Boas returns from UK
By PARKER TAMBUA
KUMULS coach Michael Marum says the trend of Papua New Guinea players leaving their second or third-tier English clubs to return home is setting a bad precedent.
Marum made the comments after he learned of Kumuls playmaker Waston Boas’ temporary release from third-tier club Doncaster on Friday for personal reasons.
On their Facebook page, the club said: “The Dons have allowed Watson Boas to return to PNG on a temporary basis for personal reasons.”
The former Rabaul Gurias star’s brother and fellow playmaker Ase Boas cut short his deal with tier-two outfit Featherstone Rovers to return home for personal reasons.
PNG Kumuls utility back Stargroth Amean is seeking a release from the final year of his deal with tier-three side Barrow Raiders as he looks to be closer to his wife and young son.
Marum, who is also the national coaching director, told The National from Kimbe yesterday that players who were getting signed by clubs in the UK apart from the Super League should consult their managers to negotiate well for them in terms of their welfare prior to signing deals.
“I have seen these players developed over the years,” he said.
“We want them to receive international exposure and get signed by clubs abroad to further their careers.
“For those playing in the National Rugby League, they are doing okay but it saddens me to see players in the second and third divisions coming back from England.
“Watson came back for personal reasons but you know there has to be a balance. We had players in the past like Stanley Gene who made it in the Super League (English top-tier competition).
“(Former Kumul) Menzie Yere is playing in the third division and he is still there. Players should get good managers to negotiate good contracts for them.
“We want players to have at least two or three good seasons there to give themselves a chance of cracking the Super League. UK scouts will lose trust and may not want to pick our players if these trend continues.”
Marum said Boas performed extremely well for the Kumuls in the end-of-year tests against Fiji and Great Britain in 2019.
Doncaster chief executive Carl Hall said on the club’s official website that “Boas has explained his reasoning needing to go back to PNG and I totally support that”.
Hall said Boas’ leave was temporary but said there wasn’t any pressure on the 25-year old to return soon as they wanted him to sort out his issues in PNG.
6 comments
Current players securing contract overseas, complete your full contractual term with your clubs..Dont set bad precedence and tarnish the image of PNGNRL and future prospect players..
You are very privilege to given the opportunity to play oversea..Liaison with your clubs management if its possible to take your family with you if you miss them..
Looks like after all they are only good enough for second and third tier competitions. Nd if they are not even faithful to fulfilling their contract then forget about overseas exposure. Setting a bad precedence means no other PNG will be recruited to play in England if PNG players continue to display such unprofessional attitude. Why wasting a lot of money for ticket, wages, accomodation, health and insurance if a player is unable to commit himself to his contract? So better stay back and play for Hunters instead.
Before going overseas for contracts, make sure English is fluently spoken. If you can not speak and write english, whats the point going overseas. Take some English class before signing. You can be good but if you cant read and write English where do we fit in.
Opinion from non Rugby player.
Sports like rugby league is a in build God given talent. Many sports men and women out there wish they would perform will and secure an opportunity, but its unfortunate . Why is this PNGEANEANS leaving an golden height and diving on to the mad and struggling to go up again. There are other benefits like education, exposure to an international community improves standard of leaving, behavioral changes and of course it’s creating an courier pathway for others who are struggling and coming behind. Please do not barricade or obstruct this golden opportunity. Grab it with both hands and work on.
These players are the creme of the National Rugby League in PNG, if these trend continues it will defenately tarnish the image of PNGNRL. I believe, upon their return they will report to PNGNRL because they are registered players of PNGNRN.
Based on that assumption, please PNGNRL penalised them with some heftily fines to avoid repeatation of these kind of attitude amoungst our players to set a precedence to our future inernational players. Otherwise keep the good job up for the sake of our future competent players.
There are crop of PNG players in who set good precedence where they completed their full contract whether it be tier 1,2 or 3. Some of these notable players include Stanley Gene, Makali Aizue, Dion Aiye, Joe Parker and many others. The current lot of players need to understand that those who made it earlier in some degree have created the pathway for them to be recruited.
If these guys now joined by Ase Boas heading back to PNG without completing their contracts are setting very bad image and precedence this may close the door up north. You are not only rugby players but ambasadors and should show some character outside rugby league window. Utterly losing interest in this players.
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