
“Unfortunately, the truth is we’re just not up to the level we need to be to compete against these other sides.”
PNG were outmuscled and outplayed by Samoa 38-4 in Tuesday’s Group B clash and Lam summed up the weaknesses as ones that could not be fixed overnight.
“The boys were devastated by the result against Samoa.
“Everyone of those Samoa players is either in the NRL or the Super League.
“It’s hard to compete against that quality. Ultimately, we lacked the skill and the size. We just couldn’t cut it.
“That’s not to say the boys didn’t play their hearts out, but there is a big gap in quality from the Digicel Cup to the NRL and the Super League.”
Lam said the local rugby league personalities who had come out to criticise the team’s performances and call for his sacking were ignoring the reality of the situation.
“Rugby league (in PNG) has a long way to go yet but we’re on the right path.
“With the government’s support and inclusion in the Queensland Cup as well as the development of junior programmes we will achieve our goals.”
“Those individuals who are being critical don’t understand the situation. Rugby league was going nowhere for five years before the government stepped in. Now that we have something in place those criticising us are the ones who were part of the administration when it was heading nowhere.
“Rugby league is finally going forward. It has direction. It’s easy to point the finger when things don’t go according to plan but give it a couple of years and then judge us.”
Lam promised to make himself available to the media when the Kumuls returned from England.
“We’re going to have a press conference when we get back home and the press can ask all their questions then. I’m sure there are a lot of dissappointed fans in PNG but they have to undertsand that this group of players are working really hard to get the results. It’s not an ideal situation to be none from two but we are entering every game with the aim to win.”
Lam said the players were now facing a “test of character” in what will most likely be the end of their World Cup campaign but he refused to throw in the towel.
“Everyone needs to stand up and answer the critics with a strong and passionate performance against New Zealand. It’ll be a tough task obviously, but there are no forefone conclusions here, we’ll rally for that game with the knowledge that a win could get us to the quarter-finals.”
The Rabaul-born Lam admitted that even though he was based in Australia, the Team Kumul programme would see him in the country on a regualr basis.
“I probably won’t reside in Port Moresby but Mal (Meninga) and I will be up there a fair bit over the next few years.”

Rugby League World Cup holders New Zealand powered past Papua New Guinea 56-6 to march into the quarter finals.

A first half hat-trick by Sonny Bill Williams was part of a resounding 10-try victory for the 2008 champions, who maintained their 100 per cent record in the competition.

The Kiwis looked dangerous from the outset, testing a very suspect PNG defence. With just 90 seconds on the clock, the breakthrough came when Kieran Foran's clever kick was touched down by the diving Bryson Goodwin for the first try of the match. A neat conversion by Shaun Johnson made it the perfect start for his side.

Struggling to withstand the Kiwi onslaught, the Kumuls found themselves pushed back onto their own line. Sensing an opportunity Foran sent a well-judged kick across the field for Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to touchdown and another conversion by Johnson brought up a deserved 12-0 lead.

Moments later the Kiwis were in again, Dean Whare's audacious pass between the legs gave Tuivasa-Sheck his second try of the match with Johnson once again adding the extras.

Intent to pile on the agony, New Zealand were relentless in attack. This time Foran’s clever offload enabled Sonny Bill Williams to open his account for the tournament, Johnson's routine conversion giving his side a 24-point lead.

Just as PNG began to find a foothold in the game, New Zealand scored again. A move that started with a powerful run from Manu Vatuvei eventually found Williams who crossed for his second try with Johnson converting to make it 30-0.

The Kiwis kept up the momentum and with just over 10 minutes of the half remaining, Williams turned provider for Frank-Paul Nu'uausala, who glided across the line.

With just seconds of the half remaining, New Zealand broke through again, Johnson's meandering run scattering defenders to give Williams his hat-trick. The scrum-half made it 40-0 at the break with his conversion.

Determined not to go down with a whimper Papua New Guinea came out for the second half in determined mood. Jessie Joe Nandye drove through the Kiwi defence and found Dion Aiye who crossed for their first points of the game. Francis Paniu's well struck conversion brought the biggest cheer of the night so far.

