Blackhawks playmaker explains Kumuls eligibility

TOWNSVILLE Blackhawk Kyle Laybutt says he didn’t know he was eligible to play for Papua New Guinea until 2017 when his grandmother told him that she was born and raised in Madang.
“Four years ago, my grandmother told me that she was born and raised in Madang,” said the 24-year-old playmaker, who had a stint with the Mackay Cutters in the Queensland Intrust Super Cup (ISC) in 2018.
“She stayed there until she was 14 and then moved to Australia.
“I didn’t know about my PNG heritage until then.
“I realised that to play for PNG, you had to have a grandparent or parent who was born there so I was eligible.
“Then I reached out to (former Kumul and North Queensland Cowboy) Ray Thompson.
“I told Ray that I was available to play for PNG and I think he sent a message to the coach (Michael Marum) and that was it.
“I’ve only been to Port Moresby but I definitely want to know more about my PNG heritage and have a look at nice places in PNG.”
Laybutt told PNG Rugby Football League chairman Sandis Tsaka on Fulltime Reserve on Friday that wearing the Kumuls jumper for the first time in the 2018 Prime Minister’s 13 fixture against Australia was the proudest moment of his career.
“It’s a funny story,” said the Bundaberg native, who joined the Blackshawks in their second ISC season in 2016.
“I was playing golf back home with some friends during the offseason.
“We had some beverages and then I got a phone call from a random number in PNG.
“I answered it and the person on the other end of the line asked if I could come to PNG and play a game.
“I said ‘yes’. The caller was Kumuls coach Michael Marum.
“A day later, I ended up playing for the country and it was the proudest moment of my career so far.
“The support from the crowd was great.
“I just wanted to make everyone proud and play good football.”