Isaac bounces back from sickness to make Test debut for Kumuls

DILBERT Isaac’s rugby league career was almost shattered in 2019 when he was diagnosed with spinal tuberculosis which forced him out of the SP Hunters’ squad for the 2020 Intrust Super Cup season.
After spending almost a year in hospital, the chances of the front-rower returning to rugby league were slim, and retaining his Hunters spot and debuting for the Papua New Guinea Kumuls were a long shot.
Two years later, the Chimbu native has fully recovered and will make his long-awaited Kumuls debut off the back of solid performances for the Hunters in the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
Isaac’s courage and perseverance have paid off as he prepares to come off the bench for the Kumuls in Saturday’s Pacific Test match against the Fiji Bati at Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney (7.50pm kick-off).
The former Port Moresby Viper only played international friendlies for PNG. Issac’s first international was in the 2017 Prime Minister’s 13 fixture against Australia at the Santos National Football Stadium.
In 2018, Isaac played for PNG in two invitational matches against the England Knights at the Lae Rugby League Ground and the Santos National Football Stadium.
But his bigger dream has always been to make his Test debut for the Kumuls.
Isaac’s courage has brought him this far despite multiple misfortunes which had almost shattered his dream.
The forward said during the Hunters’ pre-season earlier this year that playing for the Kumuls was his dream, but his immediate goal was to play consistent rugby league in the Hostplus Cup for the SP Hunters.