Fuelled with new found confidence the Kumuls poured forward, but their efforts came to nothing as New Zealand ruthlessly cut through their defence. A sweeping passing move enabled Whare to go over in the corner and Johnson restored the 40-point deficit with another successful conversion.

The New Zealand centre crossed again soon after with Johnson converting. Playing with ruthlessly efficiency, the Kiwis went further ahead when Alex Glenn did well to collect a bouncing ball and found Elijah Taylor, who scored their tenth try of the match.

With just minutes remaining Papua New Guinea had the final say when Wellington Albert crashed over for their second try, which once again brought wild cheering from the Headingley faithful.

New Zealand will be back at Headingley for the quarter-finals to play either Scotland or Italy.

New Zealand Team

1 Josh Hoffman

2 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

3 Dean Whare

4 Bryson Goodwin

5 Manu Vatuvei

6 Kieran Foran

7 Shaun Johnson

8 Ben Matulino

9 Isaac Luke

10 Jesse Bromwich

11 Alex Glenn

12 Sonny Bill Williams

13 Elijah Taylor

Interchange

14 Sam Moa

15 Sam Kasiano

16 Frank-Paul Nu'uausala

17 Thomas Leuluai

Papua New Guinea Team

1 David Mead

2 Josiah Abavu

3 Menzie Yere

4 Francis Paniu

5 Nene McDonald

6 Ray Thompson

7 Dion Aiye

8 Neville Costigan

9 Charlie Wabo

10 Joe Bruno

11 Jessie Joe Nandye

12 Jason Chan

13 Sebastian Pandia

Interchange

14 Wellington Albert

15 Paul Aiton

16 Jason Tali

17 Mark Mexico

New Zealand 56 (Tries: Goodwin, Tuivasa-Sheck 2, Bill Williams 3, Nu'uausala, Whare 2, Taylor: Goals: Johnson 8).

Papua New Guinea 10 (Tries: Aiye, Albert; Goals: Paniu).

Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia).

Attendance: 18,180.

PAPUA New Guinea has made a bid to host the Kumuls’ pool matches for the 2017 World Cup Rugby League tournament.
The 2017 edition of World Cup rugby league will be co-hosted by closest neighbours Australia and New Zealand.
Sports Minister Justin Tkatchencko said he is expecting a positive response in six months time to give PNG the opportunity to host the Kumuls matches in Port Moresby.
He described his World Cup trip as an eye-opener for his Ministry where they visited many different sporting facilities such as the soccer stadiums and saw how they operated and ran these facilities.
“The trip was fantastic, positive trip,” he said.
Tkatchenko has negotiated with the head of World Cup Committee allocate World Cup games to be played in PNG.
If all goes well the PNG pool games will be played in Port Moresby. Twelve games are expected to be played at the Lloyd Robson Oval, which is getting a massive facelift in preparation for the Pacific Games in 2015.
Tkatchenko said many positives came out of the trip.
He used the opportunity to encourage Papua New Guineans to get behind Team Kumul.
The boys did their best, he said.
“We have wasted five years of bickering which distracted Team Kumuls preparation.”
He said Mal Meninga and Lam started from scratch while Samoa, Tonga and Fiji were well advanced with their preparations for the World Cup “while we did nothing”.
“We cannot expect miracles to happen overnight,” he said.
Both Meninga and Lam will do a post mortem of the World
Cup and present the report so that Team Kumul can move forward, he said.
“Mal and Lam were only in nine months into their five-year programme so we all should support them in trying to prepare our team for the 2017 World Cup.”

