Champions back

 By PETER SEVARA Jr.

THEY left an unheralded side with high hopes and returned as champions.

This was the Cindarella story that unfolded for the Papua New Guinea Under-19 team at the inaugural Commonwealth

Rugby League Nines tournament last week when they went through the pool stages unbeaten before

eventually defeating Australia 22-8 for the Commonwealth gold.

“We were unknown to the world, but we came back and gave our best, and showed the world, that we are a force to be reckoned with,” U19 coach Dennis Miall told reporters soon after returning from the United Kingdom yesterday.

“The crowds swayed to every tackle

and run we made and everyone at the stadium was behind us. After the two first matches, we were tagged as favourites to enter the finals and ended up beating Australia to win the gold medal.

The boys were scheduled to transit on to their own home provinces after a five hour trip via Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Singapore yesterday but, Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League chairman Sandis Tsaka, overwhelmed with their success, had the team stay on in Port Moresby in order for the young heroes to be given a fitting welcome. 

“This is the 40th anniversary of rugby League in PNG and there could not have been a better result than beating Australia,” Tsaka said. 

“This is the third Commonwealth gold for PNG. The U19s now have the bragging rights for the next four years as the world champions.  Enough of personal bests and breaking records. 

“This is the result we want.” 

Miall said their biggest win was against Canada, 26-6, and the closest game was with England, 16-10, and they averaged two tries per game, emphasizing that their defence was the best despite their physical stature.

“We were the smallest boys on the park and the Australians were huge but one thing they didn’t expect was the small men bringing a big game onto the field,” Miall said.

Miall congratulated his charges and made special mention of Gahuna Silas, Lava Ketauwo Nickson Borana and Stanton Albert, who was named player of the tournament.

Miall thanked the team management and technical officials Shane Morris, Joe Tokam, Toksy Nema and Philip Boge for their tireless efforts and added that their success was the culimnation of a three-year programme set by the PNGRFL.

The PNG U19s are now ranked number one followed by Australia, Wales, Canada, Scotland, England, South Africa and Jamaica.