PAPUA New Guinea Kumuls prop Mark Mexico, made a winning start to life
in Australia after an impressive debut for Cronulla in the New South Wales
Cup.
The 24 year-old last week signed a one year deal with the Sharks
National Rugby League side after impressing for the PNG Hunters in the
Queensland Cup.
He managed 14 hit ups and 16 tackles as he played 37 minutes
in Cronulla’s 38-10 victory over Manly. Reports say the Mexico put on “strong
charges with the football” and was “uncompromising on defence.
Mexico
partnered with David Fifita and George Rose up front, with the trio giving the
opposition more than they could handle on the day. The Sharks are back at home
next weekend, when they take on the Newtown Jets on Saturday at Remondis
Stadium.
Kumuls coach Adrian Lam said programmes that have been put in
place in PNG should mean that more young players can follow in Mark Mexico’s
footsteps.
“The way that the high performance programme is run covers all
levels right down to high schools and we’ve also got AusAid stepping in there
with the Papua New Guinea Rugby League now doing primary schools, educating
rugby league and development,’ Lam said.
“It’s certainly kicking off and
we’re in a great position.
“We’re at the base though and we’ve got a lot of
work to do and these players going away certainly gives us a lot to push at the
lower level to have them aspire.”
Mexico is perhaps the best placed
home-grown Papua New Guinean player since Marcus Bai to debut in the NRL.
With Wellington Albert being used by the Penrith Panthers’ Under-20 side,
Mexico, from Central and Enga, is more likely to be an option for Shane
Flanagan as the first grade coach searches for a winning combination for his
struggling club.
PNG Hunters chief executive officer Brad Tassell indicated
that over the course of the Q-Cup season more PNG players could be snapped up
by National Rugby League clubs.
PNG facts/ The national
in Australia after an impressive debut for Cronulla in the New South Wales
Cup.
The 24 year-old last week signed a one year deal with the Sharks
National Rugby League side after impressing for the PNG Hunters in the
Queensland Cup.
He managed 14 hit ups and 16 tackles as he played 37 minutes
in Cronulla’s 38-10 victory over Manly. Reports say the Mexico put on “strong
charges with the football” and was “uncompromising on defence.
Mexico
partnered with David Fifita and George Rose up front, with the trio giving the
opposition more than they could handle on the day. The Sharks are back at home
next weekend, when they take on the Newtown Jets on Saturday at Remondis
Stadium.
Kumuls coach Adrian Lam said programmes that have been put in
place in PNG should mean that more young players can follow in Mark Mexico’s
footsteps.
“The way that the high performance programme is run covers all
levels right down to high schools and we’ve also got AusAid stepping in there
with the Papua New Guinea Rugby League now doing primary schools, educating
rugby league and development,’ Lam said.
“It’s certainly kicking off and
we’re in a great position.
“We’re at the base though and we’ve got a lot of
work to do and these players going away certainly gives us a lot to push at the
lower level to have them aspire.”
Mexico is perhaps the best placed
home-grown Papua New Guinean player since Marcus Bai to debut in the NRL.
With Wellington Albert being used by the Penrith Panthers’ Under-20 side,
Mexico, from Central and Enga, is more likely to be an option for Shane
Flanagan as the first grade coach searches for a winning combination for his
struggling club.
PNG Hunters chief executive officer Brad Tassell indicated
that over the course of the Q-Cup season more PNG players could be snapped up
by National Rugby League clubs.
PNG facts/ The national