THE Kokopo Gurias have locked in a trial match against the Canterbury Bulldogs early next year as part of their preparations for the 2014 Digicel Cup.
The game expected to feature at least six Bulldogs NRL players, is slated for February 22 at Belmore, Sydney.
The trip to cost about K150,000 comes on the back of a successful short tour of the Far North Queensland this year which the Gurias used to launch their 2013 Digicel Cup campaign.
The Gurias in Cairns upset Intrust Super Cup side Northern Pride 29-22, a feeder club to North Queensland Cowboys, and proved too powerful for the James Cook University Saints, caning them 54-16 in Townsville on the two-match tour.
Next year the Gurias have now raised the bar, taking on the Bulldogs in a game that has a huge potential of exposing their players for possible engagement by the NRL side or other Australian clubs.
Fund-raising for the trial against Bulldogs starts next month with a dinner at the Kokopo Village Resort on December 7 where they are anticipating good support from Gurias fans and other East New Britain-based or connected corporate entities.
Promotions for the dinner has started with press advertisements in the daily newspapers, local radio stations and other selected avenues.
Tables are being sold at K5,000 each for 10 persons and if all the anticipated 40 are taken, that would easily land organisers the projected K200,000.
However, considering expenses the fund raising committee hopes to make K130,000.
Fund-raising committee member John Kianimbil, who is also the Agmark marketing manager, said yesterday that details of a supporters’ package, organized in collaboration with Air Niugini, will be released at a time convenient to the national airline.
But what is immediately available at the dinner are raffle tickets for two on the trip which includes accommodation, airline tickets and game passes to Belmore oval.
Asked about how Gurias managed to secure such an exciting opportunity against a reputable rugby league club such as Bulldogs, Kianimbil said they had a received an invitation through a senior staff at Agmark, Kevin Wright who has connections with the club. PNG Facts/The national

WIGAN, England: Wigan have held talks about playing Papua New Guinea ahead of the World Club Challenge in Australia.
The Super League champions want to play a warm-up game before they meet Sydney Roosters in the annual showdown.
The WCC will take place on Allianz Stadium on Saturday, February 22, according to reports Down Under.
And it is thought a match against the Kumuls in their capital, Port Moresby, could be on the cards a week earlier on the same weekend when all National Rugby League clubs are involved in the inaugural NRL Nines in Auckland.
Kokopo’s Kalabond oval could be an alternative venue.
Wigan on Monday confirmed their first home game will be against Huddersfield.
All Super League clubs were given permission to confirm their first fixture, ahead of the release of the full schedule later this month.
The double-winners may bring their round one fixture forward to accommodate their tour Down Under.
Wigan famously won the WCC in Brisbane in 1994.
On the same weekend, the Kokopo/Rabaul Gurias will take on the Canterbury Bulldogs in a warm-up at Belmore oval in Bankstown. The national

QUEENLAND Cup general manager Jamie O’Connor is set to meet with the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League board next week in the build up to the country’s inclusion in the state competition.
PNGRFL acting chief executive officer Brad Tassell said O’Connor was scheduled to meet with the board on Monday and would visit Kokopo, East New Britain, to inspect the Kalabond Oval, which will be the home ground of the local team.
On O’Connor’s itinerary will be a meeting with representatives of the two television stations, Kundu2 and EMTV, to discuss coverage and rights for matches in Pthe country.
The official participation agreement will be signed on November 28 to allow PNG to field a side in the competition for the next five years starting next year.
Tassell said previous media reports that the country’s Q-Cup inclusion had not been confirmed were incorrect.
He said the Australian Rugby League had only required a report on its second tier competitions to be completed as a matter of procedure before any announcement.
“The ARL only required a report on its second tier competitions as a formality, but other than that PNG will have a team in the Queensland Cup in 2014,” Tassell said yesterday.
He said the coach’s job plus other staff positions will be advertised but preferably the coach would be a someone from PNG.
“The coach of this Q-Cup side will be a Papua New Guinean. I’m not saying who it is and that will be revealed soon.”
The PNGRFL board will meet on Saturday in Port Moresby ahead of O’Connor’s arrival.
Apart from the Queensland Cup, the annual general meeting scheduled for Nov 30 in Lae, Morobe, is the other item that is likely to be discussed.
Tassell stressed that the Q-Cup team was only one aspect of rugby league development in the country.
He said developing junior rugby league and strengthening capacity and expertise were still the major focus of the PNGRFL and Team Kumul

IPATAS Cup chief executive Timothy Lepa said the Kumuls coach should live in Papua New Guinea.
Lepa, who coaches the Enga Mioks in the Digicel Cup, said if Team Kumul was to be a success and the five-year programme was to bear fruit the coach had to be PNG-based.
He called on the removal of Adrian Lam from his role as coach if he was not prepared to live in PNG to run the programme.
Lepa, who has been vocal about rugby league issues, said that news of Lam’s coaching and management being criticised by individuals close to the Kumuls showed that it was time for a change.
He encouraged more members of the squad to speak the truth, whether it was good or bad, about how Team Kumul was being handled.

