Dual-code West New Briton Narimbi hoping to represent PNG

By PARKER TAMBUA
KELSON Narimbi is a dual-code devotee who loves playing rugby league and rugby union and hopes to represent Papua New Guinea one day — in either code.
Narimbi, 22, is from Arowe in Kimbe, West New Britain, and he plays centre for the Valley Hunters in the Capital Rugby Union (CRU) in Port Moresby.
Growing up in Kimbe, Narimbi idolised National Rugby League star and Kiwi international Benji Marshall and was inspired to play rugby league.
At the age of 12, Narimbi joined schoolboys rugby league and played for Kimbe Primary School Under-14 side while in grade six.
He then moved up and played in Under-16 when he did grade eight in 2014.
“I grew up watching NRL and Super Rugby,” Narimbi said.
“Benji Marshall was my favourite player. I loved his side-stepping skills, the flick passes and his ability to create something out of nothing which inspired me to play rugby league especially in the backline,” Narimbi said.
Narimbi transitioned from schoolboys to the local league known as Kimbe Rugby League when he attended Trinity Secondary School.
He played in the reserve grade for the Fifteen City Roosters as a centre and was promoted to A Grade where he played on the wing.
In 2017, Nirimbi was part of the nines team that represented Kimbe at the New Guinea Islands regional championship at Kalabond Oval in Kokopo.
The highest point in his rugby league stint was his selection into the new Digicel Cup franchise Kimbe Cutters train-on squad late last year. Being named in a Digicel Cup team train-on squad, especially our new franchise, the Cutters was something special,” he said.
“Unfortunately, I did not complete that pre-season training because I had to leave Kimbe for Port Moresby to attend school.”
After completing Grade 12, Narimbi had to attend the International Training Institute (ITI) this year and pulled out of the Cutters train-on squad.
When he relocated to the nation’s capital this year Narimbi made a code switch to rugby union after being persuaded by his peers and family friends living in the city.
“Some of my family friends and boys from New Guinea Islands play with the Valley Hunters so they talked me into joining them.
“I also love union, I grew up watching Super Rugby and players like Richie McCaw and Dan Carter were some of my idols.”