Face facts: Mal

RUGBY league great Mal Meninga is calling on fans and critics to be realistic with their World Cup expectations.

“The question has been asked after the Prime Ministers’ XIII match ‘What about Team Kumul’s performance?  What went wrong? Nothing … it was a reality check,” Meninga said of where the Kumuls are two weeks out from the World Cup.

“We were up against a red-­hot Australian side with plenty to prove,” he siad of the prime Ministers’ XIII match in Kokopo a fortnight ago.

“We don’t have that same sort of competition between players or pool of players playing at the level week in week out. It truly showed where we really sit on the ladder of world rugby league.”

The Queensland Maroons mentor said PNG had a long way to go before it could compete with the best teams.

“Rugby League Internationally particularly the NRL has advanced significantly in the last 10 years, whereas we cannot say the same about PNG rugby League.

The gap has widened significantly. I know, YOU know it and WE all know it.

Cynics may disapprove but realists will understand. We all have opinions whether they are right or wrong and everyone has the right to one.

I say to the people of Papua New Guinea and more importantly the followers of our great game to be patient, allow us to build our program then judge us!

This is a five-­year plan and I can make this promise, the game of Rugby League in PNG will wear a totally different face.

I totally believe, given the right structures, programs and people, we can achieve what every supporter wants…to be competitive against the best.

We want to ensure there’s a Rugby League pathway for all young kids to follow and fulfill their dreams of representing their country and be involved in various ways.

This takes time, dedication and perseverance.

Firstly let’s look at the game in general in PNG, which I believe I can as an outsider looking in.

I have a great passion for our game. I love it just like you. Rugby League in this country has been indisarray for a long time and if it weren’t for the Digicel Cup it would be near buried in its grave.

Because of these troubles and constant in fighting the game has stagnated and we have no where near the number of players playing at the Highest level of competition available in the world unlike other pacific nations.

The game and administrators in PNG has let down the talented youth and not provided a pathway for them to excel.

In my opinion based on my association with PNG over the past 20 years, the standard of the game has decreased badly and certainly the quality of our National players has declined.

Need an example?

Well, at the last World Cup selection in 2008 there was a majority of overseas players and the rest from the National competition however it has reversed in 2013.

What does this tell you? Simply, national players aren’t being recruited anymore.

NRL clubs will rarely look at PNG now and unless we get players up to a required standard and provide a pathway this will continue and the talent and rugby league potential this country has will be wasted.

Don’t get me wrong, the talent is there but it takes a lot more than talent to be successful!