Lepa said players and officials needed to step forward and reveal details of the true nature of things on tour.
He said until those who witnessed of any incidence of poor administration or avoidable problems on the tour speak out, the issues would be swept under the carpet and continue and worsen.
Lepa said one Lam’s brother Brendan had been hired as a video analyst nut he accompanied the Kumuls to the World Cup without any video equipment.
Lepa said there were only three nationals on the staff – assistant coach Michael Marum and trainers Nigel Hukula and Solomon Kuluniasi.
The rest of the support staff was made up of expatriates, Lepa said.
“When they are in England they find out they need more people so they engage two support staff from Hull, according to a newspaper reports.
“Lam and Meninga have little knowledge of our local players’ ability so they were getting to know them as the campaign went on.”
Lepa said that the other teams had a head start on them because their coaches knew their ability of their players so they used them at strategic times on the tour.
“Marum and Hukula were there but if Lam didn’t use both men’s knowledge of the local players due to ignorance or a lack of respect respect, then Lam is probably the wrong man for this job,” Lepa said
He said that PNG should remove Lam, promote a national coach who has local knowledge on the players, can communicate with them and get guidance from Meninga.
“This fly-in- fly-out practice must stop.
“Here we have a Government that is preaching against this fly-in-fly-out practice in the mining and other sectors and they allow our national team the Kumuls to practice it without any complaints.

PNG Facts /The National

According to Rugby League Sport Light, Former Kumul, PNG Kumuls Assistant and multiple PNG Championship winning Agmark Gurias head coach Michael Marum has signed a three year deal to be the inaugural PNG Intrust Super (Queensland) Cup head coach from 2014. Under the Gurias as both a player and for a majority as coach Marum has participated in 10 PNG RFL Grand Finals, including wins in 2001, 03, 05, 09 and 12 under the Rabaul based franchise.

PNG home games will be played at Kokopo's Kalabond stadium as the PRL stadium in .

THE Rugby League in Schools programme has started its roll-out in Papua New Guinea following the first teacher and field staff training course at the University of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby recently.
Funded by the Australian Government, the $4 million (K9.44m) programme is part of the Australian Government’s $15 million (K35.4m) Pacific Sports Partnership, which is working to strengthen grassroots sports activities in Pacific communities and build the skills of administrators, coaches and officials.
Under the programme more than 500 teachers and 50,000 students from 80 schools will be trained over a three-year period.

KUMUL Larsen Marape said reports of player dissatisfaction in the World Cup squad was not the issue.
“All those people who organise rugby league in PNG should come and put their heads together and forget about politics and get on with it,” Marape told The National while at a British High Commission-sponsored Equal Playing Fields project on Monday.
He said the coaching was not a problem but it was with the players to pick up their performances.
“The coach (Adrian Lam) gives the orders and we just have to follow it. You know he’s the coach so what he says we just do it. We are just players.
“We didn’t feel good playing out of position but he was the coach so we had to follow his orders.”
Marabe, who played in the front row, said that as players it was their responsibility to listen to the coach and implement the game plan.
Fellow Kumul Richard Kambo said for the senior players, their transition to playing in different positions during their training sessions before the World Cup was easier but the newer players struggled to adjust.
Kambo said the players needed to have a high quality week-in, week-out competition.
“Why not send players overseas? We need a weekly grind against tough competition so that we are competitive in test matches and international games,” Kambo said.
Playing in Digicel Cup is great but we need more tough games every week. Especially like the Q-Cup.”
Kambo, when asked why David Mead was chosen to kick gave a smile, shrugged and said: “I never seen him kick a ball but at the end of the day, it was the coach’s decision and I have no say in that.”
Both men including Kumuls teammate Sebastian Pandia were accorded Ambassadors for the RLAV in the Equal Playing fields Project sponsored by the British High Commission. The National

