Chan enjoying home stint

Normal, Sports

CELTIC Crusaders forward Jason Chan is enjoying playing for Papua New Guinea as they bid to win the Pacific Cup.
“I’ve been in camp for a bit over two-and-a-half weeks. The training is really tough and it makes it harder in the heat and high humidity, it’s nearly 30-35 degrees every day,” he said.
“I love being back in PNG. The support here is massive. Rugby league is its national sport so they really support us here and look after us so well. It’s also good to get to catch up with a lot of family and see some of the beautiful areas of my home country.”
Chan, who will return to the Crusaders fold under new boss Brian Noble at the end of next month, is joined in the squad by Salford’s John Wilshere, Menzie Yere of Sheffield and Hunslet’s Charlie Wabo.
And he was part of an international Kumuls side who overcame a Papua New Guinea resident’s side, scoring a try and winning the man-of-the-match in the process.
“We played the game in Mt Hagan and there was a crowd of 10,000,” Chan adds.
“The fans were everywhere. There wasn’t a space free in the stands. I got a try before half-time and ended up with man-of-the-match.
“It felt great to talk in front of all the supporters, sponsors and players and tell them how honoured I was to be there and play for PNG.”
PNG will face Cook Islands after defeating Tonga 44-14 last Sunday while Fiji Bati who went down narrowly 24-22 to Cook Islands will lock horns with Tonga in the finals showdown of the SP Brewery Pacific Cup on Sunday.