Cowboy Segeyaro addresses PNG students

JAMES Segeyaro was back in familiar surroundings yesterday but not on a football field.
Instead, the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys hooker was visiting the Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE’s Trade Training Campus where he worked on the construction job as an apprentice plasterer.
This time the 20-year-old Goroka lad was in the building as a special guest, speaking to PNG students who are studying engineering at the Bohle campus, as well as a visiting leadership group from Ok Tedi Mining.
Last year’s NQ Toyota Cup captain told the league-loving group of around 40 about his young days in PNG, how he progressed to the National Rugby League level and what it takes to be a top-level footballer, converting a number of them not only into Cowboys fans, but also Segeyaro supporters.
During a question and answer session, the group even had some advice for the young interchange forward to pass on to head coach Neil Henry: “Give him more minutes”.
“It’s good to see Papua New Guineans coming over here and improving their education and then going back home to put something back,” Segeyaro said.
“They’ve asked a couple of good questions so hopefully I’ve been able to give them the answers they needed.
“It’s awesome for them to be able to learn in Australia.
“It helps the country move forward.”
Segeyaro told his countrymen that he was eager to represent the PNG Kumuls, like his father did, after missing out on a chance last year when he was selected in the national squad but had to withdraw to have shoulder surgery.
Since then, he has made his NRL debut for the Cowboys – in round two against Newcastle – and will make it five straight games in first grade against Canberra tomorrow night.