LEEDS rugby league club in the Super League Rugby competition in England has adapted a new home in Papua New Guinea thanks to Jesse Joe Nandye
The Kumul utility player did not return from the recent World Cup empty-handed.
He has brought something to give back to his local club, the Mautana Roosters in the Morata off-season competition in the National Capital District (NCD).
Nandye who started his rugby league career with Kafugu Spiders in Goroka’s popular Gahuku off-season competition has been a walk-in player for the Kumuls for the past two World Cups.
He further advanced into playing professional footy in England.
Upon returning from the World Cup, Nandye donated a set of Leeds Rugby League Club jersey’s to his local club and in doing so encouraged the players to take ownership of it.
“It is about giving back to the club and the community you have being playing with who are always at the back of you support you. I believe this will be a morale booster for the boys to do well this season,” he said.
Nandye challenged other fellow Kumuls to go back to their roots and support their clubs where they first played on the road to becoming recognised.
“By doing this, we give them hope to one day following our footsteps by seeing that they also can realise their dreams to becoming a Kumul player and hopefully a better a better life for themselves through self discipline.
“By giving them what little you have and speaking to them, it’s something they will always treasure,” he said.
Mautana club currently has three Digicel Cup representatives in Charlie Simon (Enga Mioks), John Jerry (Port Moresby Vipers) and Karo Kauna Jnr (Gulf Isapeas).
Club team manager Chris Simon said it a huge relief especially when someone donates a new jersey as it is an expensive exercise that we always make sacrifices for.
“We are proud of Jesse as he is one of our own players within the club. It’s a big thing for the club and for the community that it represents,” Simon added.
The National/ PNG Facts

GURIAS coach Michael Marum is the front-runner to coach the Papua New Guinea team in the Queensland Cup.
His appointment was one of the items covered at the PNG Rugby Football League board meeting in Port Moresby at the weekend.
But PNGRFL interim chief executive officer Brad Tassell yesterday declined to make any announcement until next week.
“The announcement of the head coach will be made at a press conference on December 2. A media notification will be issued before the press conference,” he said.
“There was a lot discussed and some decisions made on a range of things. The PNGRFL board will make statements and announcements over the following weeks in regards to the board meeting and future plans.”
When pressed who the head coach would be Tassell replied that “it will be announced at the press conference and he will start immediately”.
However what Tassell did confirm was that the head coach would have full control over the Qld Cup Programme.
“Obvioulsy we will consult with Team Kumul and ensure that there is integration between the program where required, particularly in regards to players, testing, training and international program.
“Mal (Meninga) will no doubt attend games and be there if required to consult but he or Adrian (Lam) are not part of the coaching staff for the Qld Cup Programme.
“The head coach will be appointed to deliver the program and have full control over the PNG QLD Cup Football programme.”
Further details also yet to be announced include the naming rights sponsor for the PNG team, for which a name has yet to adopted.
Tassell at that media conference to announce PNG’s participation in the Q-Cup last month said that players and management would be on attractive packages required of a professional establishment.
Therefore, the willingness to get a call-up into the set-up would be an exciting opportunity many PNG players would be hoping finds them.

The National

A Papua New Guinea team has been added to next season's Queensland Intrust Super Cup.
A Papua New Guinea team has been added to next season's Queensland Intrust Super Cup.
A team from Papua New Guinea could be crowned winners of the newly-formed National Championship on NRL Grand Final day after their submission for inclusion into the Queensland Intrust Super Cup was formally accepted at a meeting of all 13 Intrust Super Cup clubs.

To play out of Kokopo north east of Port Moresby in the East New Britain islands, the PNG bid was required to meet strict criteria standards around facilities, security measures and the logistics of travel before it was accepted by the Queensland Rugby League.

The inclusion of a PNG team – whose colours and full name is still to be determined – in addition to the formation of the National Championship that will see the respective winners of the Intrust Super Cup and VB NSW Cup competitions face off on Grand Final day, opens the door for PNG to play on the NRL's greatest stage from 2014.

The PNG national team failed to record a win at Rugby League World Cup 2013 in their pool that included New Zealand, France and Samoa and QRL chief executive officer Robert Moore said their inclusion creates a new pathway for players from PNG to progress through to the NRL.

