Former rugby player hailed

It is with remorse I share this moment with PNG rugby league followers and fans as a former player of the Simbu Brothers of the 1980s.
Bal Numapo was always our favourite No.4 and the cross field switch between him and Steven Gore Kaupa (No.6), supported by David Frank on the right wing, John Bare at full back, Wally Yegiora, Peter Launa, Timothy Komane, Nil Kaupa, Papua Sine, John Kalne, Godfrey Anton, Makis Anton and Joe Brawa in the forwards – the Sina Sua Brothers was a formidable team in Chimbu who dominated every provincial team at the Cambridge Cup and other competitions in those years.
Russ Kaupa, Brown Sinamoi and Jopa Gomia were our seniors mentoring us.
Thanks to the Australians for the sport to PNG, rugby is in the blood of every PNG Highlands man, but for Chimbus, it is a special calling.
When running a documentary on this brilliant player, authors must make sure Bal Numapo’s legacy lives on for he became the first national to be drafted into the Canterbury Bulldogs team of 1981.
He returned home and was recalled the following year to have a stint with the Eastern Suburbs long before we came to know other Papua New Guineans like David Wesley and Mark Mom were playing for the Canberra Raiders while Lauta Atoi and Dairi Kovae were recruited into the Australian School Boys.
Bal became the first Papua New Guinean to be in a team to play the Australian Kangaroos in England and the rest is history.
Chimbu and rugby league has certainly lost a great player.
We salute Bal Numapo the great!

Gerard Saleu