"It would be a wonderful story to see a home-grown PNG player rise from the junior ranks into the Intrust Super Cup and then the National Rugby League," Moore said.

"At the same time, it provides us with an opportunity to expand into a market with over seven million rugby league fans."

For full details of PNG's inclusion in the Intrust Super Cup and other key announcements visit qrl.com.au

The National Newspaper reports that KUMULS coach Adrian Lam was punched at a night club in Port Moresby last Saturday.
Lam, who was in town to present a report on the Kumuls World Cup campaign to the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League Board, was apparently hit by an angry fan.
Lam flew back to Sydney the following day but it is not clear whether he reported the assault. Attempts to contact him were unsuccessful.
Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko said he had heard of the attack through social media but had not received a report on the incident.
Word of the attack has been “public knowledge” since Sunday.
Tkatchenko described the incident as disappointing saying fans had no right to attack a coach or anyone for any reason.
He said the incident reflected poorly on the people but also added that Lam should have been more careful.
The PNGRFL is yet to make a statement on the incident.

Preparations for the 15th Anniversary Coca Cola Ipatas Cup (CCIC) 2014 are currently progressing well with many teams from the Highlands and the Northern zones eager to partake in the competition.

Two top former International Rugby League players have been appointed by the board of CCIC and were announced during CCIC CEO Timothy Lepa’s visit to Mt Hagen, Jiwaka and Chimbu recently.

Former PNG Kumuls forward Ben Ezekiel has been appointed chairman of the CCIC Jiwaka challenge along with another former Kumuls captain Bal Numapo retaining his chairmanship for the Chimbu challenge.

James Meninga will head the Western Highlands challenge and will be supported by John Passingan and Match Commissioner Mal Taime. Meninga, Passingan and Taime will be backed by the new board of Mt Hagen League headed by Cr John Roipa.

Lepa also confirmed six teams to participate in the WHP challenge which are Nebiliyer Spartans, Mt Hagen City Rangers, Ako Spiders, Mul Norths, Kui Raiders and Numusa Baiyer Roosters.

Chimbu will have only four teams which are Sinesine Yongo Brothers, TNA Angras, Kerowagi Royals and Kongo East.

Jiwaka Challenge has also four teams from South Waghi and they are Arkang Kembis Riders, Kerex Rangers, Kuma Cowboys and Minj Royals. North Waghi teams are not confirmed yet and games for the Jiwaka Challenge will be played at Minj Rugby League grounds.

“Eight Teams from the Northern Region are also preparing themselves to meet in the Morobe Province in December. They are teams from Madang, Kainantu, Ramu, Lae, Bulolo and Wau,” says Lepa.

Northern Challenge teams who have already paid in their Registration fees are Three Mile Brothers of Lae and Armsec Bulolo Miners.

CCIC Northern Challenge Coordinator Mona Tonsy Clyde says the CCIC Board have moved the venue for the Northern challenge from Wau to Lae following the recent ethnic clash in Bulolo.

Other teams who have shown interest and indicated to pay in their registration fees for the Northern Challenge are, Bumbu Barbarians of Lae, Unitech Spartans, Madang East, Aiyura, Kainantu, Bulolo and Wau.

Patron and Co-Sponsor of the Competition Chief Peter Ipatas, Bulolo MP Hon Sam Basil and Morobe Governor Hon Kelly Naru will officially launched the 2013-2014 CCIC at Melanesian Hotel on the 20th and 21st of December 2013 at the Lae rugby League ground.

According to Sydney Morning Herald, Penrith hooker James Segeyaro is planning to change his nation of allegiance in order to be eligible for Queensland selection.
Shifting from North Queensland to Penrith, Segeyaro proved to be one of the buys of the season after giving the Panthers spark from dummy-half. Only a pectoral injury prevented him from taking his place at the World Cup, where he was set to represent his birthplace of Papua New Guinea.
Segeyaro knows Cameron Smith has a mortgage on the Maroons No.9 jersey and that there will be plenty of capable candidates - including Jake Friend and Matt Ballin - lining up to eventually replace him. And while his more immediate goal is becoming an 80-minute player for the Panthers, the 22-year-old is aiming high.
''I want to change my allegiance and put my hand up for Queensland,'' Segeyaro said. ''That's a long way away, you've got guys like Friendy in the frame and he's a great player. In saying that I want to play No.9 for 80 minutes consistently and try to get into the finals. It's a personal goal to be a guy who can do it for the whole game just like those good NRL players in Michael Ennis and Cameron Smith, Danny Buderus. Buderus is a bit of an idol, he's not just a good player but a good bloke as well. To be respected on and off the field is something I'd like to achieve in the next few years.''

He recently finalised a contract extension which will keep him at Penrith until the end of 2016. While some observers questioned the shift, Segeyaro always knew there was potential at his new home. ''I'm really happy with the move,'' he said. ''Heaps of critics said it was a stupid move for me seeing I was playing with Johnno [Johnathan Thurston] and Matt Scott and all of those class players. And after Payney [Aaron Payne] left, hopefully I would have got a starting role. But I thought Penrith was the best decision for me so I put my head down and I'm happy with the season I had. It could have been better, we could have been in the finals, but hopefully next year we'll go a bit better and we'll do that.'' Penrith have again been aggressive in the player market. They have bought experienced players Peter Wallace, Jamie Soward and Brent Kite, as well as exciting youngsters including Elijah Taylor, Kevin Naiqama and Tyrone Peachey. The Panthers also made the grand final in the NSW Cup and the National Youth Competition, winning the latter.
''Everyone is putting their hand up to come to first grade so I've got to watch my position,'' Segeyaro said. ''It's good that Wallace and Sowie are here while Brent Kite brings a lot of maturity to the group. It's what we've been lacking the last couple of years, a few of those older boys to steer us young fellas around. They will help us be more professional.'' Most critics tipped the Panthers for the wooden spoon in 2013 and they will again be at long odds next season. Segeyaro said the jibes provided further motivation to prove the knockers wrong. ''It definitely drives me and the whole team.''

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

THE Papua New Guinea Pepes returned to the winners circle in the Nations Cup yesterday after thrashing the United States of America 72-31 in Singapore.
The Pepes, with the best world ranking at 18 in this tournament, started off strongly on the opening day on Sunday, beating Sri Lanka 76-52 before going down to hosts Singapore 44-43 the next day. Against Uganda on Tuesday, a game the Pepes were confident of winning, did not turn out as expected as the Pepes could not knock off the Africans, drawing 52-52.
Pepes co-captain Winnie Mavara said the draw on Tuesday was a a disappointment as they had hoped to win that game.
“We were hoping to win this one (against Uganda). We did not expect such a hard game,” said Mavara, who started at centre.
She was replaced by young Kimberley Rawali in the second quarter.
Rawali (pictured) made her international debut in fine fashion, with a significant contribution to keep her shooters well supplied with balls.
“They came out stronger in the second half, they wanted it more. They are very physical compared to the other teams we have played; from the shooters to the defenders.
“Tomorrow against the USA we have to go out hard, we have to get back to winning again,” Mavara (pictured) said.
And that’s exactly what they did yesterday against 19th ranked USA which would have given their confidence a massive boost as it puts them back on course for the play-offs.
That victory on the back of a well-controlled team performance where they led throughout until the final whistle puts them in good stead as they now prepare for tomorrow’s game against Republic of Ireland to confirm a top-two playoff spot on Saturday.
The Pepes gave themselves the ideal start when they led USA 23-9 in the first quarter and maintained the advantage 38-18 at half-time.
At the close of the third quarter PNG were never in any real danger of dropping the match as they streaked away to a 29-point lead, 55-26.
Towering Tiata Baldwin at goal shooter and veteran Maleta Roberts at goal attack were in command from the first whistle and never looked like slowing the tempo or taking the foot off the gas.
The rest of the team contributed with solid displays as Papua New Guinea controlled most facets of the game from mid-court to both shooting circles. PNG Facts / The National

AN offer is expected from Penrith Panthers this week for decisions whether Kumuls utility Wellington Albert joins the Sydney-based NRL club next year.
There is also considerable interest from three other NRL clubs, Gold Coast Titans, South Sydney and West Tigers, those dealing with Albert’s fledging rugby league career, have as alternate possible options.
Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League acting chief executive Brad Tassell said on Thursday from Brisbane where he was attending a series of meetings that Albert was on his way back to Port Moresby following “extremely positive” discussions with the Panthers.
The rush of interest in the 20-year-old comes on the back of Albert’s tour with the Kumuls to the just ended World Cup in England.
Coach Adrian Lam decided to throw the young man into the pool match against New Zealand Kiwis and Albert delivered with an “eye-catching” performance scoring a try in the Kumuls 48-10 loss.
It seems his agent Steve Deacon has been a busy man in the last few weeks marketing the young man’s potential to NRL clubs.
Last Tuesday, Albert flew Sydney to meet with Deacon to hold talks with Panthers chief Phil Gould and coach Ivan Cleary.
Albert, who stands at 191cm and tips the scales at 102kg, is seen as a future top line footballer that can reach his potential at an NRL club set up.
Albert returned to Port Moresby on Thursday to re-join the PNG Queensland Cup training camp.
The three-week camp, started last Monday at Bomana Police college at which coach Michael Marum was expected to use to trim down his 50-member squad to 25.
“Discussions were extremely positive with Wellington, his agent, Phil Gould and Ivan Cleary from Penrith,” PNGRFL CEO Brad Tassell said.
“We are expecting an offer next week (this week) from them.”
“There is also considerable interest from the West Tigers, Titans and South Sydney,” he said.
“So it will take a bit of time to weigh up what is the best situation for Wellington.”

THE Papua New Guinea Pepes finished strongly at third place at the Nations Cup in Singapore after beating Sri Lanka 60-48 on Saturday.
Pepes co-captain Winnie Mavara was relieved to have come out on top.
“We knew Sri Lanka would give us a tough game after we beat them by a big margin last time,” Mavara said.
“We were disappointed not to make the final.
Sri Lanka came out strongly and we have a few injuries so it was hard for us. In the fourth quarter we gave it our all. We have nothing left, we go home after this, and it worked.”
The Pacific MMI-sponsored Pepes gained composure in the second period and took the advantage (29-26 at halftime) winning the playoff by four goals after goal attack Tiata Baldwin missed several scoring chances, PNG could not afford to step off the gas at the entered the final 30 minutes of play.
Baldwin was moved to gaol keeper for the second half to partner goal defender Kilala Owen in the defensive circle in an attempt to shut down Tharjini Sivalingam but Sri Lanka fought back and won the third quarter by two goals, trailing by a point going into the final quarter.
The Pepes were already disappointed at not having a chance at the title after missing out on goal differential to Uganda and they were not prepared to settle for anything less than third position.
On Friday, the Pepes started their final group match sitting joint-second on the table and knew that nothing but a win against the Republic of Ireland would see them into the final.
They lifted the Nations Cup trophy back in 2008 but in their last appearance in 2011 could only manage a 5th place so the squad which included many familiar faces from their past outings had much to prove.
It was the Pepes who started the better of the two sides going ahead 17-11 after the first quarter, though both teams made several errors and looked tense on court.
Ireland was desperate to secure a second win in the competition and came to Singapore with the aim of bettering their 6th place finish in 2012, but they were always on the back foot and failed to convert too many vital scoring opportunities in the first half with it ending 33-17.
PNG defeated Ireland 66-33 to advance to the third-place playoff. Debutant Kimberly Rawali was awarded the most valuable player award.
In the final, Uganda were crowed the 2013 Nations Cup winners after defeating hosts Singapore 52-29.

Papua New Guinea have ticked off another milestone in their cricketing journey, winning the inaugural South Australian Premier League Twenty20 title.

The Barramundis clinched the title by beating Northern Territory in Sunday’s deciding match at the Adelaide Oval.

Pipi Raho ripped through the NT order, taking 4 for 20 as the Strike were rolled for just 94, with PNG reaching their victory target with 21 balls and four wickets to spare.

It capped a great weekend for PNG, who beat the Western Grit on Friday and South Australian Outbacks on Saturday.

Next they head to New Zealand in January to compete in the 50 over World Cup qualifiers.

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